Date: 8/29
Position: Offensive line
Position Coach: Mike Bangtson

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Brian Ankerson (12 games played, 12 games started); Conner Estes (12 GP, 2 GS); Kent Foster (12 GP); Wyatt Green (6 GP); Tyler Jernigan (2 GP); Josh McCulloch (10 GP, 6 GS); Hadon Merchant (11 GP, 10 GS); Braden Moody (3 GP); Jacob Shoemaker (12 GP, 12 GS); Trey Simpson (10 GP)

Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Roy Albritton (12 GP, 12 GS); Max Charite (2 GP); Troy Thingstad (6 GP, 4 GS)

Returning Redshirts/Squad Members (Yr., Hometown, Previous school): Reggie Smith (So., Pensacola [Fla.] Escambia HS); John Gill (R-Fr., Pensacola [Fla.] Pine Forest HS); Max Smith (R-Fr., Loganville [Ga.] HS)

Newcomers (Yr., Hometown, Previous school): Hayden Burton (Jr., Bogue Chitto, Miss., Mississippi Gulf Coast CC); Cade Gothard (Fr., Clayton [Ala.] Eufaula HS); Jack Green (Fr., Brandon [Miss.] HS); Luke Hammond (Fr., Huntsville [Ala.] HS); Nate Howard (Fr., Forsythe [Ga.] Mary Persons HS); Andrew McMillan (Fr., Long Beach [Miss.] HS); Zack Nerbonne (Fr., Lilburn [Ga.] Parkview HS); Christian Sapp (Fr., Kiln [Miss.] Hancock HS); Dustin Woodham (Fr., Dothan [Ala.] Wicksburg HS)

Miscellaneous Notes
-The unit returns four of five starters from a year ago, with Ankerson's 24 straight starts the longest active streak on the team.
-The senior led the Jaguars in overall (82 percent) and assignment (89 percent) grades for the second season in a row while posting a career-best 51 knockdown blocks in 2019.
-Merchant — who has started 22 of his 23 appearances the last two years — paced South with 68 pancake blocks last fall while also grading out at 80 percent or better in each of the team's last five contests.
-An honorable mention all-Sun Belt Conference selection his first season with the program, Shoemaker is slated to move from tackle to guard this year after recording an 80 percent overall mark and 63 knockdowns a year ago.
-Estes started both of the Jags' last two outings in 2019, earning an overall grade of 82 percent at Georgia State while grading out at 96 percent on assignments following a season-ending defeat of Arkansas State.
-In 10 appearances — which included six starts — before suffering a season-ending injury, McCulloch posted 41 pancake blocks as well as an 85 percent assignment grade.
-Simpson played a season-best 23 snaps in the Jags' season-ending win over Arkansas State, grading out at 93 percent overall while not missing an assignment.
-Wyatt Green received a perfect score from coaches while Jernigan graded out at 87 percent after both got on the field for 12 snaps when South defeated Jackson State, while Moody appeared in each of the last three contests last fall after sitting out 2018 as a redshirt.
-Burton picked up second-team all-Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges honors as a sophomore at Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. after helping the Bulldogs go 12-0 on the way to the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship.
-Jack Green was credited with more than 130 pancake blocks as a senior at Brandon High to be named first-team all-state.
-A two-time all-region selection at Mary Persons HS, Howard was considered a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com.

Mike Bangtson
-On how much the group's experience helps in preparations for the upcoming season: "It helps a lot.  Having a guy like Brian — who has played a lot of football here — in  the middle is key, Jacob is going to be a two-year starter and Hadon has a lot of experience.  You have guys like Conner who got some experience toward the end of last year, which was very beneficial for him, and Josh has started games and is getting healthy.  We're really trying to build our depth."
-On what the unit does best: "We come out each and every day with a good attitude and some juice, and we try to take the same approach every day.  This group has a workmanlike, blue-collar mentality and is willing to get every single rep done to the best of their ability.  I also thing we really understand the scheme and what we are trying to do, we pay attention in meetings; this group is very, very sharp mentally."
-On the key for the line to be successful this fall: "We have to play as hard as we can every snap — which we talk about every day — and cut down on our missed assignments.  If we play as hard as we can and we know what to do, we can come out on top."

Brian Ankerson
-On his expectations for the offensive line this season: "I'd like to see us get the number of sacks allowed down — it wasn't too many last year but we can definitely lower that total — and I'd like for us to help make sure we can depend on our run game."
-On the best aspect of his game: "I would say the best aspect of my game is inside zone.  I do like outside zone but I am not the fastest guy."
-On what area he has improved the most in over the last two years as a starter: "I do a much better job now recognizing the defense, which is important since I make the front calls, and knowing the game plan.  Over the last two years I've realized how important it is to study other teams on film."

Jacob Shoemaker
-On what he has focused on making the move to the interior of the offensive line: "Playing tackle I was out in space but now moving to guard I am in tight, so I have been working on having quick feet and getting my hands on the guy in front of me quickly."
-On the most important thing he learned last year that will help him this fall: "Seeing the speed of the game will help get me ready to play inside now."
-On what the unit needs to do in order to be successful this year: "On days like today [Thursday] — when we are in just helmets — we need to come out here focused and make sure we have a great day."

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