After a good deal of mixing and matching throughout the first month of the 2021 season, Ohio found some consistency along the offensive line over the final eight weeks.
With a pretty even split between returning and departing players, here is a look at Ohio’s offensive line heading into the 2022 season:
Who’s Gone
When it comes to departures on the offensive line, the biggest name is TJ Jackson. Jackson, a redshirt fifth year last season, was one of only two lineman to start all 12 games for the Bobcats. His departure leaves a 6-foot-7, 375 pound hole on the offensive line.
Two other key departures are Nick Sink and Gary Hoover. Sink started the first four and final three games of the season. Hoover started in Ohio’s second game, as well as games five through nine. He was part of a stretch of four consecutive games with the same five starters, Ohio’s longest streak of the season.
Who’s Back
The most important returner for Ohio is Jay Amburgey, who was the only other lineman to start all 12 games last season. He and Jackson combined to give Ohio some important consistency on the offensive line, and he will once again play an important role in 2022.
Also returning are Parker Titsworth, who started in the final eight games of the 2021 season, Cristophe Atkinson, who started in four games, Hagen Meservy, who started in games five through eight as part of the grouping that started all four of those games and Brody Rodgers, who started four games with just one coming after Ohio’s third game of the season.
Who’s New
Of the 20 offensive linemen currently on Ohio’s roster, 15 were on the team during the 2021 season, so there has not been a great deal of turnover on its offensive line. Of the five newcomers, three are freshmen: Kam Wright, Joseph Watson and Jarian Shelby.
The other two are transfers who may be expected to fill some holes right away for Ohio. Vance Van Every is a junior transfer from Northwest Mississippi Community College, and Jacob Dennison is a redshirt sophomore who transferred from Jacksonville State.
Position Outlook
In 2021, the offensive line played pretty well in both pass protection and run blocking, allowing the fourth fewest sacks in the Mid-American Conference. It also helped Ohio gain the sixth most rushing yards per game.
The departure of Jackson could be an issue, however, as he was one of just two players to start all 12 games on an offensive line that did a lot of shuffling over the course of last season.
With a good number of snaps to replace, some new faces could be called into action quickly for the Bobcats. On a team that will likely continue to rely on its run game, a strong offensive line is paramount, and the Bobcats are set up well for it again.
