MOBILE, Ala. – In previous years, a season-ending injury to a starting lineman on the University of South Alabama football team would have been a devastating blow to the Jaguar offense.

And while the loss of Melvin Meggs for the 2013 campaign due to an injury certainly hurts the Jags, experienced veterans and a quartet of freshmen who redshirted last fall will look to help offensive coordinator Robert Matthews — who also coaches the line — overcome the initial setback.

USA returns letterwinners Shaun Artz, Drew Dearman, Chris May and Ucambre Williams up front, and senior Matt Calcagnini saw action during the 2012 season as well.  That group recorded 29 starts between them a year ago, with Artz, May and Williams all earning the coaches' weekly award on multiple occasions.

That experience will help the Jaguars not only overcome the loss of Meggs this fall, but the fact that for the first time in program history the unit will not include Trey Clark, who graduated after recording 40 starts the last four years.  It is because of that time on the field under fire that Matthews believes the group can be successful.

"My expectations for them are that they come out and play at a high level," he stated.  "Last year they had 13 games of experience — Ucambre got injured, but he was playing at a high level at the time of his injury; he's back healthy and 100 percent — so I expect those guys to be our leaders up front.  They know the scheme, understand the scheme, and have experience in the scheme, so they need to help the young guys that are going to be out there playing with them to play better."

According to the players at the position, they have formed a strong bond that should be of value to the Jags this year.

"The strength of the offensive line is our unity, how we work together as a unit," observed Williams.  "If someone is down, we are going to pick each other up."

"We've got a lot of chemistry," May agreed.  "We have meshed together, we all move as one.  If somebody goes down, we are picking the other one up."

Williams started five of the first six contests in '12, but was injured in the Jaguars' game at Arkansas State in October and missed the rest of the campaign.  Although he sat out during spring drills, he has been on the field throughout preseason camp.

"I'm ready," Williams commented.  "It was devastating going down last year, but I came back hard, and the hard work has paid off getting back on the field."

In his place, May stepped in and started the final seven outings at left tackle.  In addition to claiming the coaches' award on three occasions, May was selected by beat writers in the Sun Belt Conference to the league's All-Freshman Team despite coming off a redshirt season entering last fall.

"I'll be honest, going into last season I was a little nervous — it was the first time I had played in two years," he recalled.  "It's great having experience, there's no nervousness; now instead of having to learn the offense, I know what the offense does so it is about perfecting techniques."

Also expected to earn playing time this fall are the quartet of Daniel Aust, Steven Foster, Clay Machen and Joseph Scelfo.  Each sat out last fall while redshirting, but all came to USA having received multiple stars from national recruiting services.

"We have more bodies, that's for sure, with the young guys that redshirted, and now they are going to see some valuable reps," explained Matthews.  "They are picking it up, working extremely hard.  We have some tough guys — the thing I like about this redshirt freshman class is that they are tough.  They don't mind practicing hard, they don't mind striking folks.

"With a little enthusiasm and a little toughness, you can make up for some lack of experience."

All four redshirt freshmen weigh at least 280 pounds, with Foster and Machen both checking in at 310 pounds.  And Artz, May and Williams are also listed at 290 pounds on the preseason roster, with Dearman weighing in at 310 pounds, giving the Jaguars something they have not always had up front on offense — size and strength.

"With the schedule that we play now and the teams that we are expected to compete against, we need those big guys," said Matthews.  "It goes hand-in-hand with recruiting — as the program has grown, so has the level of recruiting, so we are getting guys that are more stereotypically the size that you would see at most other programs.  I think that will continue to be the trend."

Adding to the depth of the position are Kenneth Johnson, a fifth-year senior, and juniors Shane Doty and Darius McKeller along with redshirt freshman Steve McKenzie and true freshman Noah Armstrong.

While the unit provides more size than in previous years, the conditioning of the group will be vital as the Jags begin their second season running an up-tempo spread attack.

"We're looking for guys who have good cardio[vascular] conditioning," Matthews said.  "As far as recruiting, you'll see guys that we sign might be longer and a little bit leaner who can grow into the position.  We're looking for quickness — the days of the 6-foot-6, 330-pound offensive guard that can't move are over, you can't play football with those guys any more.  Defensive linemen are so much more athletic than they used to be, so we have to have guys who can really move their feet but at the same time be big enough to move the line of scrimmage."

The offensive line has made strides since the beginning of last season, but that doesn't mean that the unit has stopped trying to improve during fall camp in preparation for the upcoming campaign.

"I feel like I've grown a lot, but you've always got room to improve," May stated.  "When Ucambre went down last year, he helped me tremendously, watching film and learning techniques that he uses that worked for him.  I've progressed a lot, and as an offensive line we're progressing a lot as well."

Continued progress up front — not only by returning veterans but individuals who will experience collegiate football for the first time this fall — will help the offensive line spark a more dangerous Jaguar offensive attack in 2013.

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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