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Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Offensive Line Preview: Variety of Players Competing for Spots and Playing Time
8/14/2025 12:27:00 PM | Football
Brady Ploucha and Martin Koivisto return with starting experience; Ryan Blum, Jacob Booth, Matthew Nehf, Dasan Smith, Jacob Saurbeck, and Dan Sickler all saw game action last year; variety of transfers and freshman are new to the mix.
MOUNT PLEASANT—Eight players—Brady Ploucha, Martin Koivisto, Ryan Blum, Jacob Booth, Matthew Nehf, Dasan Smith, Jacob Saurbeck, and Dane Sickler—all saw action on the Central Michigan offensive line last year and all return to bolster the unit in 2025.
Ploucha (12 starts), Koivisto (six starts), and Nehf (two starts) all started games last season. The Chippewas lost Brayden Swartout (36 career starts) and center Dominic Serapiglia III (24 consecutive starts), along with graduate Davis Heinzen (36 consecutive starts). Last year's offensive line allowed just 26 sacks for 171 yards.
Central Michigan Offensive Line Coach Hayden Mace said that he is excited for his group heading into the season.
"It's a group that is really hungry to get better and they're hungry to do it the way Coach Drinkall and our staff wants to do it," Mace said. "They want to learn, be successful, and play hard. We're excited about that. It's a mix of guys who were here last season and a bunch of guys who weren't here last season, so building camaraderie and leadership has been really important as far as how we expect to play the game at this level. It's an honor to do it at a place like Central Michigan with such rich tradition. On top of that, being able to do it for a guy like Coach Drinkall, who has done it a high level and has high expectations for the offensive line."
"What's exciting is that we're not walking into room that has established starters. We've got a few who have played in games, started games. As for the players returning, having Martin Koivisto back is great. He's such a great young man, but on top of that, he's coming off injury and is hungry to get back and prove himself. Brady Ploucha has started the most games of anyone in the room and we are excited to get him back with his physical presence and the way he plays the game. It was great being able to get Luis Martinez healthy. He's been great this fall, love his energy and effort. Ryan Blum is our most experienced center on the roster. He's competing his tail off at that position. Jacob Booth played a little bit last year, got into a few games, he's playing multiple positions up front and his position flexibility has been outstanding. Matthew Nehf, kind of the same as Booth, played in a few games last year, he's had a good offseason and is competing at multiple positions. Jacob Saurbeck is a big, physical presence for us, he's been working his tail off and we're excited for him. Dane Sickler, a younger guy, is super long, the longest kid I've ever coached and he's getting better every single day that we're out there. Dasan Smith is in his second year now and he's competing at multiple positions and we're excited about his future."
"Our transfers have been great. Blake Schlegel is a transfer from an NAIA school where he played great football, integrating him into our scheme has been awesome. A transfer from Columbia, John Iannuzzi, was with us this winter and spring, he's a guy that helped set the tone for the group in terms how we work. Dom Maiava is a guy we recruited at Eastern Washington and has been a great addition and we're fortunate to get him here. Apisa Poumele, also we recruited at Eastern Washington. He's tough, scrappy and has been great for us at the center position. Jacob Russell is a transfer from Valparaiso, love the way the kid works, he's a legacy as his dad attended Central Michigan. Happy to have him here."
"As for the freshmen, Triston Pierre just got here this summer and has unique athleticism and we're excited about him. Talon Smith, Dasan's brother, has an impressive background and he's a good young, physical presence for us. Alex Toothman was a late addition that we were able to find and thank goodness we did because he's been a good piece of the room."
2025 OFFENSIVE LINE PERSONNEL ROSTER
60 | John Iannuzzi | 6-4 | 315 | Sr. | Belmont, Mass.
71 | Luis Martinez | 6-5 | 300 | Sr. | Oceanside, Calif.
75 | Blake Schlegel | 6-6 | 320 | Sr. | Bruning, Neb.
76 | Martin Koivisto | 6-7 | 305 | R-Jr. | Shakopee, Minn.
52 | Dominique Maiava | 6-2 | 300 | R-Jr. | Pago Pago, American Samoa Tuala
59 | Brady Ploucha | 6-5 | 305 | R-Jr. | Allen Park, Mich.
58 | Apisa Poumele | 6-2 | 300 | Jr. | Tufuga, Pago Pago, American Samoa
55 | Ryan Blum | 6-1 | 295 | R-So. | Chandler, Ariz.
69 | Jacob Booth | 6-5 | 295 | R-So. | Swartz Creek, Mich.
66 | Matthew Nehf | 6-3 | 295 | R-So. | DeWitt, Mich.
70 | Jacob Russell | 6-4 | 295 | R-So. | Glen Ridge, N.J.
77 | Jacob Saurbeck | 6-7 | 315 | R-Fr. | Oregon, Ohio
72 | Dane Sickler | 6-10 | 315 | R-Fr. | Mount Horeb, Wis.
73 | Dasan Smith | 6-6 | 290 | R-Fr. | Marquette, Mich.
54 | Triston Pierre | 6-4 | 260 | Fr. | Gaithersburg, Md.
78 | Talon Smith | 6-6 | 280 | Fr. | Marquette, Mich.
68 | Alex Toothman | 6-4 | 270 | Fr. | Stevensville, Mich.
Three returning players earned starts last season. Redshirt junior Brady Ploucha returns with the most experience after starting all 12 games last season. The Allen Park, Mich. native has seen action in 21 career games. Redshirt junior Martin Koivisto has played in 22 career games with five total starts. He made four starts last year at left guard. Redshirt sophomore Matthew Nehf started each of the last two games at left guard and has seen action in 12 career games.
Redshirt sophomore Ryan Blum has served as the backup center in each of the last two seasons while seeing action in five career games. Redshirt sophomore Jacob Booth played in 10 of 12 games last year and saw extensive action in the season finale at Northern Illinois. Senior Luis Martinez saw action in eight games at CMU and has played in 22 games combining his career with the Chippewas and at West Liberty.
Three players who earned redshirts return in freshmen Jacob Saurbeck, Dasan Smith, and Dan Sickler. Saurbeck played in four games last year, Smith saw action in four games before earning a redshirt, and Sickler, at 6-foot-10-inches is the tallest player on the CMU roster, played in three games on special teams.
Offensive linemen who transferred in include seniors John Iannuzzi and Blake Schlegel, juniors Dominic Maiava and Apisa Poumele, and sophomore Jacob Russell. Iannuzzi is a transfer from Columbia, where he played in 26 games and started 20 contests, Maiava and Poumele are transfers from Laney College are both originally from American Samoa, while Russell started all 11 games at Valparaiso last year.
The Chippewas also added three freshmen to the mix in Triston Pierre (Gaithersburg, Md.), Talon Smith (Marquette, Mich.), and Alex Toothman (Stevensville, Mich.). Pierre is a Washington Post All-Met honoree, Smith was named tot the All-Upper Peninsula Dream Team and was runner-up for Mr. UP Football in 2024, while Toothman was a three-time all-conference player.
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Ploucha (12 starts), Koivisto (six starts), and Nehf (two starts) all started games last season. The Chippewas lost Brayden Swartout (36 career starts) and center Dominic Serapiglia III (24 consecutive starts), along with graduate Davis Heinzen (36 consecutive starts). Last year's offensive line allowed just 26 sacks for 171 yards.
Central Michigan Offensive Line Coach Hayden Mace said that he is excited for his group heading into the season.
"It's a group that is really hungry to get better and they're hungry to do it the way Coach Drinkall and our staff wants to do it," Mace said. "They want to learn, be successful, and play hard. We're excited about that. It's a mix of guys who were here last season and a bunch of guys who weren't here last season, so building camaraderie and leadership has been really important as far as how we expect to play the game at this level. It's an honor to do it at a place like Central Michigan with such rich tradition. On top of that, being able to do it for a guy like Coach Drinkall, who has done it a high level and has high expectations for the offensive line."
"What's exciting is that we're not walking into room that has established starters. We've got a few who have played in games, started games. As for the players returning, having Martin Koivisto back is great. He's such a great young man, but on top of that, he's coming off injury and is hungry to get back and prove himself. Brady Ploucha has started the most games of anyone in the room and we are excited to get him back with his physical presence and the way he plays the game. It was great being able to get Luis Martinez healthy. He's been great this fall, love his energy and effort. Ryan Blum is our most experienced center on the roster. He's competing his tail off at that position. Jacob Booth played a little bit last year, got into a few games, he's playing multiple positions up front and his position flexibility has been outstanding. Matthew Nehf, kind of the same as Booth, played in a few games last year, he's had a good offseason and is competing at multiple positions. Jacob Saurbeck is a big, physical presence for us, he's been working his tail off and we're excited for him. Dane Sickler, a younger guy, is super long, the longest kid I've ever coached and he's getting better every single day that we're out there. Dasan Smith is in his second year now and he's competing at multiple positions and we're excited about his future."
"Our transfers have been great. Blake Schlegel is a transfer from an NAIA school where he played great football, integrating him into our scheme has been awesome. A transfer from Columbia, John Iannuzzi, was with us this winter and spring, he's a guy that helped set the tone for the group in terms how we work. Dom Maiava is a guy we recruited at Eastern Washington and has been a great addition and we're fortunate to get him here. Apisa Poumele, also we recruited at Eastern Washington. He's tough, scrappy and has been great for us at the center position. Jacob Russell is a transfer from Valparaiso, love the way the kid works, he's a legacy as his dad attended Central Michigan. Happy to have him here."
"As for the freshmen, Triston Pierre just got here this summer and has unique athleticism and we're excited about him. Talon Smith, Dasan's brother, has an impressive background and he's a good young, physical presence for us. Alex Toothman was a late addition that we were able to find and thank goodness we did because he's been a good piece of the room."
2025 OFFENSIVE LINE PERSONNEL ROSTER
60 | John Iannuzzi | 6-4 | 315 | Sr. | Belmont, Mass.
71 | Luis Martinez | 6-5 | 300 | Sr. | Oceanside, Calif.
75 | Blake Schlegel | 6-6 | 320 | Sr. | Bruning, Neb.
76 | Martin Koivisto | 6-7 | 305 | R-Jr. | Shakopee, Minn.
52 | Dominique Maiava | 6-2 | 300 | R-Jr. | Pago Pago, American Samoa Tuala
59 | Brady Ploucha | 6-5 | 305 | R-Jr. | Allen Park, Mich.
58 | Apisa Poumele | 6-2 | 300 | Jr. | Tufuga, Pago Pago, American Samoa
55 | Ryan Blum | 6-1 | 295 | R-So. | Chandler, Ariz.
69 | Jacob Booth | 6-5 | 295 | R-So. | Swartz Creek, Mich.
66 | Matthew Nehf | 6-3 | 295 | R-So. | DeWitt, Mich.
70 | Jacob Russell | 6-4 | 295 | R-So. | Glen Ridge, N.J.
77 | Jacob Saurbeck | 6-7 | 315 | R-Fr. | Oregon, Ohio
72 | Dane Sickler | 6-10 | 315 | R-Fr. | Mount Horeb, Wis.
73 | Dasan Smith | 6-6 | 290 | R-Fr. | Marquette, Mich.
54 | Triston Pierre | 6-4 | 260 | Fr. | Gaithersburg, Md.
78 | Talon Smith | 6-6 | 280 | Fr. | Marquette, Mich.
68 | Alex Toothman | 6-4 | 270 | Fr. | Stevensville, Mich.
Three returning players earned starts last season. Redshirt junior Brady Ploucha returns with the most experience after starting all 12 games last season. The Allen Park, Mich. native has seen action in 21 career games. Redshirt junior Martin Koivisto has played in 22 career games with five total starts. He made four starts last year at left guard. Redshirt sophomore Matthew Nehf started each of the last two games at left guard and has seen action in 12 career games.
Redshirt sophomore Ryan Blum has served as the backup center in each of the last two seasons while seeing action in five career games. Redshirt sophomore Jacob Booth played in 10 of 12 games last year and saw extensive action in the season finale at Northern Illinois. Senior Luis Martinez saw action in eight games at CMU and has played in 22 games combining his career with the Chippewas and at West Liberty.
Three players who earned redshirts return in freshmen Jacob Saurbeck, Dasan Smith, and Dan Sickler. Saurbeck played in four games last year, Smith saw action in four games before earning a redshirt, and Sickler, at 6-foot-10-inches is the tallest player on the CMU roster, played in three games on special teams.
Offensive linemen who transferred in include seniors John Iannuzzi and Blake Schlegel, juniors Dominic Maiava and Apisa Poumele, and sophomore Jacob Russell. Iannuzzi is a transfer from Columbia, where he played in 26 games and started 20 contests, Maiava and Poumele are transfers from Laney College are both originally from American Samoa, while Russell started all 11 games at Valparaiso last year.
The Chippewas also added three freshmen to the mix in Triston Pierre (Gaithersburg, Md.), Talon Smith (Marquette, Mich.), and Alex Toothman (Stevensville, Mich.). Pierre is a Washington Post All-Met honoree, Smith was named tot the All-Upper Peninsula Dream Team and was runner-up for Mr. UP Football in 2024, while Toothman was a three-time all-conference player.
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
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