Date: 8/22
Position: Offensive Line
Position Coach: Richard Owens
Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Noah Fisher (12 games played, 2 games started, 82% grade, 3 knockdown blocks); Steven Foster (12 GP, 11 GS, 80% grade, 28 KB); Harrison Louden (2 GP); Steve McKenzie (8 GP); Curtis Williams (12 GP, 12 GS, 42 KB)
Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Daniel Aust (11 GP, 1 GS), Cameron Blankenship (10 GP, 9 GS); Clay Machen (DNP); Chris May (12 GP, 12 GS); Joseph Scelfo (12 GP, 12 GS)
Newcomers (Yr., Previous school): Clay Burt (Jr., Northeastern Oklahoma A&M); Dominic Esposito (Jr., Monmouth [N.J.]); D'Tavieus Taylor (Jr, Hinds [Miss.] CC); Ryan Alexander (R-Fr., Jireh [N.C.] Prep); Nelson Santiago (R-Fr., Orange Park [Fla.] HS); Matt Stefin (R-Fr., Dothan [Ala.] Northview HS); Troy Thingstad (R-Fr., St. Paul's Episcopal [Ala.] School); Brian Ankerson (Fr., Theodore [Ala.] HS); Khameron Taylor (Fr., Alachua [Fla.] Santa Fe HS)
Miscellaneous Notes
-Williams — a second-team preseason all-Sun Belt Conference selection — had a grade of 92 percent or better in four contests last fall in his first season as a Jaguar; his 42 knockdowns blocks are most among returning linemen as well.
-Foster is the only other returning starter from last year's unit, having been on the field for the first snap of each of the Jags' final 11 contests.
-The three starters USA lost following last season — Chris May, Joseph Scelfo and Cameron Blankenship — combined to start 79 games for the Jaguars and 103 at the collegiate level (the latter earned 24 starts in three years at Alabama-Birmingham before transferring to USA for his senior campaign).
-Scelfo was a first-team all-league honoree a year ago while May was a three-time all-SBC performer after receiving second-team accolades following the 2015 season.
-Fisher is projected to start at one tackle slot after appearing in all 12 contests as a redshirt freshman last fall.
-While McKenzie and Louden saw limited action in eight and two games, respectively, last year, both earned letters during the 2014 campaign.
-De'Arius Young also participated in a limited role in 11 of the Jags' 12 outings a season ago after transferring from San Bernadino (Calif.) C.C., where he was an all-region selection, prior to the start of fall practice.
-Three juniors — Burt, Esposito and D'Tavieus Taylor — are among the nine newcomers looking to contribute to the group; the latter was named an honorable mention National Junior College Athletic Association All-American last year.
Richard Owens
-On his expectations for the Jag offensive line this year: "The expectations are high. We talk about it all the time as an offense, we set a standard. We want to get better every day — we truly believe you are going to get better or get worse every day, it's a decision that you make in how you work. We're going to raise the bar and set it high; to be honest with you, we want to be the best offensive line in the Sun Belt."
-On what he believes is the strength of the group: "We have some athletic guys, we also have some powerful guys. We have two guys returning — Steven Foster and Curtis Williams — who have had a lot of playing time and experience, and we have some guys who have been around and spotted in some games who we're looking for to step up."
-On what the line needs to do for USA's offense to be successful: "I think it starts with being very technical and sound in our assignments, knowing what we are doing and having great effort. If we play with great effort, the rest is going to take care of itself."
Noah Fisher
-On the offensive line's strength entering the fall: "I think the strength of the offensive line is just our effort, we're relentless to the ball playing through the whistle. That's really tough to beat."
-On what the unit has to do well in order to have success: "For us, it's communication and having no mental errors. If we do that, we've seen throughout practice and the first scrimmage that we can move it [the ball] really well."
-On how he's prepared for his first season projected to start at the collegiate level: "I just trained hard. Last year I made sure to watch the guy in front of me, and tried to learn from him. I want to emulate what I saw this year."
Steven Foster
-On what he thinks is the strength of the offensive line this year: "Just toughness and the effort that we give. I think that has been a major staple for Coach Owens, and that's how he is getting us ready to go."
-On playing under coach Owens in his first season as the group's position coach: "He is definitely a tough guy, but he's played in the [National Football] League so he knows what's going on. He is trying to instill in us to come out here and give as much as we can and work as hard as we can for our team."
-On how much he has improved at South and his personal expectations heading into his senior season: "I think I have made great improvements. The expectation — and the goal of the program — is to win as many games as we can, go to a bowl game and win the conference championship."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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