68 Days to Miami Football: Legacy OL Nick Linder

Nick Linder was a legacy offensive lineman in the Miami football program from 2014-16. Linder started 25 games during his Hurricanes’career.

Nick Linder signed with the Miami football program in 2014. Linder is the brother of guard Brandon Linder who played from Miami from 2010-13 and is currently on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Nick Linder started 25 games with Miami at guard and center from 2014-16 before announcing his decision to transfer.

Linder sat out the 2017 season before playing his final season of college football at Indiana in 2018. In 12 games with the Hoosiers, Linder made eight starts, all at center. Linder began his Miami football career by contributing immediately. The career debut for Linder came in a 41-7 victory over Bethune-Cookman week two.

Linder made the first start of his collegiate career at left guard against Georgia Tech in a 28-17 Miami loss. Left guard became the primary position for Lindner as a freshman with starts against Cincinnati, Virginia Tech and North Carolina during his true freshman season.

Miami Hurricanes Football

As a sophomore, Linder became a full-time starter. The former three-star signee as a guard started all 13 games for Miami at center. Linder was one of only two players on the Miami offensive line to start every game at the same position in 2015. Linder provided stability for Miami during a turbulent season.

Head coach Al Golden was fired after the embarrassing 58-0 defeat to Clemson after the seventh game. Linder helped stabilize the Miami offensive line as the Hurricanes finished 4-2 under interim head coach Larry Scott. The Miami OL finished eighth nationally with the fewest tackles for loss and 33rd in sacks allowed.

Linder continued to provide stability on the Miami offensive line as Mark Richt began a new era as the Hurricanes head coach in 2016. Linder started the first eight games of the 2016 season at center before suffering an injury that caused him to miss the last five games. Tyler Gauthier replaced Linder.

The 2016 season was the last for Linder at Miami as he chose to transfer to Indiana. Linder helped the Hoosier achieve the third-best passing offense in the Big 10 and 36th nationally in 2018. Sixty-eight has not been a widely used number at Miami. Linder is the best player to ever wear 68.

Honorable mention for the best number 68 in Miami football history goes to former junior college transfer Tyler McMeans. McMeans started the first six games of his junior season with the Hurricanes in 2004 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. McMeans joined Miami as a 25-year old Marine corps veteran.