2021 SLU Lions Football Preseason Position Report: Offensive Line

Position: Offensive Line
Position Coach: A.J. Hopp (Fourth season at SLU)
Returners: John Allen (6-1, 305, So.), Jalen Bell (6-5, 300, Jr.)*, William Granville (5-11, 290, So.)**, Drew Jones (6-1, 300, Sr.)*, Brennan Lanclos (6-7, 300, So.), Ethan McMullan (6-3, 290, Sr.)*, Rendon Miles-Character (6-3, 290, Sr.)*, Tyree Rhodes (6-1, 300, Jr.), Dom Serapiglia III (6-1, 310, Fr.)
Newcomers: Gavin Burtchaell (6-6, 285, Fr.), Noah Devlin (6-3, 290, Fr.)**, Cayden Guzzardo (6-0, 285, Fr.)**, Holden Kareokowsky (6-3, 300, Fr.), Blakely Miller (6-5, 290, Fr.), Jhy Orgeron (6-4, 295, Fr.)**, Javin Turner (6-2, 295, Fr.)**
* – All-Southland Conference
** – Did not see action in 2020 season

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University football team featured one of the most prolific offenses in the nation in the 2020 season that was played in the spring of 2021. A large part of the success that Lion quarterback Cole Kelley and the SLU playmakers had in the spring can be attributed to the play of a stalwart offensive line.

The entire starting offensive line is back for the Lions, including a quartet of All-Southland Conference performers in left tackle Jalen Bell, center Drew Jones, right guard Ethan McMullan and right tackle Rendon Miles-Character. With Tyree Rhodes, John Allen, Brennan Lanclos and Dom Serapiglia III all back, Southeastern features a deep group of capable veterans in the trenches.

“Our offensive line features veteran players who have played a lot of football together and is a big part of our success on offense,” Southeastern head coach Frank Scelfo said. “Our offensive line group is a great representation of where we want to be as a program. It’s a close-knit group that holds each other accountable and does an excellent job of working together to make each other better.”

The familiarity and continuity in the offensive line room has developed a bond that translates onto the field. Jones, who has started 27 games over the past three seasons on the offensive line, echoed Scelfo’s sentiments on the bond he has with his offensive line brethren.

“Our motto as an offensive line is ‘Five as One’,” Jones commented. “I got married this summer and all of our starting offensive linemen from the spring were at the wedding. We’re a family on and off the field.”

Lion offensive line coach and run game coordinator A.J. Hopp credits the closeness between his charges and their dedication to the ‘Five and One’ motto.

“This is the closest our offensive line room has been since I’ve been here and they understand the ‘Five as One’ mentality – if all five of us don’t do our job, we can’t succeed as a group,” Hopp stated. “Our guys take a lot of pride in the preparation they put in the weight room, in the meeting room and by coming into practice with a game day mentality every day. They have high standards for each other and are willing to put in the work necessary to reach their goals.”

Jones and his offensive line teammates won’t rest on their laurels as they continue to improve. Scelfo would like his high-powered offense to run the ball more effectively and lessen the sacks allowed this fall with the offensive line playing a big role in both objectives.

“We’re a veteran group, so we just focus on locking in and listening to Coach Hopp, who has been a great coach for us,” Jones said. “He always has us prepared and he’s always there for us. As a veteran group, we each know every position on the offensive line, so we can always look to our brother next to us and know that person has the play.”

This coming fall’s goals are simple for the offensive line, according to Jones.

“We want to dominate up front and do our part to help us win the Southland Conference,” Jones commented. “Our job is to give Cole Kelley as much time as he needs in the backfield to make plays.”

Southeastern will return to the practice field on Wednesday at 3:50 p.m. The No. 15/17 Lions open the 2021 season at home, hosting North Alabama at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.

2021 Southeastern Football Preseason Practice Schedule
Aug. 18 – 3:50 p.m.
Aug. 19 – 3:50 p.m.
Aug. 20 – 9 a.m.
Aug. 21 – 9 a.m.
Aug. 23 – 3:50 p.m.
Aug. 24 – 3:50 p.m.
Aug. 25 – 3:50 p.m.
Aug. 26 – 3:50 p.m.
Aug. 27 – 9 a.m.
Aug. 28 – 9 a.m.

TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets for the 2021-22 season. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @LionUpFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.