Position preview: Offensive Line
9/4/2010 12:14:28 AM | Football
ABILENE – For the last four seasons, the ACU Wildcats have entered the season with an offensive line that should have been among the best in NCAA Division II football.
And for the first three years of that string, that thought about the offensive line held true. But last year's group proved to be somewhat inconsistent, giving up 36 sacks after giving up a combined 28 in the previous three seasons.
But ACU head coach Chris Thomsen believes the 2010 until will once again be among the best in the country with three solid returning starters and two promising newcomers.
Leading the way for the returning players is pre-season all-America left tackle Trevis Turner, and returning all-Lone Star Conference performers Royland Tubbs at guard and Matt Webber at center. The new starters are junior Neal Tivis at left tackle and redshirt freshman Josh Perez at guard.
"I feel really good our offensive line," Thomsen said. "We've got two new starters, but I'm excited about both of those guys. Tivis has played a lot over the last couple of years, and he looks very confident in practice. Perez had a great spring and he's carried that through to the summer."
The three returning starters have started 63 straight games between them (25 for Tubbs and Turner and 13 for Webber), giving the Wildcats experienced building blocks.
"We've got a lot of experience and toughness and leadership in that group," Thomsen said. "All three of those guys are proven performers in our league and are some of the best players at their positions in the conference."
Junior college transfer Dylan Blount, redshirt freshman Blake Spears, senior Chad High and sophomore transfer Richard Cagle will be the top backups along the line.
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