Offensive line coach Nathan Young has three returning starters in 2009.
Postion Preview: Offensive Line
8/18/2009 3:52:59 PM | Football
ABILENE -- The ACU Wildcats are no longer strangers to having the best player in NCAA Division II football on their roster.
In both 2007 and 2008, running back Bernard Scott was the top player in Division II football.
In 2009, the Wildcats might have the best player in NCAA Division II football on their roster, but he's not a guy who will rack up more than 2,000 yards rushing and scored 30 touchdowns. He won't throw for more than 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns or catch 70 passes for 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns.
But, in all likelihood, he'll be the biggest man on the field every Saturday, and if he goes unnoticed, he'll have done his job.
After all, the job of senior left tackle Tony Washington is to open holes in the running game and make sure the quarterback stays upright.
Washington is one of three returning starters on an ACU offensive line that enters the 2009 season as one of the strongest units on the team. Washington returns at left tackle, while juniors Trevis Turner and Royland Tubbs return at left guard, respectively.
The new starters are Matt Webber at center and Levi Wolfe at right guard, and neither has an enviable task.
Webber takes over for Sam Collins, who set the ACU career record for starts with 46 and last year won the Gene Upshaw Award as the top lineman in NCAA Division II football and the Dave Rimington Award as the top center in NCAA Division II football.
Wolfe -- who has been a backup at both guard and center in each of the last two seasons -- is at right guard in place of all-America Joseph Thompson, who was a two-year starter for the Wildcats at both tackle and guard.
Despite those two losses, ACU head coach Chris Thomsen is confident there won't be much of a dropoff in an offensive line that has been the nation's best three years running.
"That's where we have the most experience, that's for sure," Thomsen said. "We've got some proven players there, and we need those guys to be productive players for us, especially early in the season while our quarterbacks and receivers are getting their timing down."
Washington is the most high-profile player in the group, having already been named a pre-season first team all-America and ranked the No. 6 offensive tackle prospect in the nation -- regardless of division -- by nfl.com personnel guru Gil Brandt.
"Tony has great feet, combined with a great body, and that's a rare combination at that position at any level," Thomsen said. "At his position (left tackle), it's important that he has a great year in order to give our quarterbacks a chance to settle in. He needs to play well and lead that group."
Thomsen also feels good about his top backups in senior Adam Myer, sophomore Neal Tivis and junior transfer Larry Landry.
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