55 Days to Miami football: Navaughn Donaldson 2020 redshirt
Navaughn Donaldson has been a starter for the Miami football program since his freshman season in 2017. Donaldson will redshirt in 2020 to rehabilitate his injured knee.
Navaughn Donaldson was a true freshman All-American as named by ESPN starting 10 games for the Miami football team in 2017. Donaldson has been a starter on the Miami offensive line at right guard and a few games at right tackle in 2018. After a severe knee injury in the 2019 regular-season finale, Donaldson will redshirt in 2020.
Donaldson was the most experienced offensive lineman on a unit that greatly struggled for Miami in 2020. The addition of offensive tackle Jarrid Williams as a graduate transfer to the Hurricanes offensive line is essential with the decision by Donaldson to take the year off to rehab his knee and work on conditioning.
Donaldson and junior D.J. Scaife have been the anchors of the offensive line for Miami in the last two seasons. Scaife, Williams and center Corey Gaynor will anchor the Hurricanes line without Donaldson in 2020. Donaldson should be back with Miami in 2021 unless he chooses to transfer or enter the NFL Draft.
The possibility does exist that Donaldson could choose to move on to another school for the 2021 season as a graduate transfer. If Donaldson returns to Miami in 2021, he, Gaynor and Scaife if he is back give the Hurricanes an experienced offensive line. The 2021 opener for Miami is against Alabama in Atlanta.
Miami struggled with an inexperienced defensive line allowing nine sacks against Florida in the 2019 season opener. The year off for Donaldson should be positive. Another possibility for Donaldson in 2020 is for him to take his time getting ready for the season and return to play the final four games for Miami.
57 Days to UM football: Kai-Leon Herbert hopes to make impact. dark. Next
A rule instituted by the NCAA in 2018 allows football players to participate in up to four games per season and maintain a redshirt year. That would be beneficial to Donaldson and the Miami football team if he is ready. Donaldson may choose to take the entire 2020 season off and not risk any further injury.