BEAUMONT, Texas – Another offseason has come and gone, and the calendar has turned the page for August which means players have reported back to campus for the start of preseason camp. It also means LamarCardinals.com will once again be posting its annual position-by-position breakdown leading up to the team's season opener Saturday, Aug. 30^th at North Texas.
 
Today LamarCardinals.com will break down the LU offensive linemen.
 
OL Quick Facts:
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 7/3
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Newcomers: 8
 
Stats: As a team, the Cardinals ranked second in the Southland rushing with 2,161 yards (180.1 ypg) during the 2024 season and produced the league's leading rusher (Khalan Griffin). The O-Line also protected the Cardinals quarterbacks who passed for 2,119 yards (193.7 ypg) which ranked seventh in the league and surrendered just three sacks per game. Big Red's offensive front also produced three all-conference selections including a freshman All-American.
 
Key Player: Eli Ripley – A two-year starter on the Cardinals offensive line. Ripley transferred in from Iowa Western and took over the starting role at center and has never looked back. In addition to anchoring an improved offensive line each of the past two seasons, he has been named to the postseason All-SLC squads both years in Beaumont.
 
The Storyline
Throughout our nation's love affair with the sport of football, offensive lines – great offensive lines especially – have taken on a cult like following earning nicknames like "The Hogs" (Washington Redskins, 1980s and 90s), the Monster of the Midway (University of Chicago O-Line in the 1920s and 30s) and since I mentioned the nickname for the Redskins' past offensive line (and if I have any hope of getting back to my car at the end of the day without a police escort) I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Great Wall of Dallas (Dallas Cowboys line in the 1970s). While at times overlooked by the average fan, a football team cannot be great – or even good – without a strong offensive line.
 
This position group should be a strength for the Red and White this year, if not one of the best lines in the league. It is a veteran squad with some postseason honorees returning from last year. Big Red returns four of the five starters from last season and while the one loss was a big one – Jevale Roberson (Right Guard) – a two-time all-conference selection, the Cardinals return the aforementioned Ripley at center to go along with sophomore Kortez Winslow (2024 All-SLC and Freshman All-American), junior Reggie Brooks and senior Knox Boyd.
 
The returning starters combine for to make up for three all-conference selections, 79 career games played and 70 career starts. That is overwhelming in its own right.
 
Some of you might be thinking to yourself, we know about the returning starters but we're curious Roberson's vacated spot. An early leader to fill that void is junior John Hester. A native of Hawkins, Texas, Hester stands 6-4, 317 and played in all 12 games last season making one start. He knows the role, is having a strong preseason camp and could easily slide into a starting role. Another player that could see a ton of snaps at the position is Zachary Curtis (6-4, 295, So.). A Dallas native, Curtis could be looked upon to fill the role that Hester held last season serving as a big part of the rotation and even working his way into the starting lineup.
 
Even more exciting about the Cards' offensive front is the strong class of newcomers the coaching staff brought in during the offseason. That group consists of Nicolaus Chenevert (6-4, 296, Fr.), Denim Orebo (6-4, 342, Fr.), Reagan Langston (6-2, 271, Fr.), Demond Donahue (6-2, 303, Fr.), Zaylen Graham (6-4, 290, Fr.), Jayden Marrs (6-5, 315, Fr.) and Sal Lograsso (6-2, 283, Fr.). The incoming freshmen reported to camp standing an impressive 6-3, 300 pounds. I repeat, those are true freshmen who have not yet had the benefit of an NCAA Division I weight room for four years … or even four months.
 
Before we begin to think about the "What Ifs" from a talented incoming freshmen class, the Cardinals return several redshirts and letterwinners from last season who should play a key role in 2025. That group includes Alex Haralson (6-5, 298, So.), Kade Verden (6-1, 287, Jr.), Marcus Harbert (6-1, 283, So.) and Endrei Sauls (6-2, 317, Redshirt Fr.). This group is joined by SMU transfer Matthew Dallao (6-5, 318, Sr.).
 
One other asset the Cardinals have in their O-Line coach Matt Cannata. Entering his third year with the program, Cannata was named one of the top young coaches in the state during the offseason. Back in July Cannata was given the honor of being named to the Dave Campbell's Texas Football 40-Under-40 list.