Miami Hurricanes have most experienced CFB OL entering 2021 season

According to college football analyst Phil Steele via Brad Powers on Twitter, the Miami Hurricanes have the most experienced offensive line returning for the 2021 season in college football. Led by offensive tackle Zion Nelson who is entering his third season as a starter, Powers posted that Miami has 190 returning starts in 2021.

Miami enters the 2021 season with the most experienced OL in college football history according to Powers. The Miami Hurricanes are benefitting from the extra season granted by the NCAA for 2020-21 athletes due to COVID. Right tackle Jarrid Williams brings the most experience to the Miami OL with 30 collegiate starts.

Nelson and Williams are the projected OTs for Miami. After playing all 11 games at right guard in 2020, Delone Scaife is returning to RT in 2021 where he is expected to compete with Williams to be the starter. Scaife started seven games in 2018 as a true freshman and 12 at RT as a sophomore in 2019.

John Campbell enters his fourth season with the Miami Hurricanes and is expected to provide depth throughout the OL. Campbell has experience as a starter at both OT positions and left guard. Navaughn Donaldson missed all but two games in 2020 after being a starter for Miami on the OL since 2017.

Donaldson is the projected starter at RG. Jalen Rivers is the expected starter at LG after playing in seven games as a freshman in 2020. Issiah Walker who is also entering his second Miami Hurricanes season and UNLV transfer Justice Oluwaseun will add depth at guard and tackle with Campbell.

Corey Gaynor returns for Miami after starting all 24 games at center the last two seasons. Jakai Clark who has started 22 games in his first two seasons with Miami at guard is the heir apparent to Gaynor in what is likely his last season. The Miami OL is experienced and deep entering the 2021 season.

Miami needs greater consistency from their OL in 2021. The Hurricanes allowed too many sacks in each of the last two seasons. Nelson has improved significantly and is projected as a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The performance of the Miami OL will be a major determining factor in the success of the 2021 Hurricanes.