ULM Warhawks

By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist

MONROE, La. – Huge offensive numbers aren't possible without huge performances from the offensive line.

Find a nice Derrick Gore run in 2017 and there was a key block from a player like T.J. Fiailoa. On a given passing connection from Caleb Evans to R.J. Turner, there was a Trace Ellison warding off an onrushing defender.

"Basically, I tell them that we're putting the offense on our back," ULM offensive line coach Eman Naghavi said. "It's one of those deals where they have to make sure they keep pushing themselves every day and lead by example. Unless we go, the offense won't go. That's the big mindset in our room. If we go, they go."

Collectively, ULM's offense stayed on the move last year and averaged 33.9 points and 458.6 yards per game. And that surge in production came even as the Warhawks were renovating their front line under a new position coach.

"Last year, we had a lot of guys who really didn't have a lot of playing experience," Naghavi said. "Some had played sparingly, but we had some who had never really played. It was big to get those guys in there and get them on the field. Last year, we played 10 or 11 guys every game."

Fast forward to the opening of spring practice in 2018 and the unit is now one of the more seasoned groups on the team.

"I think our O-line is going to be one of the strong points of the team this year," center Bobby Reynolds said. "We all really came together through the offseason. We got bigger, faster and stronger. We're definitely smarter. It's easier to read defenses than it ever was when we first got together as this offensive line group."

Added right tackle Eastwood Thomas, "It was a big step up. We got smarter and knew our assignments better. We grew up a little bit."

ULM's depth chart heading into spring ball shows Ellison at left tackle, Devin Jackson at left guard, Reynolds at center, Fiailoa at right guard and Thomas at right tackle. Although the unit bid farewell to senior mainstay Frank Sutton at left guard, the presumptive starters all have loads of experience.

"Now, we've got to work on competing and the little things," Naghavi said. "If we get better at the little things, we could be a special group."

Competition and versatility are trademarks of the unit, which includes returning tackles Joquarious Savage and Sam Williams, center Noah Ramsey, and guards Ben Moye and Brandon Jones (injured).

"To be honest, there aren't a lot of new faces," Naghavi said. "We signed one freshman last year, Dakota Torbert from Destrehan, and he redshirted. Really in the whole group, he'll probably be the guy that you won't recognize."

A long season always tests a team's depth, so players are prepared to move around as needed.

"We definitely are versatile on our line," Reynolds said. "We have people who can go from tackle to guard, and we have guards who can play center. Both our centers can bounce out to guard."

The coach charged with molding the line came to ULM from McNeese State last year and made it a smooth transition.

"Coach Naghavi is one of those guys you want to learn from," Reynolds said. "He's really smart, so you listen to what he has to say. If there's not someone on the offensive line picking somebody else up, he's right there immediately picking somebody up, keeping us motivated and keeping us going. He has us hyped up for the next day or on the day of."

Sutton was the household name and a leader last year as a senior, but the returning players are capable of keeping their house in order.

"Eastwood Thomas started a lot of games for us last year and is a transfer from Alabama," Naghavi said. "He's kind of taken a leadership role in the room. TJ Fiailoa, he was a red-shirt freshman last year, but he's had a great offseason, so he's another guy who will step up. Bobby Reynolds has been here a while and as the center, he does a really nice job getting us lined up."

Ultimately, ULM's offensive linemen know their roles and their importance in the grand scheme of things as they battle through spring drills.

"Coach always tells us that everything plays off of us," Thomas said. "We start everything. We just have to keep that in mind and come out strong every day."
 
Warhawks On The Rise: Head coach Matt Viator is eager to see the progression of red-shirt freshman Dakota Torbert and sophomore Sam Williams from this group.

Torbert is a 6-foot-5, 308-pounder from Destrehan and a member of ULM's heralded recruiting class of 2017. 

"Dakota has a chance," Viator said. "He has what you want. He has the size and good feet and he's a hard worker."

A product of Bearden High School in Fordyce, Arkansas, Williams played sparingly last year, but at 6-7, 289 pounds, he's an intriguing prospect. Back in the summer of 2015, he was the first player to commit to ULM for the Class of 2016 and stuck with the Warhawks through a coaching change.

"A guy I think we'll see big things from is Sam Williams," Viator said. "Sam's about 6-7. He redshirted and then last year didn't play a whole lot. He comes from a small school in Arkansas, and I think his biggest adjustment was the speed of the game. You can see each time we start again, he's that much better. He's got three more years, so I think he's got a chance."
 

This positional spotlight is part of a continuing spring series you can find at ULMWarhawks.com over the next few weeks.