Troy University Athletics
Troy Position Previews - Offensive Line
8/22/2024 7:59:00 AM | Football
TROY, Ala. – Games can be won, or lost, in the trenches. A good offensive line will turn a good team into a great team. Offensive line coach Caleb Carbine and tackles/tight ends coach Kevin Reihner have worked together this offseason to rebuild an offensive line that lost three starters this past offseason.
Eli Russ is returning to Troy for his junior season. Russ was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team after starting at center for 13 out of Troy's 14 games last season. The Ardmore, Oklahoma, native transferred to Troy before the 2023 season from Oklahoma State, and in his first campaign with the Trojans, he only allowed three sacks in 466 pass blocking situations. Russ did not allow a hit on the quarterback in 11 games, and he received a perfect efficiency rating from Pro Football Focus in six games.
Daniel King was named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team after last season and to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team this summer following a junior season where he was Troy's top-rated pass blocker and run blocker, according to PFF. King played 963 offensive snaps and only allowed five sacks as a right guard in 520 pass blocking situations. The 6-foot-5, 340-pound guard posted a perfect efficiency rating in seven games and did not allow a hit on the quarterback in 11 of his 13 games played.
More Returning Pieces
The Trojans retained 11 linemen from last season; the majority of the returning pieces are underclassmen. However, Tavon Matthews joins Russ and King as the only other returning upperclassmen. Matthews is entering his sixth season of college football after he redshirted the 2023 season due to an injury and played a four-year career at East Tennessee State.
Boaz Stanley and Elijah Prather are both young returners who will have a huge role this season. Stanley, a redshirt sophomore, missed the majority of last season with an injury. The 6-foot-4 left guard transferred to Troy before the 2023 season after earning All-America honors as a true freshman at Georgia Military College. Prather is a redshirt freshman from LaVergne, Tennessee. Prather is listed at 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds and only saw six snaps last season.
Tyler Cappi and Kyler Gibson are both redshirt sophomores who are looking to move up in the depth chart after many players left in the offseason. Cappi, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound interior offensive lineman, has practiced playing both at center and guard but has yet to see any game action. Gibson, a 6-foot-5, 312-pound tackle, did not see any game time in his first year, but he saw six snaps on offense last season and three on special teams.
Rounding out the returning offensive line are Tyler Bell, Billy Gilmore, Obatare Jackson and Noah Mercer. All four players are redshirt freshmen who have not seen any game action yet in their early collegiate careers.
Impact Transfers
With so many missing pieces after last season, the Trojans hit the transfer portal and brought in five junior transfers to add immediate depth and impact.
Zerian Hudson, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound tackle, headlines the incoming transfer class. Hudson comes to Troy from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he started two seasons and earned MACCC South Second Team honors.
Matt Henry is another high-profile transfer that the Trojans were able to bring in. The Queensland, Australia, native went to the New Mexico Military Institute, where he appeared in nine games over his two-season tenure. On3 rated Henry as the No. 22 JUCO interior offensive lineman, and he is listed at 6-foot-4 and 355 pounds.
Zak Bowden is a multi-national championship winner as a former member of Iowa Western Community College. The 6-foot-4, 263-pound tackle was ranked as the No. 18 JUCO offensive tackle in the country by On3 Industry Rankings.
Carlos Slayden and Casey Fua'au round out the incoming transfer class for the 2024 season. Slayden, a 6-foot-4, 292-pound tackle, is from Corpus Christi, Texas, and played two seasons for Tyler Junior College before coming to Troy. Fua'au played in 10 of 11 games for Allen Hancock College last season and earned All-National Northern League second team honors.
Incoming Freshman
With limited spots left on the depth chart, the Trojans only added four true freshmen this offseason.
Caleb Ash, a 6-foot-6, 308-pound tackle from Atlanta, Georgia, was ranked as the No. 96 player in Georgia by On3. On3 also ranked Ash as the No. 65 offensive tackle in the nation after finishing his high school career with Langston Hughes.
Brian Senter, a 6-foot-3, 325-pound interior offensive lineman, earned all-region honors after helping lead Jefferson High School to a region title. On3 and 247Sports ranked Senter as a top 200 player in Georgia after he finished his senior season with 78 pancake blocks.
Logan Potes and Ricky Timbers Jr. round out Troy's 2024 offensive line. Potes, a 6-foot-1, 275-pound freshman, is from Matthews, North Carolina, where he played football for Weddington High School. Timbers is listed at 6-foot-1 and 278 pounds. The Midland City, Alabama, native played high school football for Dale County.
Eli Russ is returning to Troy for his junior season. Russ was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team after starting at center for 13 out of Troy's 14 games last season. The Ardmore, Oklahoma, native transferred to Troy before the 2023 season from Oklahoma State, and in his first campaign with the Trojans, he only allowed three sacks in 466 pass blocking situations. Russ did not allow a hit on the quarterback in 11 games, and he received a perfect efficiency rating from Pro Football Focus in six games.
Daniel King was named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team after last season and to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team this summer following a junior season where he was Troy's top-rated pass blocker and run blocker, according to PFF. King played 963 offensive snaps and only allowed five sacks as a right guard in 520 pass blocking situations. The 6-foot-5, 340-pound guard posted a perfect efficiency rating in seven games and did not allow a hit on the quarterback in 11 of his 13 games played.
More Returning Pieces
The Trojans retained 11 linemen from last season; the majority of the returning pieces are underclassmen. However, Tavon Matthews joins Russ and King as the only other returning upperclassmen. Matthews is entering his sixth season of college football after he redshirted the 2023 season due to an injury and played a four-year career at East Tennessee State.
Boaz Stanley and Elijah Prather are both young returners who will have a huge role this season. Stanley, a redshirt sophomore, missed the majority of last season with an injury. The 6-foot-4 left guard transferred to Troy before the 2023 season after earning All-America honors as a true freshman at Georgia Military College. Prather is a redshirt freshman from LaVergne, Tennessee. Prather is listed at 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds and only saw six snaps last season.
Tyler Cappi and Kyler Gibson are both redshirt sophomores who are looking to move up in the depth chart after many players left in the offseason. Cappi, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound interior offensive lineman, has practiced playing both at center and guard but has yet to see any game action. Gibson, a 6-foot-5, 312-pound tackle, did not see any game time in his first year, but he saw six snaps on offense last season and three on special teams.
Rounding out the returning offensive line are Tyler Bell, Billy Gilmore, Obatare Jackson and Noah Mercer. All four players are redshirt freshmen who have not seen any game action yet in their early collegiate careers.
Impact Transfers
With so many missing pieces after last season, the Trojans hit the transfer portal and brought in five junior transfers to add immediate depth and impact.
Zerian Hudson, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound tackle, headlines the incoming transfer class. Hudson comes to Troy from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he started two seasons and earned MACCC South Second Team honors.
Matt Henry is another high-profile transfer that the Trojans were able to bring in. The Queensland, Australia, native went to the New Mexico Military Institute, where he appeared in nine games over his two-season tenure. On3 rated Henry as the No. 22 JUCO interior offensive lineman, and he is listed at 6-foot-4 and 355 pounds.
Zak Bowden is a multi-national championship winner as a former member of Iowa Western Community College. The 6-foot-4, 263-pound tackle was ranked as the No. 18 JUCO offensive tackle in the country by On3 Industry Rankings.
Carlos Slayden and Casey Fua'au round out the incoming transfer class for the 2024 season. Slayden, a 6-foot-4, 292-pound tackle, is from Corpus Christi, Texas, and played two seasons for Tyler Junior College before coming to Troy. Fua'au played in 10 of 11 games for Allen Hancock College last season and earned All-National Northern League second team honors.
Incoming Freshman
With limited spots left on the depth chart, the Trojans only added four true freshmen this offseason.
Caleb Ash, a 6-foot-6, 308-pound tackle from Atlanta, Georgia, was ranked as the No. 96 player in Georgia by On3. On3 also ranked Ash as the No. 65 offensive tackle in the nation after finishing his high school career with Langston Hughes.
Brian Senter, a 6-foot-3, 325-pound interior offensive lineman, earned all-region honors after helping lead Jefferson High School to a region title. On3 and 247Sports ranked Senter as a top 200 player in Georgia after he finished his senior season with 78 pancake blocks.
Logan Potes and Ricky Timbers Jr. round out Troy's 2024 offensive line. Potes, a 6-foot-1, 275-pound freshman, is from Matthews, North Carolina, where he played football for Weddington High School. Timbers is listed at 6-foot-1 and 278 pounds. The Midland City, Alabama, native played high school football for Dale County.
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