09/02/10- Jarriel King, Sr, South Carolina, 6-5, 312 PLAYERS TO WATCH: LT Jarriel King - The senior begins his third season as a starter. He was disappointed in his effort in 2009, however, and is determined to make amends. His leadership is needed if the offensive line is to make the positive steps.
09/02/10- Jarriel King, Sr, South Carolina, 6-5, 312 AREAS OF CONCERN: The performance of the offensive line, led by left tackle Jarriel King and center T.J. Johnson will tell the tale. The Gamecocks also enter the season with the availability of senior TE Weslye Saunders in doubt. He was interviewed by the NCAA in July in regards to a party he attended in Miami's South Beach. The organization is investigating who paid for Saunders' trip.
09/02/10- Steve Schilling, rSr, Michigan, 6-5, 304 The Wolverines have chosen fifth-year seniors Mark Moundros and Stephen Schilling as their captains. Schilling has made 36 career starts on the offensive line, while Moundros will play both linebacker and fullback for Michigan this season.
09/02/10- Joe Evinger, Sr, Louisville, 6-6, 328 OL Joe Evinger is out for the season with a back injury. He was expected to contend for a starting job.
09/02/10- O.C. Brown, Fr, Southern Miss, 6-2, 312 Freshman lineman O.C. Brown is being filmed. He's the subject of a documentary because of his rise from an unknown prospect to a coveted recruit.
09/02/10- Jeff Braun, rSo, West Virginia, 6-4, 308 PLAYERS TO WATCH: RT Jeff Braun - The Mountaineers have been trying to figure out how to make their right side stronger and Braun won the tackle spot, but there will be much shuffling going on as they look for the right combination. Cole Bowers and Eric Jobe will also come in at tackle and guard as they experiment.
09/02/10- Quinton Spain, Fr, West Virginia, 6-5, 330 OT Quinton Spain, a 6-4, 360-pound freshman, was delayed getting into camp by an NCAA Clearing House issue, but was cleared and has begun practicing.
09/01/10- Ken Plue, Jr, Purdue, 6-7, 340 Purdue's offensive line has been set since the early part of training camp. Dennis Kelly (left tackle) and Ken Plue (right guard) are the returning starters and should be joined by Peters Drey (center), Justin Pierce (left guard) and Nick Mondek (right tackle).
09/01/10- Tray Allen, Sr, Texas, 6-4, 308 Offensive lineman Tray Allen (foot), tight end D.J. Grant (knee), safety/tailback Demarco Cobbs (hamstring), defensive end Tevin Mims (shoulder) and linebacker Tevin Jackson (wrist) all will miss the Rice game because of injuries. And wide receiver Greg Timmons is doubtful because of a neck injury.
09/01/10- Thomas Claiborne, rSr, Boston College, 6-2, 328 OG Thomas Claiborne suffered a minor right knee injury late in camp but is OK.
09/01/10- Cody Hundertmark, Sr, Iowa, 6-4, 285 Iowa junior offensive lineman Cody Hundertmark has left the team to focus on his schoolwork. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz announced Hundertmark's departure Wednesday. Hundertmark, a 6-foot-4, 285-pounder from Humboldt, Iowa, played sparingly as a defensive lineman from 2007-09. He moved to the offensive line in preparations for last season's Orange Bowl but wasn't listed on the depth chart for Saturday's opener against Eastern Illinois. - AP Sports
09/01/10- Phillip Swanson, rSr, Western Michigan, 6-4, 313 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Offensive line - An experienced group that includes guards Phil Swanson and Nick Clemens, center Nick Mitchell and tackle Anthony Parker have combined to start 104 games. That's a significant number that should help the offense find consistency.
09/01/10- Zach Huerter, So, Michigan State, 6-6, 330 Backup OT Zach Hueter was supposed to battle for playing time this season, but a shoulder injury requiring surgery has ended Hueter's season.
09/01/10- Chris Jacobson, rJr, Pittsburgh, 6-3, 290 KEYS TO THE GAME: Pitt's strength is in its running game, with RB Dion Lewis considered a prime contender for the Heisman Trophy. QB Tino Sunseri is making his first start, and you know that coach Dave Wannstedt will want to take as much pressure off him as possible by running the ball. Pitt's remade interior offensive line gets its first test, and it's a tough one for OGs Chris Jacobson and Greg Gaskin and C Alex Karabin. Playing on the road with an inexperienced quarterback, Pitt must protect the ball and the defense needs to allow the Panthers to play on a short field to help Sunseri.
09/01/10- Caleb Schlauderaff, rSr, Utah, 6-4, 300 The spring move of Caleb Schlauderaff to left tackle may not have worked out as the Utes had hoped. He enters fall camp listed as the starting left guard, with redshirt freshman Taumoelau and junior transfer John Cullen battling for left tackle.
09/01/10- Caleb Thomas, rJr, UAB, 6-3, 290 With a transition under center, the Blazers need some solid play up front from the offensive line. UAB junior RG Caleb Thomas can bring that, assuming he's healthy. Unfortunately for Blazers fans, that might not be the case by Thursday's season opener against Florida Atlantic. Thomas, who had double hernia surgery July 12, has yet to look 100 percent in practice. The UAB coaching staff hopes he'll be close enough by Thursday to not only man the right guard position, but also help first-year starting center Darion "Pee Wee" Smith. Thomas, who is one of the more versatile linemen in the league, has played center in the past and should be able to help Smith in his transition. Thomas has been limited in contact drills throughout camp, leaving his status for the opener in question. "I think they'll put me through a full day once or twice (this week) to see where I am," Thomas told the Birmingham News. "You really can't tell until you actually get out there and hit. Mentally, I feel pretty good, and ready to go."
09/01/10- Art Forst, Jr, Rutgers, 6-8, 310 QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think you always have to me more worried about yourself than the opponent. You have to be worried about playing with good technique. You have to be worried about being focused and the fundamentals when you get in the game plan, because a lot of times you're so enthralled at what the opponent you tend to forget to work on the simple things. So that's our approach for this game -- just as it should be for all games." -- Rutgers offensive lineman Art Forst to the Newark Star-Ledger.
09/01/10- Justin Pagan, Jr, Indiana, 6-5, 332 OL Justin Pagan has been a starter the last two years, but he's in a fight to hold onto his starting spot. Marc Damisch and Aaron Price have been great at the guard positions, and Pagan could find himself playing backup at both guard and tackle vs. Towson.
08/31/10- Dominic Alford, rSr, Minnesota, 6-3, 332 Minnesota safety Kyle Theret and offensive lineman Dom Alford have been suspended for the season-opener against Middle Tennessee State for an unspecified violation of team rules. Coach Tim Brewster announced the suspensions on Tuesday. It’s a particular blow to the young defense, which has a lot of new faces in the starting lineup. Theret is a senior and one of the more experienced players in the Gophers secondary. Brewster declined to say how long the suspensions will last. The coach also says it is unknown if fullback Jon Hoese will make the trip. Hoese’s father is in the hospital after suffering a stroke. Brewster says the team will support Hoese in whatever decision he makes. - AP Sports
08/30/10- Benjamin Ijalana, Sr, Villanova, 6-4, 320 Just the thought of being in a select fraternity brought a smile to Ben Ijalana's face. Earlier this month, the Villanova left tackle rattled off the names of three former Rancocas Valley High products who played in the NFL. "Alonzo Spellman, Franco Harris, and Irving Fryar," said Ijalana, a 2007 Rancocas Valley graduate. "Those are all greats." If everything goes as planned, the 6-foot-4, 320-pound senior's name may be added to that list. NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said most NFL teams give the Wildcat a third-round grade. "He's barely 6-foot-4, but he's got long arms," said Mayock, who think Ijalana is suited to play left tackle in the NFL. "He's got real good feet. And in a pass-first league, he's the kind of tackle teams are looking for." "He's a little more of a finesse blocker," Mayock said. "You would rather see him be more aggressive in the run game, because he's borderline, height-wise." As a result, Mayock doesn't think Ijalana blocks well enough to play right tackle or guard in the NFL. But "he's fortunate because he's got the natural gift of long arms and good feet," the draft analyst said. "So that's the first thing that NFL scouts and coaches look for in a left tackle." Mayock believes Ijalana could still have a productive NFL career. As for playing at the next level, "it's definitely a good feeling to know that you have the opportunity," Ijalana said. - Keith Pompey, Philadelphia Inquirer
08/30/10- Marcus Cannon, rSr, TCU, 6-5, 358 2010 ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD FALL WATCH LIST: Marcus Cannon, OT, TCU, has been selected to the Official Watch List for the 2010 Rotary Lombardi Award. Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. The candidates earned a place on the official watch list by earning All-America honors, by being named to their respective all-conference first teams as selected by the conference's head coaches or by nomination sent to and reviewed by the nominations committee. - Rotary Lombardi Award
08/30/10- Justin Boren, rSr, Ohio State, 6-3, 320 2010 ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD FALL WATCH LIST: Justin Boren, G, Ohio State, has been selected to the Official Watch List for the 2010 Rotary Lombardi Award. Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. The candidates earned a place on the official watch list by earning All-America honors, by being named to their respective all-conference first teams as selected by the conference's head coaches or by nomination sent to and reviewed by the nominations committee. - Rotary Lombardi Award
08/30/10- Clint Boling, Sr, Georgia, 6-5, 310 2010 ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD FALL WATCH LIST: Clint Boling, OT, Georgia, has been selected to the Official Watch List for the 2010 Rotary Lombardi Award. Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. The candidates earned a place on the official watch list by earning All-America honors, by being named to their respective all-conference first teams as selected by the conference's head coaches or by nomination sent to and reviewed by the nominations committee. - Rotary Lombardi Award
08/30/10- Rodney Hudson, Sr, Florida State, 6-3, 284 2010 ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD FALL WATCH LIST: Rodney Hudson, G, Florida St., has been selected to the Official Watch List for the 2010 Rotary Lombardi Award. Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. The candidates earned a place on the official watch list by earning All-America honors, by being named to their respective all-conference first teams as selected by the conference's head coaches or by nomination sent to and reviewed by the nominations committee. - Rotary Lombardi Award
08/30/10- Nate Potter, rJr, Boise State, 6-6, 300 2010 ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD FALL WATCH LIST: Nate Potter, OT, Boise St., has been selected to the Official Watch List for the 2010 Rotary Lombardi Award. Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. The candidates earned a place on the official watch list by earning All-America honors, by being named to their respective all-conference first teams as selected by the conference's head coaches or by nomination sent to and reviewed by the nominations committee. - Rotary Lombardi Award