Miami football should inquire about UCLA transfer OT Jake Burton
Reports over the past few days have indicated the Miami football team is close to deciding on their starting offensive line. The Hurricanes should inquire about UCLA transfer offensive tackle Jake Burton.
Reports broke on Tuesday afternoon that two-year UCLA starting right tackle Jake Burton is immediately entering his name into the transfer portal with the goal of playing for an ACC or SEC school in 2020. The Miami football program should at least inquire to see if Burton would be interested.
UCLA is not playing football this fall after the Pac-12 made the decision not to play until possibly spring 2021. Redshirt sophomore John Campbell is projected to start at left tackle for Miami in 2020. Campbell started two games as a redshirt freshman in 2019.
In the season opener against Florida last season, Campbell started at right tackle and he started the Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech at left guard. Redshirt sophomore Ousmane Traore who only played about 20 snaps in two games in 2019 is projected to be the starting left guard.
On quarterback D’Eriq King’s blindside, Miami has 17 games and two starts of experience entering the 2020 season. Miami is far more experienced on the right side of the offensive line. Adding Burton to the Miami roster would provide a pair of bookend tackles to protect King with Houston transfer Jarrid Williams at RT.
Burton was a three-star signee with UCLA as the nation’s 39th ranked strongside defensive end in 2016. Burton switched to the offensive line during 2017 spring practice. The move to OL from DE in 2017 for Burton coincided with the Bruins signing the nation’s top-ranked player, DE Jaelan Phillips who is now with Miami.
Have been told that UCLA senior right tackle Jake Burton, who entered transfer portal, is targeting the SEC/ACC in hopes of playing this fall. The Bruins will be replacing three starting offensive linemen after the departure of Christaphany Murray and graduation of Boss Tagaloa.
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) August 25, 2020
Burton and Phillips spent two seasons together on the UCLA roster. It is not known if they are in contact with each other. Phillips recently said he does keep in touch with some former UCLA teammates. Some of those teammates have moved on to Mountain West schools who also canceled their 2020 football season.
Burton redshirted as a freshman in 2016 and played in five Bruins games in 2017 before becoming a full-time starter. Burton played in all 12 games, starting 11 at RT for UCLA in 2018 before starting all 12 games at RT for the Bruins in 2019. Burton was the 48th ranked tackle in FBS in 2019 according to Pro Football Focus.
Burton was stronger against the run, ranking 32nd nationally while ranking as the 72nd best tackle in pass blocking. Williams only played in four games in 2019 and was not ranked and Campbell did not have enough snaps at tackle to receive a ranking.
Adding Burton to the Miami offensive line would anchor LT if he can make the move from the right side, give the Hurricanes more experience and move Campbell inside to LG. Traore as the projected left guard is concerning without much playing experience in college.
Next. Jarrid Williams brings maturity, length and leadership to OL. dark
Miami went through that last year with true freshmen Zion Nelson and Jakai Clark at left tackle and right guard. At the very least the Miami football program should inquire about Burton to help add depth and experience on the offensive line.