Miami Hurricanes C Corey Gaynor ACC OL of the Week

Miami Hurricanes center Corey Gaynor was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his part in a 31-14 season-opening victory.

Redshirt junior center Corey Gaynor is the anchor of the Miami Hurricanes offensive line. On Monday Gaynor was rewarded as the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week. Gaynor helped pave the Miami offense to gain 495 total yards and 337 rushing. Gaynor graded out as the 13th best center in college football.

Pro Football Focus gave Gaynor an overall offensive grade of 70.6, a pass block grade of 73.0 and a run block grade of 67.0. Gaynor is his second season as the Miami Hurricanes starting center. Before starting all 13 games at center in 2019, Gaynor made one start at guard as a true freshman in 2019.

Gaynor redshirted in 2018. The new redshirt rule allowed Gaynor to play in four games in 2018 including the Pinstripe Bowl loss to Wisconsin. Gaynor has become the leader of the Miami offensive line and the Miami offense since becoming a permanent starter in 2019. Having Gaynor should help new quarterback D’Eriq King.

Taking snaps from Gaynor, King finished 15-23 for 141 yards and a touchdown and ran 12 times for 83 yards and another score. Gaynor has had to adjust to Miami changing from a pro-style offense the last few seasons to a spread that requires him to primarily snap the ball in the shotgun.

"“OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Corey Gaynor, Miami, Jr., C, Parkland, Fla.Miami’s top-graded offensive lineman in Thursday night’s 31-14 season-opening win over UAB. The Hurricanes piled up 337 rushing yards – the second-most recorded by a Miami squad since joining the ACC in 2004 – while Gaynor made his 14th consecutive start in the middle of the offensive line."

Gaynor is part of a Miami offensive line that played much better in the 2020 season-opening win over UAB than that did in 2019 when the Hurricanes were the second-worst team in sacks allowed in FBS. There is still room for improvement. Miami announced sophomore Jakai Clark has been elevated to starting left guard.

Clark started the final 12 games at guard for Miami in 2019 but was beaten out by redshirt sophomore Ousman Traore in training camp. Traore was the lowest graded offensive lineman for Miami against UAB. Head coach Manny Diaz said Miami still expects to use at least a six-man rotation on the offensive line.

That will include Traore. There is still potential for freshman Issiah Walker to gain eligibility later in the season as discussed by Diaz in his weekly press conference with beat reporters on Monday. Miami primarily played a five-man rotation on the offensive line on Thursday. The backups combined to play nine snaps.

Clark only played three. Gaynor and new right tackle Jarrid Williams played all 82 snaps on the offensive line for the Hurricanes. That further illustrates the importance that Gaynor provides upfront. As the season progresses and the rotation on the Miami OL expands, Gaynor will continue to be an anchor.