ScottyBuff
Well-Known Member
Obviously this is the heart of the team, and the problems the OL had last season dictated our entire season. There are some notes in the "2-deep" thread, and some about individual players, but as this is a "unit" thought I would post this as a complete thread.
With the talent and experience gained last season for our tackles, if only we could get some stability at the interior line positions, especially replacing Girthy at Center this year could be alot better than last season, but it still feels really thin and most likely we are another year away from having a complete unit with the depth to fill holes when they open.
I remember reading when Hawk took the job that he said it was stated goal to recruit 5-6 OL recruits every season to rebuild the depth there.
Since then the 2006 class included:
Nate Solder (as TE, now starting LT)
Eric Lawson (as OG, converted to DT)
Wes Simon (as C, no longer with program)
Quintin Borders (as OT, no longer with program)
Bill Boyer (as OT, no longer with program)
Erick Faatagi (as OG, no longer with program)
Keenan Stevens (Walk-on, in the mix as starter at C)
2007:
Ryan Miller (as OT, now starting RT)
Blake Behrens (as OG, s/b starting OG/C this year)
Sione Tau (as OT, ineligible in '08, in the mix as backup)
Ethan Adkins (as OT, s/b in the top 5 at OT)
Matt Bahr (as OG, not sure what position he will be at but s/b a backup)
Shawn Daniels (as OG, probably the least talked about interior lineman?)
Mike Iltis (as OG, injury, but definitely in the mix at OG, some say at C?)
Kai Maiava (as C/OG, no longer with the program)
David Clark (Walk-On as OT, depth player)
2008:
Bryce Givens (as OT, R/S in '08 but in the mix as a top 5 OT)
Max Tuioti-Mariner (as OG, likely starter at RG)
Ryan Dannewitz (as OT, in the mix as a top 5 OT)
2009 (projected as of now):
Jack Harris (as OT)
Gus Handler (as OG)
David Bakhtiari (as OT)
Shaun Simon (as C)
To really prove the point of the youth and lack of depth, look at GB's last recruiting class in 2005:
Devin Head (as OG, most likely starter at LG)
Bryce MacMartin (as C, JuCo now graduated)
Paul Backowski (as OT, no longer with program)
Jeremy Hauck (as OG, no longer with program)
To recap:
2005 produced only 1 offensive lineman, with 1 starter
2006 produced only 2 offensive lineman, 1 starter (poss. 2)
2007 produced 8 offensive linemen, 2 starters
2008 produced 3 offensive linemen, 1 starter
I agree with some of the posters about Devin Head, but have left him in as the de-facto "starter" at LG. I really think another off-season of development will see Blake Behrens in that role, unless he takes the Center position. Does anyone have any info on Shawn Daniels?
If Head, Behrens, Iltis, Stevens, Daniels, and Mariner are all healthy and continue in their development we could be set this season, but that is alot of "IF's" to have them all come true.
With the talent and experience gained last season for our tackles, if only we could get some stability at the interior line positions, especially replacing Girthy at Center this year could be alot better than last season, but it still feels really thin and most likely we are another year away from having a complete unit with the depth to fill holes when they open.
I remember reading when Hawk took the job that he said it was stated goal to recruit 5-6 OL recruits every season to rebuild the depth there.
Since then the 2006 class included:
Nate Solder (as TE, now starting LT)
Eric Lawson (as OG, converted to DT)
Wes Simon (as C, no longer with program)
Quintin Borders (as OT, no longer with program)
Bill Boyer (as OT, no longer with program)
Erick Faatagi (as OG, no longer with program)
Keenan Stevens (Walk-on, in the mix as starter at C)
2007:
Ryan Miller (as OT, now starting RT)
Blake Behrens (as OG, s/b starting OG/C this year)
Sione Tau (as OT, ineligible in '08, in the mix as backup)
Ethan Adkins (as OT, s/b in the top 5 at OT)
Matt Bahr (as OG, not sure what position he will be at but s/b a backup)
Shawn Daniels (as OG, probably the least talked about interior lineman?)
Mike Iltis (as OG, injury, but definitely in the mix at OG, some say at C?)
Kai Maiava (as C/OG, no longer with the program)
David Clark (Walk-On as OT, depth player)
2008:
Bryce Givens (as OT, R/S in '08 but in the mix as a top 5 OT)
Max Tuioti-Mariner (as OG, likely starter at RG)
Ryan Dannewitz (as OT, in the mix as a top 5 OT)
2009 (projected as of now):
Jack Harris (as OT)
Gus Handler (as OG)
David Bakhtiari (as OT)
Shaun Simon (as C)
To really prove the point of the youth and lack of depth, look at GB's last recruiting class in 2005:
Devin Head (as OG, most likely starter at LG)
Bryce MacMartin (as C, JuCo now graduated)
Paul Backowski (as OT, no longer with program)
Jeremy Hauck (as OG, no longer with program)
To recap:
2005 produced only 1 offensive lineman, with 1 starter
2006 produced only 2 offensive lineman, 1 starter (poss. 2)
2007 produced 8 offensive linemen, 2 starters
2008 produced 3 offensive linemen, 1 starter
I agree with some of the posters about Devin Head, but have left him in as the de-facto "starter" at LG. I really think another off-season of development will see Blake Behrens in that role, unless he takes the Center position. Does anyone have any info on Shawn Daniels?
If Head, Behrens, Iltis, Stevens, Daniels, and Mariner are all healthy and continue in their development we could be set this season, but that is alot of "IF's" to have them all come true.
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