BOONE, N.C. – It's no secret what Appalachian State wants to do on offense. Run to set up the run.
With a pair of preseason All-Sun Belt linemen blocking for a talented and veteran backfield, the Mountaineers' offensive line will try to find the same success that led to the Sun Belt's top offense and No. 2 rushing offense in 2015.
Senior Parker Collins is a first team All-Sun Belt selection who will make the move to center for his senior season. He is one of three returning starters on the offensive line along with guard Colby Gossett and tackle Beau Nunn. It's a group that will need to perform at a high level against a tough, early schedule to take some pressure off of left tackle Victor Johnson, who will likely make his first start on Thursday night at Tennessee. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. in Neyland Stadium. The game will be televised by the SEC Network.
“All three of those guys are capable of being all-conference performers and they showed it throughout camp,” App State co-offensive coordinator Shawn Clark said Tuesday. “We need them to play well early (in the season) and they'll be the ones to get us going.”
Collins is the “quarterback” of the offensive line, but not just because he's the center. He's one of the emotional leaders on offense, plays with the most intensity, pushes himself the most, and, yes, makes the offensive line calls.
“Parker is a coach on the field and has a lot of pride in his play,” Clark said. “If it's not going right, he's going to call himself out on it. You can't say enough about Parker because everyday you know what you're getting with him and that's 100 percent effort.”
Gossett will open at right guard and anchors the right side, all 6-foot-6, 315 pounds of him…and looks every bit of it. He started every game last season, along with Collins, helping the Apps to 271 yards per game on the ground, good for second in the Sun Belt and No. 6 nationally.
“He's a blue-collar worker and that's the way we are across the board,” Clark said of Gossett. “Yes, he has size, but he moves well for it. He has plenty of strength and he's good in both the run and pass game.”
Senior Jamie Collmar and Nunn both started half of the '15 season. Collmar replaced Nunn following an injury in the middle of the season. They'll both start the '16 season, giving App State four upperclassmen along the offensive line. The experience doesn't stop there.
Senior Tyson Fenandez has been the starter at nose tackle for most of the last two seasons, but has been moved to offense to provide depth. He could play both ways. Sophomore Tobias Edge-Campbell could play at center or guard. Freshman left tackle Victor Johnson will like start his first career game on Thursday night, one of the few newcomers in the mix up front.
“We feel like we have seven starters,” Clark added. “We want to get Tobias and Tyson in there. We'll slide however we need to in order to run the football. With our offense, you have to be able to run the football. If we can't run, we won't be successful. We're excited when a run play is called and we have to do our job, not overlook the basics.”
Junior Barrett Burns, who started every game last season, and sophomore Levi Duffield lead a capable group of tight ends that were ultra-productive in '15. Burns led the team with eight, yes, eight touchdown receptions from his tight end position. He had two in the fourth quarter of App State's Raycom Camellia Bowl comeback against Ohio.
“I think those guys are complete tight ends and make us successful whether they're blocking or passing,” Clark said. “They're tough enough and athletic enough to where we can spread the field or get physical with almost any of them in there.”
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