A report from the Miami Herald on Saturday stated that starting guard Jakai Clark will be out for three to four months and doubtful for the September 4 season opener against Alabama. Clark injured the AC joint in his right shoulder in a car accident following the Miami Hurricanes spring game on April 17.
The loss of Clark can be absorbed by Miami with freshman offensive lineman Jalen Rivers having pushed Clark to be on the first team throughout the spring. Two seasons ago when Clark and offensive tackle Zion Nelson started most of the season as true freshmen the Hurricanes lacked depth on the offensive line.
Clark started in the spring game with the first-team offense with, from left to right, Nelson at LT, center Corey Gaynor, guard Navaughn Donaldson and tackle DJ Scaife. Jarrid Williams who was the starting RT in 2020 was out for the spring with an undisclosed injury. If Clark is out against Alabama, Miami will miss his experience.
The other primary OL expected to be in the rotation for Miami Hurricanes in 2020 are John Campbell who can play guard or tackle and Issiah Walker who has primarily worked at LT but could potentially play guard if Miami needs him to. Miami was named a finalist for former 6-3, 325-pound UNLV OL Justice Oluwaseun.
Mentioned on the @WideRightPod earlier this week how #Canes left guard Jakai Clark might not be ready for the start of the season with an undisclosed injury. @smillerdegnan reports he was in car accident and needed shoulder surgery. Jalen Rivers should fill in well vs. Bama.
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) April 24, 2021
Oluwaseun is also considering Baylor and Houston with the Cougars favored to sign him. Miami OL coach Garin Justice coached Oluwaseun for two seasons with the Rebels. Miami was missing 15 players for the Spring Game including guard Cleveland Reed with a pectoral muscle injury and OT Michael McLaughlin.
McLaughlin was able to play half of spring after being out with a patella injury. The depth Manny Diaz and Justice are building on the OL has become critical to create experience and absorb any injuries like the one to Clark. Losing the experience Clark has against Alabama is tough as Rivers will likely make his first career start.