This is part of The Sun’s position-by-position preview of the football team.
With a deep, veteran group, the Red’s offensive line could be among the best in recent memory. The team will return senior starters center Alex Emanuels and guard John Foster, and will also likely start seniors Islam Mohamed and Jake Waltmon along with sophomore Henry Stillwell.
A key component of last year’s offensive line came in the form of remarkable consistency. The same five players started all of the Red’s game last year. Part of the five-man group was Emanuels, who, at 6-foot-2, 267 pounds, is an “unsung hero” of the team, according to head coach David Archer ’05.
“He’s the captain of the ship and really an invaluable player for us,” Archer also said of the senior. “[He] knows our offense and blocking schemes inside and out.”
While Emanuels, Foster and Waltman all have performed in real game environments, Mohamed and Stillwell will both enter this season without that experience. Still, Archer said he has faith in them, commenting that Mohamed in particularly, has “really worked his way into a starting role.”
Beyond the starters, Archer also predicts that seniors Dan Morin and Flint Geier, as well as juniors Gus Basanes — a converted defensive linemen — and Theo Goosen will serve as a valuable asset off the bench.
“As games go by we swap,” Archer said. “We certainly want to make sure we are playing everybody that deserves to play because that could keep everybody fresh.”
At tight end, senior captain Matt Sullivan will be getting the most play time, with senior Nick Bland and junior Hayes Nolte also earning time on the field. Archer praised the flexibility of the three tight ends.
“You’re going to seem them lined up in the slot, lined up in the backfield or lined up attached,” Archer said. “We feel really good about putting those three guys into the game as various times. We have depth, which is the key theme.”
Key Losses
- Zach Wilk ‘16
- Daniel Cunnningham ‘16
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