Football | 8/11/2016 12:14:00 PM
DETROIT -- Over the next few weeks we will continue previewing each position on the 2016 Wayne State University football team with each position coach highlighting their respective units.
Scott Wooster, who begins his eighth season on head coach
Paul Winters staff and fourth season as offensive line coach, is featured in this segment.
Last year WSU rushed for 2,137 yards and 27 touchdowns, but allowed 28 sacks. The Warriors will look to improve upon the 4.4 yards per attempt, while also cutting down the number of sacks allowed. This year's offensive line contingent has quality, versatility and depth. The five projected starters have made 91 collegiate starts, while the back-ups have started a combined 28 contests for the Green and Gold.
Leading the way are graduate student
Nate Theaker (White Lake, Mich. / Lakeland), fifth-year seniors
Robert Kelly (Grosse Pointe, Mich. / Chandler Park Academy),
Andy Zimmerman (Grand Rapids, Mich. / West Catholic) and
JT Pillars (Metamora, Mich. / Lapeer East) along with junior
Tommy Richardson (Troy, Mich.). Kelly leads the corps having started 30 times, while both Theaker and Richardson have 22 starts with Zimmerman (10) and Pillars (7) getting their starts a year ago.
Theaker, who graduated last December, was a pre-season All-American in 2015, but missed all of last season with an injury. Kelly, who was a Second Team All-GLIAC selection a year ago, has played in 32 of 33 games in his three seasons, making 30 starts (first 16 at right tackles, nine at left tackle, five at right guard). Zimmerman started the final 10 games last season at right tackle and was WSU's offensive player of the week for the Walsh contest. Pillars started the season opener at right tackle, then started the final six games of the 2015 campaign at center. Meanwhile Richardson, who was WSU's lone First Team All-GLIAC honoree for 2015, has started all 22 games of his collegiate career (14 at left guard, six at right guard, and two at center).
Pushing the aforementioned student-athletes for a starting role are fifth-year seniors
Ed Reny (Whitmore Lake, Mich. / Dexter),
Alex Ziedas (Dearborn, Mich. / U. of Detroit Jesuit),
Sawyer McFadden (Holt, Mich.),
Jake Sheets (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Skyline) and
Sam Tate (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King), along with junior
Greg Webber (Troy, Mich.) and sophomore
Israel Helms (Southfield, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's).
A trio of redshirt freshmen in
Justin Tockstein (Warren, Mich. / Mott),
Charlie Younger (Eagle, Wis. / Mukwonago) and
Tarron Hampton (Brandon, Fla. / Bloomingdale) will be vying for a spot on the travel list.
Four newcomers in
Nolan Smith (Ohio City, Ohio / Van Wert),
Alex Angelas (Novi, Mich. / Northville),
Tyler Denski (Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson) and
Brendan Hrcka (Owosso, Mich.) will most likely redshirt during 2016.
Five years ago when the Warriors advanced to the national championship game, the offensive line was known as the "Road Graders."
The quality and depth of this group may require a similar nickname by the end of this upcoming season.
Previous Positions:
Linebackers Preview |
Running Backs Preview |
Quaterbacks Preview
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