Offensive Line Preview
8/7/2023 5:00:00 AM | Football
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri's offensive line is a work in progress after losing three starters, including a pair of All-Ohio Valley Conference players in Nate Korte and Shyron Rodgers.
Preseason All-American and 2022 Rimington Award-Winner Zack Gieg is back in the middle of SEMO's five-man front which anchors the Redhawks balanced attack.
"Zack sets the tempo and is the veteran of the group," said SEMO Offensive Line Coach Lucas Orchard. "He works hard and sets the standard."
Gieg became only the third player in program history to claim the Rimington Award which goes to the top center in the Football Championship Subdivision. He started all 12 games en route to First-Team All-OVC and both Stats Perform and Phil Steele All-America honors last season. Gieg has started 22 games in his career.
Kobe Sixkiller, SEMO's other returning starter, will be alongside Gieg at right guard. Sixkiller, who transferred from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, started 11 games during his first year of NCAA Division I football.
"Kobe is a great leader. He continues to improve and I expect him to have a really good year," said Orchard.
Graduate Clive Truschel and senior AJ Laux, who have each been with the program for four years, are ready for their starting opportunities. Prior to this year, only two starts were logged between the two and both belong to Truschel. Truschel is expected to start at left guard and Laux is at the top of the depth chart at right tackle.
"Clive is primed for a big year and is a great teammate," commented Orchard. "He has the potential to be an all-conference player. AJ is really starting to hone his technique and I think he'll have a good season as well."
The rest of SEMO's offensive linemen have never started or played in a Division I game.
Redshirt-freshman Jamarcus Hill is the frontrunner at left tackle.
Like Hill, fellow returnees Rashad Turner (left tackle), Tony Failla (center) and Chris Frye (right guard) redshirted in 2022.
Transfers Trey Gibbs (left guard) and Marshakie Applewhite (right tackle) add depth and should contribute immediately. Gibbs joins the Redhawks from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Applewhite comes to SEMO by way of Jones Community College where he played the last three years.
Returnees Tyson Miller and McKel Brumfield along with newcomers Zach Hudson, Kayson King, Ethan Hatton, Kaleb Pearley, Demoni Taylor and Bryce Chrestman complete the group.
"There's not a lot of game experience so getting reps is extremely important," said Orchard. "We will get lots of reps this fall and be ready to go. This group is coachable and has the tools to be great. We're looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish."
The offensive line was at the forefront of the top rushing attack in the OVC and 13th-best rushing offense in the FCS a year ago. SEMO averaged 225.6 rushing yards per game. The O-Line also led the country in tackles for loss allowed and yielded just 11 sacks (second-fewest in the OVC).
Preseason All-American and 2022 Rimington Award-Winner Zack Gieg is back in the middle of SEMO's five-man front which anchors the Redhawks balanced attack.
"Zack sets the tempo and is the veteran of the group," said SEMO Offensive Line Coach Lucas Orchard. "He works hard and sets the standard."
Gieg became only the third player in program history to claim the Rimington Award which goes to the top center in the Football Championship Subdivision. He started all 12 games en route to First-Team All-OVC and both Stats Perform and Phil Steele All-America honors last season. Gieg has started 22 games in his career.
Kobe Sixkiller, SEMO's other returning starter, will be alongside Gieg at right guard. Sixkiller, who transferred from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, started 11 games during his first year of NCAA Division I football.
"Kobe is a great leader. He continues to improve and I expect him to have a really good year," said Orchard.
Graduate Clive Truschel and senior AJ Laux, who have each been with the program for four years, are ready for their starting opportunities. Prior to this year, only two starts were logged between the two and both belong to Truschel. Truschel is expected to start at left guard and Laux is at the top of the depth chart at right tackle.
"Clive is primed for a big year and is a great teammate," commented Orchard. "He has the potential to be an all-conference player. AJ is really starting to hone his technique and I think he'll have a good season as well."
The rest of SEMO's offensive linemen have never started or played in a Division I game.
Redshirt-freshman Jamarcus Hill is the frontrunner at left tackle.
Like Hill, fellow returnees Rashad Turner (left tackle), Tony Failla (center) and Chris Frye (right guard) redshirted in 2022.
Transfers Trey Gibbs (left guard) and Marshakie Applewhite (right tackle) add depth and should contribute immediately. Gibbs joins the Redhawks from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Applewhite comes to SEMO by way of Jones Community College where he played the last three years.
Returnees Tyson Miller and McKel Brumfield along with newcomers Zach Hudson, Kayson King, Ethan Hatton, Kaleb Pearley, Demoni Taylor and Bryce Chrestman complete the group.
"There's not a lot of game experience so getting reps is extremely important," said Orchard. "We will get lots of reps this fall and be ready to go. This group is coachable and has the tools to be great. We're looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish."
The offensive line was at the forefront of the top rushing attack in the OVC and 13th-best rushing offense in the FCS a year ago. SEMO averaged 225.6 rushing yards per game. The O-Line also led the country in tackles for loss allowed and yielded just 11 sacks (second-fewest in the OVC).
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