Hurricanes plan to redshirt returning starter OL Jakai Clark

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Returning starting offensive lineman Jakai Clark has not appeared in the first two games for the No. 24 Miami Hurricanes.

Clark, who has started 22 of 24 games in his two seasons at Miami, has been recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in a car accident in April is healthy enough to play if needed, but there is no rush to return him to the lineup as the plan will be to redshirt him this season.

“Jakai’s our center of the future,” offensive line coach Garin Justice said. “We’re trying to limit and hold Jakai back to play him four and redshirt him. That way we have him for a lot of time and that’s something Jakai and his family all want as well. Not that he won’t play and Jakai understands that if we need him to play, he will, but we’re also trying to respect their wishes as well. And really for the long-term health of the program that’s what’s best for us in that we have a center for that much longer down the road.”

Center is a new position for Clark after starting at left guard last season and right guard as a true freshman in 2019.

Fifth-year junior Corey Gaynor is the team’s current starting center, a role he has held for the last three seasons, but could be moving on after the season even with an extra year of eligibility.

The maximum four games allowed by the NCAA to preserve a redshirt can be used at any point during the season and the plan is not to necessarily play him in the final four games of the year.

“We know that if Corey Gaynor goes down, Jakai Clark is going into the game,” Justice said. “He’s (healthy) and has actually bounced back quicker than even he thought. He’s been in a really, really good spot.”

Right guard Navaughn Donaldson is the team’s third-string center. Donaldson is currently in a battle with Justice Oluwaseun to hold onto his starting role when the Hurricanes (1-1) host Michigan State (2-0) on Saturday (12:00 p.m., ABC) while DJ Scaife and Jarrid Williams are battling at right tackle.

Christopher Stock has covered the Miami Hurricanes since 2003 and can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and on Twitter @InsideTheU.