53 Days to Miami football: OL Jakai Clark returning starter

Pressed into action as a true freshman in 2019, Jakai Clark started 12 of the 13 games for the Miami football team in 2019. Clark has tough competition to hold on to his starting spot.

Jakai Clark was a key part of the offensive line for the Miami football team as a true freshman in 2019. Clark started the final 12 games of the season after not playing in the season opener against Florida. A natural center, all 12 starts for Clark in 2019 were at right guard. The future for Clark in 2020 and beyond is uncertain.

Redshirt junior Corey Gaynor is currently the center for Miami. With Gaynor having two seasons of eligibility remaining that would leave one season of eligibility for Clark to move to center in 2022 when Gaynor graduates. Miami has a commitment from three-star center Ryan Rodriguez in the Class of 2021.

For the 2020 season, Clark will likely compete for a starting spot at guard. Senior Navaughn Donaldson decided to redshirt this season coming off of a severe knee injury in the final 2019 regular-season game against Duke. That leaves one spot open on the offensive line. Delone Scaife or John Campbell is likely the other guard.

Miami Hurricanes Football

Miami has somewhat made over the offensive line in 2020. Graduate transfer Jarrid Williams joins the Hurricanes from Houston and will almost definitely start at either left or right tackle. Campbell or Scaife will likely be the other tackle with whoever doesn’t play tackle will move inside. Miami also added depth in the Class of 2020.

Issiah Walker and Jalen Rivers are a pair of four-star tackles who join the Miami football program for 2020. Three-star OT Chris Washington also signed with Miami in 2020. Walker transferred in after a semester at Florida and might have to sit out in 2020. Rivers should challenge to be a part of the rotations in 2020.

Washington is a near definite redshirt to bulk up. Clark was at center on the second team during the four spring practices Miami held in March. Donaldson didn’t participate due to his injury and Williams didn’t commit to Miami until May. A lot of the projected Hurricanes offensive line is unknown at this point.

If the season does take place, expect Clark to begin training camp with the first team back in his 2019 spot at right guard. Either Campbell or Scaife would be at left guard with the other one and Williams at the tackles. Gaynor is likely to remain at center. Clark still has a lot of growth to do on the Hurricanes offensive line in 2020.