"We have a really close offensive line this year, and I think it's a testament to #10Strong."
— Victor Johnson, App State Junior, Offensive Line
Moving forward from a 9-4 season in which Appalachian State claimed a second straight Sun Belt Conference title and a third consecutive bowl victory, the Mountaineers have adopted the #10Strong motto for 2018.
In the spring, head coach
Scott Satterfield and assistant athletics director of athletic performance
Mike Sirignano formed a leadership panel that included one player from each of the 10 assigned position groups and had weekly discussions about the contents of a Jon Gordon book called "The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy."
Today's position preview in the #10Strong Series leading up to the Sept. 1 opener at Penn State focuses on the offensive line, with junior
Victor Johnson serving as that group's representative on the panel.
An All-Sun Belt selection who has been named the league's best pass blocker by Lindy's, Johnson stepped into a starting role as offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator
Shawn Clark made his 2016 debut on the Mountaineers' staff. App State ranked in the top 25 nationally in both sacks allowed and rushing yards per game in each of Clark's first two seasons.
With 26 straight starts at left tackle, Johnson is the most established member of a line that sent right-side starters
Colby Gossett and
Beau Nunn to NFL training camps. As Johnson has gained more experience, he's also become more comfortable in displaying an outgoing personality.
"When I first got here, I didn't know he talked," Clark said with a chuckle. "He was very quiet, but that goes to his maturity. He had a chance to watch Parker Collins, Colby and Beau get the group together, and it's not just on the football field. This summer, they were hanging out together having picnics, barbequing, going out to the pool.
"As an offensive lineman, if you don't know what the person is doing next to you, you're in trouble, and you don't always get that on the football field. That's out having fun with your boys and knowing what they're going to do next. You can see this is a very close unit. They're very supportive of each other and hard on each other."
At Thursday's practice, Johnson took a moment to walk over to a nearby sideline and thank three young, fatigued defensive linemen for the effort they had put forth during an extended drill that had just ended.
"Now that it's my first year being more of a leader, it's taking leadership advice from guys like Jalin (Moore) and MyQuon (Stout), who are vocal guys on the team," Johnson said. "It's just learning how to be a leader. It's small things like coming to practice with energy every day. I can't come to practice with a down day."
Johnson, left guard
Ryan Neuzil and center
Noah Hannon are returning starters for a high-powered offense that brings back Moore, the two-time Sun Belt rushing champion, and a talented set of receivers for new quarterback
Zac Thomas.
Hannon, whose work in the weight room has allowed him to reach 270 pounds, started all 13 games as a true freshman with room to grow physically. Neuzil moved into the starting lineup with five games remaining last season, and the Mountaineers averaged 286.4 rushing yards in those contests.
There is healthy competition on the right side of the line, as sophomores
Baer Hunter and
Cole Garrison have both gone through first-team reps at right guard. Hunter began his college career as an offensive lineman, closed last season at tight end and moved to the offensive line during spring workouts.
The options at right tackle include senior
Chandler Greer, sophomore
Matt Williams and sophomore
Nate Haskins. The 6-foot-4, 288-pound Greer appeared in nine games last season and started four as an offensive guard, while Williams and Haskins are striving for bigger roles after playing sparingly behind veteran teammates as redshirt freshmen.
"We've made progress," Clark said. "We've had a few different combinations out there working with the first group, and that's a good thing, because we're always competing and trying to find the top five guys."
Clark has said he believes he has eight or nine linemen who could play key roles for the Mountaineers this season. His position group includes another battle-tested senior in
Tobias Edge-Campbell, who has appeared in 25 career games and started six.
There is plenty of young talent being developed, as the group has four true freshmen (
Cooper Hodges,
Luke Burnette,
Josh Headlee,
Anderson Hardy), two redshirt freshmen (
Gage Blackston,
Joe Hartung) and four sophomores (
Ivan Reyes,
Logan Wright,
Weston Gillespie,
Will Hardin).
"The good thing is now we have numbers and we have depth," Clark said. "We have some guys who have been in our system, since I've been here, going on Year 3. They're young, they're athletic and eager to learn."
