Miami Hurricanes moving DJ Scaife to RT changes depth chart
The move of D.J. Scaife from guard to right tackle changes the Miami Hurricanes depth chart on the offensive line. Scaife has 19 starts at RT and 12 at right guard in 37 career games. In 2019, Scaife was the 2019 offensive MVP for Miami. with 12 starts at right tackle. In 13 games, Scaife allowed 23 pressures and three sacks.
Scaife started all 11 games at right guard in 2020. On Tuesday, Scaife told reporters he prefers playing tackle. Scaife will face a challenge maintaining the starting position on the offensive line he has held since his freshman season in 2018 if right tackle is his position in 2021. Jarrid Williams is the projecting starting RT in 2021.
With Scaife likely to vacate his position at right guard from 2020, Navaughn Donaldson is the projected starter there. Donaldson was primarily a right guard in 2017 and 2018 before moving to left guard for the 2019 season. Donaldson missed the majority of the 2020 season after suffering a knee injury late in 2019.
Donaldson is expected to return to right guard in 2021. The remainder of the Miami Hurricanes OL should be Corey Gaynor at center, Zion Nelson at left tackle and Jakai Clark and Jalen Rivers competing to be the starter at left guard. Miami will have the most experience it has had in many on the 2021 OL.
Scaife said during his media availability that the Miami OL is working on their technique during spring practice. The Miami OL is working with Garin Justice entering his second season as their position coach. This is the first time since 2017 that Miami will have the same OL coach in consecutive seasons.
Donaldson, Clark, Gaynor, Nelson, Scaife, and Williams all have at least two seasons of starting experience entering the 2021 season. John Campbell has been reliable part-time starter for Miami the past two seasons. The experience that Miami has on the OL will be critical for the 2021 season.