Central Michigan University Athletics
Spring Practice: Previewing the Offensive Line
3/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT - Day four of spring football practice focuses on the offensive line, one of the most veteran position groups for the Chippewas entering 2010.
Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Mike Cummings inherits four returning starters, as well as two other individuals who have started games during their careers. In all, CMU returns six linemen who have combined for 105 career starts.
Anchoring the line is senior center Colin Miller. A starter in 35 career games (including three at left guard), Miller has called the signals for one of the top offensive lines in the MId-American Conference over the past three seasons.
To Miller's left is classmate Jeff Maddux, who also has started 35 games over the past four years. Maddux is a physical blocker who has the ability to play right or left guard. He started all 14 games at left guard in 2009.
The tackle positions were pleasant surprises for the Chippewas in 2009, where then sophomore Rocky Weaver and redshirt freshman Jake Olson stepped seamlessly into starting roles at right and left tackle, respectively. Weaver started all 14 games at right tackle after lining up at tight end in 2008, while Olson made 12 starts on the left side and earned honorable mention Freshman All-America honors from collegefootballnews.com.
Darren Keyton started three games at center in place of an injured Miller last season. He also has the ability to play guard. Eric Fisher started two games at left tackle as a true freshman in 2009.
Keyton is a likely candidate to replace graduated All-Mid-American Conference first team guard Allen Ollenburger, but the Chippewas have quality depth across the front line.
Sophomores Richard Hayes, Matt Kanitz, Mike Repovz, Nick Reynolds and Zach Wiersma all return from last season, while Jon Czerwienski, Jeff Fantuzzi and Adam Schneid will compete for playing time after redshirting in 2009.
Check out the CMU Sports Zone video below to hear comments from offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Mike Cummings and senior center Colin Miller.
Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Mike Cummings inherits four returning starters, as well as two other individuals who have started games during their careers. In all, CMU returns six linemen who have combined for 105 career starts.
Anchoring the line is senior center Colin Miller. A starter in 35 career games (including three at left guard), Miller has called the signals for one of the top offensive lines in the MId-American Conference over the past three seasons.
To Miller's left is classmate Jeff Maddux, who also has started 35 games over the past four years. Maddux is a physical blocker who has the ability to play right or left guard. He started all 14 games at left guard in 2009.
The tackle positions were pleasant surprises for the Chippewas in 2009, where then sophomore Rocky Weaver and redshirt freshman Jake Olson stepped seamlessly into starting roles at right and left tackle, respectively. Weaver started all 14 games at right tackle after lining up at tight end in 2008, while Olson made 12 starts on the left side and earned honorable mention Freshman All-America honors from collegefootballnews.com.
Darren Keyton started three games at center in place of an injured Miller last season. He also has the ability to play guard. Eric Fisher started two games at left tackle as a true freshman in 2009.
Keyton is a likely candidate to replace graduated All-Mid-American Conference first team guard Allen Ollenburger, but the Chippewas have quality depth across the front line.
Sophomores Richard Hayes, Matt Kanitz, Mike Repovz, Nick Reynolds and Zach Wiersma all return from last season, while Jon Czerwienski, Jeff Fantuzzi and Adam Schneid will compete for playing time after redshirting in 2009.
Check out the CMU Sports Zone video below to hear comments from offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Mike Cummings and senior center Colin Miller.
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