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The Offensive Line will be one of the most closely scrutinized units on the Miami Hurricanes' Football Team in 2016.
Tasked with protecting franchise QB Brad Kaaya, and opening holes for a multitude of talented RBs, the OL will need to see a vast and immediate improvement from their 2015 performance for Miami to be the team they aspire to eventually become.
With several 4-star recruits along the OL, there's plenty of talent. And, one of the 3-star players has earned a worthy recognitition:
Junior C Nick Linder was named to the Rimington Award Watch List earlier today.
Congratulations to Miami junior center Nick Linder on being named to the 2016 @rimingtontrophy Spring Watch List. pic.twitter.com/LX0Z5KyWxz
— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) May 17, 2016
The Rimington Award, named for former Nebraska Cornhusker All-American Dave Rimington, is the award given annually to the best C in all of College Football.
Linder, a graduate of the HSFB powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), is coming into his second full season as the Canes' starting Center. His play at Guard and Center over the course of his first two collegiate seasons has been above average, and hopefully he's ready to take another step forward in his development.
In any event, it's a good thing to start seeing Miami Hurricanes on pre-season watch lists. I'd fully expect others to join Linder with such an honor in the coming days and weeks.