Photo: Offensive line for next season

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Photo: Offensive line for next season

Post by BrentVU »

This is Coach A.J. Blazek's "Grease Gang" at the spring game. From left: Signee Grayson Morgan of MBA; Junior Uzebu; Trent Weaver (52); Gage Pitchford; Bradley Ashmore; Coach Blazek; Ben Cox; graduate assistant; early enrollee David Siegel; Charlie Clark; Gunnar Hansen (55); signee Levi Harber, the wrestler from Montrose, Michigan; Delfin Xavier Castillo (64).
Kneeling in front: Jake Ketschek (56), Julian Hernandez (62).

Comments: This group is not in fabulous shape going into the fall, but not in terrible shape either. The biggest losses from last year are starters Tyler Steen (graduate transfer to Alabama) and Cole Clemens (graduated); those two started every game last season. Backup Jason Brooks, who started the UT game last year, entered the portal. Kevo Wesley was moved from OL to DL because we needed bodies there so badly.

But you could say that we have four starters returning, and you wouldn't be wrong. Hernandez was a pleasant surprise last year at center, and Ashmore was a team captain. Cox started half the year at tackle, and Castillo filled in for him the other half, starting the last five games, performing credibly. We just need someone to emerge as a solid left tackle, a key position on any team. In the spring game it was Hansen getting the start, who doesn't have much experience. The second unit was Ketschek, Weaver, Pitchford, Clark, and Siegel (the early enrollee). Uzebu has been out injured, but we had ten guys to go through the spring with, which is better than a lot of years.

One guy who will have a chance to start in the fall is Jacob Brammer, a transfer from North Texas with a boatload of college experience; don't be surprised if he wins that critical left tackle spot. In the recruiting class, besides Siegel, Morgan, and Harber, is Leyton Nelson from Orlando. Most of those guys should redshirt (and they could still play in four games if needed). We shouldn't be hurting for bodies, but we probably don't have as much bulk and experience as the coaches would like. Keep an eye on the battle for the left tackle spot in the fall. With a little luck and an absence of injuries, this could be an OK unit.

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