Miami will be without a piece of their offensive line for the UAB game.

Prior to Miami’s opener Thursday, sources told InsideTheU that the status of Florida transfer and former Miami Norland Top247 offensive lineman Issiah Walker Jr. is up in the air. Miami listed Walker on their unavailability report prior to kickoff Thursday. 

Miami recruited Walker heavily as a high school product prior to him enrolling early at UF. After spending the spring semester in Gainesville, the Miami-native transferred to his hometown school. 

The Under Armour All-American appeared to be in line for a rotational role on the offensive line, which was one of the worst in 2019. Both Miami head coach Manny Diaz and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee were hopeful that Walker would receive the waiver, but noted that the Hurricanes feel good about what the offensive line room looks like at the tackle spots.

“One of the positives is we have some long, athletic options at tackle when you look at John Campbell, Zion Nelson, Jarrid Williams, Kai-Leon Herbert, and Zalon’tae Hillery has played both inside and outside, Issiah Walker with that addition,” Lashlee said last month. “We’ve got some guys that can play outside. I think it’s really about us finding out who’s comfortable on the left and right side.”

Miami is expected to start Campbell at the left tackle spot, while Houston graduate transfer Jarrid Williams will hold down the right side, where he played the majority of his career at Houston. On the roster, the Hurricanes hold another blue-chip freshman in Jalen Rivers, who is listed as the second-team left guard on the Hurricanes depth chart that was released this week. 

Walker was the No. 157 overall player and No. 15 offensive tackle in the 2020 class, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.