CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Despite losing three starters from a year ago, Southeast Missouri's offensive line is shaping up nicely.

The Redhawks are 20-30 pounds heavier at every position across their front five and it's showing just six practices into the preseason.

"I think we are ahead of schedule," said second-year offensive line coach Ben Blake. "We got a lot of new guys from the mid-year that were here in the spring and summer, and that was huge. We're being a lot more physical and violent with our hands than we've ever been."

Southeast's offensive line lost starters Jake McCandless, Garret Baker and Michael Cooke. All three started every game last season and combined for 99 starts in their careers.

Senior Alex Snyder and junior Drew Forbes are the returning starters at tackle. Snyder started 10 games at right tackle, while Forbes started all 11 contests on the left side.

"Alex has always been a serviceable starter for us. He is a great player who has made huge strides," said Blake. "He is really starting to be confident and that is helping our unit as a whole.

"Drew can be an elite player. He figured out midway through the season last year that if you just be physical, good things will happen. That's what he has grasped. Drew is tough and can take things to the next level technique wise because of his progression."

Fifth-year senior Gabe Phillips and sophomore Ryan Truvillion are the backups at tackle. Truvillion transitioned to offense after spending the 2016 campaign on the defensive side of the ball.

Transfers Kyle Thies and Junior Pierre are presently first on the depth chart at guard. Thies joins the Redhawks from Eastern Arizona College and Pierre comes to Southeast from Blinn College. Both participated in spring drills.

Juniors Giovanni Negron and Jimmy Keutzer add depth at guard. Keutzer, a transfer from Fort Scott Community College, has played all five positions on the offensive line.

Meanwhile, sophomore Drew Swihart is the frontrunner to be McCandless's successor at center. Swihart saw action in three games last season.

"Drew has really progressed and has settled into the center spot well," commented Blake. "I wasn't sure of the type of player he was going to be, but he has improved and is battling for that starting role."

Junior Lucas Orchard is pushing Swihart for the starting job. Orchard, too, went through spring drills after transferring from East Central Community College.

Auggie Knutson, Martin Eidson, Tyler Ford and Jerome Miller round out the unit.

The offensive line again gets to work against Southeast's strong defense day-in and day-out. When asked how that benefits his group in the long run, Blake had this to say.

"I wouldn't change it for anything. The fact that we get to face three 300-pound linemen in the middle every single snap and two outside linebackers who are NFL type guys makes us get in and out of checks a lot. That makes us have to adjust and think fast. Right now, I think it's back-and-forth, which is a good thing."

Southeast's offense had the upper hand in the team's first live intrasquad scrimmage on Aug. 5. Blake's offensive line played with high energy and really set the tone.

"They are attacking the process," said Blake. If we just get guys covered with the talent we have at our skilled positions, good things are going to happen."