Junior offensive lineman Navaughn Donaldson has spent most of his career as a guard; however, he has played the past week at center with Corey Gaynor out.
“As soon as coach (Butch) Barry got here he told us a story of how he only had three centers, all three got hurt in a game so he had to put somebody else inconsistent at center,” Donaldson said. “So, his plan from the beginning was to have five centers at all times. Even when Corey gets back he said I might have a job at center still, just in case to prepare for game situations.”
Despite a lack of experience at the spot, Donaldson is comfortable at center and it has forced him to learn more of the offense as well.
“I’m just learning the whole offense, the bigger picture. I’m doing well,” Donaldson said. “It’s different, I have to make calls, help my teammates out. Being at center, talking to my teammates, I’m making sure we’re all on the same page.”
Does he see a clear starting 5 beginning to emerge on the O-Line?
“It’s always tough, we have 15 guys that show potential and can play,” Donaldson said. “With the injuries, we find out who is tough, who will step up. Last Saturday we stepped up, made big contributions, actually made good plays.”
Donaldson’s backup at center has been grad transfer senior Tommy Kennedy, who noticeably struggled early in the spring. However, Donaldson sees Kennedy as improving his game since he’s been at Miami.
“He’s getting better every day.”
**Sophomore OL Kai-Leon Herbert has been taking steps to win the battle at right tackle this spring and has spent a lot of time working with the ones for the first time in his UM career.
“I think I’ve progressed,” Herbert said. “I’m really loving the way the spring has gone for the O line - it’s a lot more competition now. It’s really been good. Right tackle, I would say I feel comfortable now with what I’m learning. I feel like this group is going to be pretty good.”
Injuries have held Herbert back since the beginning of his career, and he has struggled putting on strength since tearing his labrum in his shoulder in high school.
“I played the first game as a freshman and tore it again, took a medical redshirt year,” Herbert said. “This past year, I was looking to play a lot more and I tore my lateral meniscus before the beginning of the year, came back and re-aggravated it. Injuries have really been a factor in where I’ve been these two years. But I’m really confident in this year, am trying to compete to get on the field. That’s all I want to do right now.”
How is his health now?
“My knee gets sore, everyone gets sore, but that’s football,” Herbert said. “I feel great, a lot better than I have the last two years.”
UM has shaken up their line by moving Navaughn Donaldson to center due to injuries and Herbert has liked the move so far.
“With him at center, I feel confident in Navaughn,” Herbert said.
True freshman OL Zion Nelson has come in more prepared than expected and has shown flashes of his potential as an early enrollee this spring.
“He’s a beast, is going to be great,” Herbert said of Nelson. “He came in kind of skinny, is starting to put on a lot of weight. He’s competed his tail off ever since he got here, is only getting us better.”
“As soon as coach (Butch) Barry got here he told us a story of how he only had three centers, all three got hurt in a game so he had to put somebody else inconsistent at center,” Donaldson said. “So, his plan from the beginning was to have five centers at all times. Even when Corey gets back he said I might have a job at center still, just in case to prepare for game situations.”
Despite a lack of experience at the spot, Donaldson is comfortable at center and it has forced him to learn more of the offense as well.
“I’m just learning the whole offense, the bigger picture. I’m doing well,” Donaldson said. “It’s different, I have to make calls, help my teammates out. Being at center, talking to my teammates, I’m making sure we’re all on the same page.”
Does he see a clear starting 5 beginning to emerge on the O-Line?
“It’s always tough, we have 15 guys that show potential and can play,” Donaldson said. “With the injuries, we find out who is tough, who will step up. Last Saturday we stepped up, made big contributions, actually made good plays.”
Donaldson’s backup at center has been grad transfer senior Tommy Kennedy, who noticeably struggled early in the spring. However, Donaldson sees Kennedy as improving his game since he’s been at Miami.
“He’s getting better every day.”
**Sophomore OL Kai-Leon Herbert has been taking steps to win the battle at right tackle this spring and has spent a lot of time working with the ones for the first time in his UM career.
“I think I’ve progressed,” Herbert said. “I’m really loving the way the spring has gone for the O line - it’s a lot more competition now. It’s really been good. Right tackle, I would say I feel comfortable now with what I’m learning. I feel like this group is going to be pretty good.”
Injuries have held Herbert back since the beginning of his career, and he has struggled putting on strength since tearing his labrum in his shoulder in high school.
“I played the first game as a freshman and tore it again, took a medical redshirt year,” Herbert said. “This past year, I was looking to play a lot more and I tore my lateral meniscus before the beginning of the year, came back and re-aggravated it. Injuries have really been a factor in where I’ve been these two years. But I’m really confident in this year, am trying to compete to get on the field. That’s all I want to do right now.”
How is his health now?
“My knee gets sore, everyone gets sore, but that’s football,” Herbert said. “I feel great, a lot better than I have the last two years.”
UM has shaken up their line by moving Navaughn Donaldson to center due to injuries and Herbert has liked the move so far.
“With him at center, I feel confident in Navaughn,” Herbert said.
True freshman OL Zion Nelson has come in more prepared than expected and has shown flashes of his potential as an early enrollee this spring.
“He’s a beast, is going to be great,” Herbert said of Nelson. “He came in kind of skinny, is starting to put on a lot of weight. He’s competed his tail off ever since he got here, is only getting us better.”
