BOONE, N.C. – The offensive line – specifically depth - continues to be a focus for Appalachian State as spring practices winds down this weekend. App has practiced twice this week, both times somewhat light, ahead of Saturday's final scrimmage and practice to wrap up the spring season.
The starting offensive line has plenty of experience. Seniors Colby Gossett and Beau Nunn are All-Sun Belt selections on the right side. Sophomore Vic Johnson started every game at left tackle as a redshirt freshman last season, helping App State to a Sun Belt Championship and a second consecutive Camellia Bowl win. Junior Tobias Edge-Campbell played starter-like snaps down the stretch when Nunn missed a few games with injury.
The pieces are there for it to be an elite unit again in 2017 (No. 1 rushing offense, No. 1 Time of Possession) in Sun Belt, but with five years worth of starts departing in Parker Collins and Jamie Collmar, the group behind the starters is the one co-coordinator Shawn Clark has been working to develop this spring.
“I think our first group is performing very well right now and they'll be strong this fall,” Clark said Friday. “Those are guys who have played a lot and accomplished some things. Ryan Neuzil is playing at center, he's doing an excellent job calling protections and making the right calls for us. We have got to develop depth. The (last) scrimmage, we'll work on these two's and three's and find some guys who will step up for us.”
Johnson is one App who will be leaned on heavily to anchor the line for the foreseeable future at left tackle. A Sun Belt All-Freshman Team honoree, he took his lumps at times during his first season, but he continues to develop into, potentially, yet another all-conference performer.
“Looking at Vic coming in, we knew from the get-go his ceiling was very high as an offensive lineman,” Clark said. “He worked on his craft and it showed in the offseason. He earned freshman all-conference. He keeps getting better and better every day, he just needs to keep getting stronger. The stronger he gets, the better he is going to be.”
The three key guys to build around are all freshmen. Cole Garrison, Nate Haskins, and Matt Williams are three of the first names Clark sees blossoming this fall. Garrison has been a combo guy, playing at both guard and center. Haskins is seeing time at both tackles, while Williams has missed the spring, but is expected to be a key factor in the fall. Game snaps are key to further evaluate the Apps' youthful second line, but spring practice might be an even more valuable month.
“It's easier to improve in the spring to be honest,” Clark added. “You're not worried about game planning or next the opponent. You can focus on fundamentals and technique. To be a great lineman, you have to play, get game experience, and get beat a few times to realize what you're doing wrong, but that can happen now. As a young lineman, the more reps you get in the spring, the better you're going to be.”
The final scrimmage is last chance for live snaps for a still green second group, but Clark expects to see progress before freshmen begin to see live snaps come September.
“I want to see our second group be able to move the ball a little bit, block our basic zone, and protect,” Clark said. “There is potential there. We need to finish on a strong note and build with that group this summer.”
-App State-
