Miami Hurricanes future offensive line with plan to redshirt Jakai Clark
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Miami Hurricanes offensive line coach Garin Justice stated that the plan for former starter Jakai Clark is to redshirt in 2021. Clark started 22 of 24 games in his first two seasons with Miami in 2019 and 2022. Justice stated that Clark is the Hurricanes center of the future.
Current starting center Corey Gaynor is in his fifth season with the Miami Hurricanes but has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Gaynor redshirted as a sophomore in 2018 and everyone who was on a roster in 2020 gained an extra season of eligibility. Gaynor will have the option to return for the 2022 season.
The Hurricanes will definitely lose offensive tackle Jarrid Williams following the 2021 season. Several other OL will have decisions to make following the 2021 season like Gaynor. Navaughn Donaldson, Zion Nelson and D.J. Scaife are the primary OL with decisions to make to return for 2022 or leave for the NFL Draft.
Miami is building depth. Nelson is likely to enter the NFL Draft. Gaynor and Scaife could enter the 2022 NFL Draft or potentially enter the transfer portal. It seems clear that Justice and the Miami coaching staff want Clark to be the center in 2022 and 2023. Gaynor has experience playing guard. Scaife can play guard or tackle.
Justice said that if Gaynor gets hurt, Clark would replace him. Donaldson is the emergency center if Gaynor and Clark get hurt. Justice Oluwaseun who was expected to add depth in 2020 and challenge for a starting position has broken through and is listed as the starting right tackle for the second week in a row against Michigan State.
The Miami offensive line is likely to be in transition during the 2022 offseason. A lot will depend on the decisions of Donaldson, Gaynor, Nelson and Scaife. Some combination of those four will likely depart after the 2021 season. Nelson is projected as a first or second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The corps of the Miami offensive line in 2021 will definitely be made up of Clark, Oluwaseun, Rivers and 2020 signee Isaiah Walker who originally signed with Florida and then transferred to Miami. Justice is not happy with the play of the Miami OL through the Hurricanes’ first two games of 2021.
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Miami entered this season with 138 cumulative starts among its OL. That’s the most in college football history. Miami could enter 2022 with a mostly inexperienced OL, but the chance for a fresh start upfront. Justice said Donaldson, Oluwaseun, Scaife and Williams and competing to start and right guard and right tackle.