Position Previews: Offensive Line

It’s time we start breaking down each position as the season will be here in about 2 months. I don’t have any inside information, so these are mainly guesses on my part and if you take anything away from this, it’s the opportunity for a discussion.

Possible Starters:

Tackles:
Howard Sampson (6-8/330) Sr-1L
Jacob Ponton (6-8/305) So-1L

This is likely going to be a really good group. I am thankful that these tackles are returning. It gives them a year to get better. I thought last year, these guys were a little rough around the edges, but generally were quite good and not anything to necessarily complain about. Speed off the edge is an issue for Ponton and Sampson, but they are skyscrapers in terms of size and you can’t always have both things be true, a guy that’s a massive wall AND a guy that can stop quick and elite edge rushers. It’s not the regular pass rushers, it’s the elite ones that give both Sampson and Ponton some fits. I think they are both aware of these things and like anyone else, I expect some improvement from them this year..

Guards:
Hunter Zambrano (6-5/305) Sr-RS
D’Anthis Upshaw Jr. (6-5/305) So-1L
Jordan Church (6-4/310) Jr-Tr

I thought that Upshaw would be the starter this year, but Church transferred from Louisville and now I think that he’s likely the guy. Zambrano essentially took a redshirt year and it’s my expectation that he’ll start alongside Church. I don’t know about the strength of Church and Upshaw, but would hope that 6 or 7 months of training will help with that.

Centers:
Sheridan Wilson (6-5/300) Sr-2L
Cash Cleveland (6-2/295) Jr-1L

Wilson is a team leader and the benefit of having a top-end center is a luxury is sort of invaluable. To have a back-up that could fill those shoes is a luxury that you just don’t see very often. This is as solid a position as there is on the team.

Likely Back-Ups:

Tackles:
Felix Ojo (6-6/295) Fr-HS
Jacob Crow (6-9/310) Fr-HS
Daniel Sill (6-5/310) Jr-1L

Kinda basing this on size alone and pedigree. We know that Ojo is a tackle for sure and I believe that at 6’9″, Crow would need to be one as well. I don’t know who would get the call if there was an injury up front, it would seem that Sill is guy with the most experience and maybe Ellis Davis (I wasn’t sure where he was slotted, i.e. as a guard or tackle so he wound up in the “not sure” category).

Guards:
Patrick McMath (6-4/290) Fr-RS
Connor Carty (6-4/295) Fr-RS
Ren Brown (6-4/305) Fr-RS

These are the back-up guards and there’s a lot of youth here. You have to wonder if Cleveland could flip to a guard spot if needed.

Not Sure:
Ellis Davis (6-7/305) So-Sq
Elias Gillen (6-6/315) Fr-RS
Jackson Hildebrand (6-2/295) So-Sq
Danilo Guberinich (6-5/295) Fr-RS
Jerald Mays (6-4/320) Fr-HS
Bryce Gilmore (6-4/285) Fr-HS
Garin Maley (6-5/290) Fr-RS
Holton Hendrix (6-4/300) So-Sq

My biggest problem is what to do with Ellis Davis. I’m not exactly sure where he’s supposed to be, but I definitely don’t think he’s an afterthought. I just don’t know if he’s a tackle or a guard and my guess is that he is a tackle, but I don’t know (he was a tackle in last year’s depth chart I think). I think that Mays is likely a center and the rest are just young and finding their way. Hendrix is out for the year with an injury I believe.