Alabama State Has Depth on the Offensive Line

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  For several years Alabama State University had a few good offensive linemen; just never enough of them. Beginning last season, the coaching staff was able to sign more offensive linemen and it has paid dividends as the offensive line may now be one of the deepest on the team.

"We have a lot of guys over there now, probably more than we have ever had," Head Coach Reggie Barlow said. "This year we brought in about 18 or 19 offensive linemen into camp and we have a good three-deep depth. They have been developing and Ed (Edmond Davis) is the leader of that group. He has been around and he can get guys lined up."

Things could be good along the offensive line for several years to come as ASU only has two seniors listed among all of the offensive linemen on the team.

"(Damien) Love is one of the young guys who started every game for us last year as a freshman and although he has experience he is still young, but he has done a good job for us," Barlow said. "We have a real good battle at the guard position with Roquemore (Robert) and Hickingbottom (Demechery), two first year guys who are new to our system."

"Behind those guys are players like Jacobs (Tony) who transferred here (Central Florida) and Jylan Ware who redshirted last year. We are expecting big things from him."

"All in all we think we have a good group of guys and if a guy goes down or one gets tired we should be able to substitute a guy in and not miss a beat."

The coaching staff felt they were so deep across the line; they were able to send junior Trei Mitchell over to the defensive line to add some depth to that position. Mitchell spent his first two years on campus always listed on the two-deep along the offensive front.

"When we sat back and knew we needed some depth on the defensive line, we thought about which of the guys would be more suited to move over there we knew with Trei's body type he would be the one to help us out," Barlow said. "Trei is one of those guys that always played hard for us. What he lacked in ability, he more than made up for it in effort and that's what we needed on the defensive line. Sometimes you just need guys who will out-effort other guys. Trei is that guy and we are happy to have him in that position."

"The best thing about the offensive linemen is they have been competing," Barlow added. "That has allowed our running backs to have some explosive plays and we expect them t

ASU will continue their preseason camp Thursday with one practice at 3:30 p.m.
o get even better.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION