"Countdown To Kickoff": The Offensive Line
Editor's Note: This is the fourth installment of an eight-part series produced by the FSU Athletics Communications Office looking at different position groups as the Bulldogs prepare for their 2009 season opener on Saturday, Aug. 29, against Tiffin at Top Taggart Field.
Big Rapids, Mich. - Its often been said in the game of football
that an offense is only as good as its offensive line.
With four of five starters returning from last campaign, the Ferris
State University football team's offensive line should be a good
one in 2009.
The right-side returns intact on the line of scrimmage with
Joe Doman (Ann Arbor/Whitmore Lake) and
Brad Bammert (Flushing) at right guard and tackle,
respectively. After seeing limited action as freshmen in
2006, both have made 22 consecutive starts up front over the last
two seasons and give the Bulldogs one of the better tandems in the
league.
Regarded as a hard worker, Bammert is expected to be one of the
squad's leaders in 2009 and is a capable run blocker who's also
good in pass protection. Doman moved to guard last season
after starting at center in 2007 and is an intelligent player who
moves well along with being a powerful run blocker.
On the backside, the Bulldogs should have one of the league's best
in junior left tackle Matt Wellman (Portland), who
attained All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
(GLIAC) Honorable Mention accolades a year ago. The two-year
starter was honored as FSU's Most Valuable Offensive Lineman last
season.
The fourth returning starter, junior Scott
Shattuck (Lowell/Ionia), was in the lineup for all 11
games at center in 2008. He spent the spring working with the
defensive line, but was moved back to the offensive side of the
ball prior to fall camp and will battle for time at the guard
position.
"Our offensive line has a number of starters back and another
year of experience under their belts," said FSU head coach
Jeff Pierce. "They should be a more athletic
group this season and that will allow us to do more things on the
offensive side of the ball."
A local product, sophomore Jake Hancock (Big
Rapids), is vying to be the starter at center as is redshirt
freshman Taylor Phillips (Orion/Lake Orion), who
also has the ability to play at tight end, and fellow redshirt
freshman Clark Wright (Elkhart, Ind./Central).
Junior Joe Voiles (Flushing/Grand Blanc) has
seen time as a valuable reserve in the past and is a quality player
with experience who should challenge for more time this campaign
and a possible starting role.
"Several of the guys we return up front really performed well in
the spring and have taken steps up into leadership roles on this
team," Offensive Coordinator Matt McCarthy
said.
Two other redshirt freshmen, Trevor Smolinski
(Battle Creek/Marshall) and Taylor Sprague
(Saranac/Lowell), are also among the candidates to see action up
front after productive first years in the program. Smolinski
was the recipient of the Tomorrow's Team Offensive Player of the
Year Award for his work last fall. Sophomore Rich
Rosenberg (Traverse City/West), among others, has
been around the program for a couple of years and could
help provide depth as the year goes.
The Bulldogs also placed a focus on the offensive line during the
recruiting period and several incoming freshmen should help provide
depth up front and contend for time as reserves.
Next Installment: The "Countdown To Kickoff" series will resume on Friday (Aug. 21) with a look at the defensive line.
