Position Preview: Offensive Line
8/16/2023 6:41:00 PM | Football
Returning starters Deiyantei Powell-Woods, Brayden Swartout, and Davis Heinzen return to bolster a Chippewa offensive line in 2023.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. –Last year, Central Michigan Football's offensive line featured the same five starters in each of its 12 games. Heading into 2023, the unit retains three of those members, including consensus preseason All-MAC selection and Outland Trophy candidate Deiyantei Powell-Woods.
Offensive line coach Tavita Thompson is entering his first season in the role, and his sixth season overall with the program. His coaching career has spanned 12 seasons, with stops at Pacific, Oregon State, Nebraska, and Michigan. Since joining the Chippewas in 2018, he has held roles as tight ends coach, tackles coach, pass game coordinator, and is adding run game coordinator to his plate for this season as well.
OFFENSIVE LINE PERSONNEL BREAKDOWN
65 | Deiyantei Powell-Woods | 6-5 | 300 | Senior | Bluefield, W.Va.
63 | Dominic Serapiglia | 6-1 | 325 | R-Jr. | Jefferson Hills, Pa.
78 | Vashon Bailey | 6-7 | 315 | Jr. | Broward County, Fla.
72 | Cade Klimczak | 6-3 | 285 | Jr. | Rockford, Mich.
68 | Brayden Swartout | 6-7 | 300 | Jr. | Essexville, Mich.
58 | Lucas Dailey | 6-6 | 290 | R-So. | Holland, Mich.
75 | Davis Heinzen | 6-5 | 300 | R-So. | Manitowoc, Wis.
67 | Jonathan Decker | 6-5 | 300 | R-So.| Elkhart, Ind.
77 | Keegan Smith | 6-3 | 295 | R-So.| Jackson, Mich.
76 | Martin Koivisto | 6-7 | 310 | R-Fr. | Shakopee, Minn.
59 | Brady Ploucha | 6-5 | 295 | R-Fr. | Allen Park, Mich.
55 | Ryan Blum | 6-1 | 295 | Fr. | Chandler, Ariz.
69 | Jacob Booth | 6-5 | 285 | Fr. | Swartz Creek, Mich.
74 | John Burke | 6-2 | 290 | Fr.| Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
52 | Aiden DeCorte | 6-0 | 300 | Fr. | Jackson, Mich.
60 | Joe Enick | 6-2 | 295 | Fr. | Jeannette, Pa.
66 | Matthew Nehf | 6-3 | 295 | Fr.| DeWitt, Mich.
79 | Tyler Porte | 6-7 | 265 | Fr. | Grand Rapids, Mich.
An All-MAC Third Team selection in 2022, Powell-Woods is the most experienced among offensive lineman, having played in 29 career games with 28 starts. He has started 25 consecutive games for the Chippewas.
While Powell-Woods should retain his role as a valuable starter, two of his running mates on the interior from last season have departed. Tyden Ferris (right guard) and Jamezz Kimbrough (center) both graduated.
In addition to Powell-Woods, both starting tackles from a year ago return in redshirt sophomore Davis Heinzen (left) and junior Brayden Swartout (right). Heinzen, who has played in 16 career games, started all 12 last year at left tackle. Swartout has started 13 consecutive games dating back to the 2021 Sun Bowl.
A number of talented reserves from last season are set to return as well. Redshirt sophomore Keegan Smith appeared in 12 games in 2021, starting four. He returns for the 2022 season after recovering from an injury. Fellow redshirt sophomore Jonathan Decker played in seven games last year, while junior Vashon Bailey appeared in all 12 contests. Also returning from last year's team are junior Cade Klimczak, redshirt sophomore Lucas Dailey, and redshirt freshmen Brady Ploucha and Martin Koivisto.
In the offseason, the Chippewas also brought in redshirt junior transfer Dominic Serapiglia III, who served as the starting center and long snapper for Southeastern Louisiana last season and earned Second Team All-Southland Conference honors.
Newcomers to the program include Ryan Blum, Jacob Booth, Aiden DeCorte, Joe Enick, Matthew Nehf, and Tyler Porte.
Offensive line coach Tavita Thompson is entering his first season in the role, and his sixth season overall with the program. His coaching career has spanned 12 seasons, with stops at Pacific, Oregon State, Nebraska, and Michigan. Since joining the Chippewas in 2018, he has held roles as tight ends coach, tackles coach, pass game coordinator, and is adding run game coordinator to his plate for this season as well.
OFFENSIVE LINE PERSONNEL BREAKDOWN
65 | Deiyantei Powell-Woods | 6-5 | 300 | Senior | Bluefield, W.Va.
63 | Dominic Serapiglia | 6-1 | 325 | R-Jr. | Jefferson Hills, Pa.
78 | Vashon Bailey | 6-7 | 315 | Jr. | Broward County, Fla.
72 | Cade Klimczak | 6-3 | 285 | Jr. | Rockford, Mich.
68 | Brayden Swartout | 6-7 | 300 | Jr. | Essexville, Mich.
58 | Lucas Dailey | 6-6 | 290 | R-So. | Holland, Mich.
75 | Davis Heinzen | 6-5 | 300 | R-So. | Manitowoc, Wis.
67 | Jonathan Decker | 6-5 | 300 | R-So.| Elkhart, Ind.
77 | Keegan Smith | 6-3 | 295 | R-So.| Jackson, Mich.
76 | Martin Koivisto | 6-7 | 310 | R-Fr. | Shakopee, Minn.
59 | Brady Ploucha | 6-5 | 295 | R-Fr. | Allen Park, Mich.
55 | Ryan Blum | 6-1 | 295 | Fr. | Chandler, Ariz.
69 | Jacob Booth | 6-5 | 285 | Fr. | Swartz Creek, Mich.
74 | John Burke | 6-2 | 290 | Fr.| Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
52 | Aiden DeCorte | 6-0 | 300 | Fr. | Jackson, Mich.
60 | Joe Enick | 6-2 | 295 | Fr. | Jeannette, Pa.
66 | Matthew Nehf | 6-3 | 295 | Fr.| DeWitt, Mich.
79 | Tyler Porte | 6-7 | 265 | Fr. | Grand Rapids, Mich.
An All-MAC Third Team selection in 2022, Powell-Woods is the most experienced among offensive lineman, having played in 29 career games with 28 starts. He has started 25 consecutive games for the Chippewas.
While Powell-Woods should retain his role as a valuable starter, two of his running mates on the interior from last season have departed. Tyden Ferris (right guard) and Jamezz Kimbrough (center) both graduated.
In addition to Powell-Woods, both starting tackles from a year ago return in redshirt sophomore Davis Heinzen (left) and junior Brayden Swartout (right). Heinzen, who has played in 16 career games, started all 12 last year at left tackle. Swartout has started 13 consecutive games dating back to the 2021 Sun Bowl.
A number of talented reserves from last season are set to return as well. Redshirt sophomore Keegan Smith appeared in 12 games in 2021, starting four. He returns for the 2022 season after recovering from an injury. Fellow redshirt sophomore Jonathan Decker played in seven games last year, while junior Vashon Bailey appeared in all 12 contests. Also returning from last year's team are junior Cade Klimczak, redshirt sophomore Lucas Dailey, and redshirt freshmen Brady Ploucha and Martin Koivisto.
In the offseason, the Chippewas also brought in redshirt junior transfer Dominic Serapiglia III, who served as the starting center and long snapper for Southeastern Louisiana last season and earned Second Team All-Southland Conference honors.
Newcomers to the program include Ryan Blum, Jacob Booth, Aiden DeCorte, Joe Enick, Matthew Nehf, and Tyler Porte.
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ FootballJordan Kwiatkowski Post-Game Press Conference at Pitt
Saturday, September 06
Joe Labas Post-Game Press Conference at Pitt
Saturday, September 06
Matt Drinkall Post-Game Press Conference at Pitt
Saturday, September 06
Trey Cornist Insider 9.4.25
Thursday, September 04