Matadors experienced on O-Line
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| Desmond Bland and Julien Clark block Teveita Otuvika and Lazirus Williams during a recent inter-squad scrimmage |
Whenever Tom Minnick has discussed the Arizona Western offense throughout camp, he’s emphasized the unit’s youth and inexperience.
The Matadors are likely to start a true freshman under center and possibly at all four receiver/tight end spots, as well as a first-year running back in the backfield.
There is an area on offense where the team does have some veterans, though — the line.
Sophomore guards Dontae Powell (6-6, 320) and Ted Hessing (6-6, 315) are returning starters, and were part of an offensive line last year that paved the way to 272 rushing yards per game for AWC — which ranked sixth-best in the NJCAA.
Even more noteworthy is the return of offensive tackle Desmond Bland (6-3, 290), who was a 2016 NJCAA First Team All-American but took last year off due in part to a shoulder injury.
Bland, a four-star prospect according to 247Sports, is verbally committed to the University of Nebraska; Powell, an All-WSFL Second Team selection last year, reportedly boasts offers from Washington State and Louisville.
Minnick believes Bland is “probably the best (junior-college) lineman” in the country.
“Just because he’s so athletic,” Minnick said. “The kid is amazing athletically.”
And he’s versatile, enough so that the Matadors considered using him not at tackle — his 2016 position — but at center this year.
“He can really play anything he wants,” Minnick said. “Desmond has long arms; he’d be a small tackle (at the next level), but he rolls his hips up real nice and has great feet.”
Despite Minnick believing Bland’s future is likely at guard or center, the Matadors’ plan is to leave him at left tackle entering the season.
That’s a vote of confidence to whom AWC plans to use at center, true freshman Tristian Rael (6-3, 280) out of Chandler High School. The Matadors’ offense was plagued by several poor shotgun snaps during Saturday night’s intra-squad scrimmage, but Minnick noted that it was the backup centers, not Rael, who were having issues.
At right tackle, Minnick said there’s a currently a battle for the starting spot between freshman Julian Clark (6-5, 285) and redshirt sophomore Viliamu McMoore (6-5, 290), a transfer from Utah State who saw action in three games along the offensive line for the Aggies last year.
Minnick entered camp relatively optimistic about the offensive line, and that optimism appears to be growing.
“Tonight we looked a little bit better than we have,” Minnick said following Monday’s practice. “We’ve had some injuries up front, but a couple of them came back. We’ve got key backups back who are guys who could (contend for starting spots) if healthy, so that helps us out.”
Included in that group is redshirt sophomore guard Richard Merritt (6-5, 365), a transfer from Maryland.
One expected contributor on the line that the team still is without is redshirt sophomore tackle Desi Savea (6-7, 315), who Minnick said “probably won’t be ready for a while” due to an injury.
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