OXFORD — The Miami RedHawks leaned on one of the most veteran offensive lines in the Mid-American Conference the last few seasons.
This fall, the RedHawks will take the field with five new starters — a group built on patience, development and learning quickly under fire.
Miami’s front five has immediate tests against two Big Ten programs known for size and power in Wisconsin and Rutgers.
“New faces, but familiar guys,” RedHawks coach Chuck Martin said. “We’ve got all new starters, but these guys have been here. They’ve learned from the group before them. They’re embracing the process, but now they have to go play.
“For the O-line, the Big Ten is big and physical. It’ll be a good welcome to college football for these guys.”
At tackle, the RedHawks plan to rotate junior Eric Smith, junior Drew Terrill and redshirt freshman Jacob Schorsch in a three-man cycle. Redshirt sophomore Andrew Lowry and redshirt freshman Aiden Howard are expected to provide depth as the unit searches for consistency.
Inside, redshirt sophomore Greg Smith Jr., redshirt freshman Kris Manu, Stanford transfer and senior Austin Uke, and junior Gavin Rohrs give Miami options — with several versatile enough to snap and swing between guard spots. Lowry and others can also slide down to help anchor the interior. Martin anticipates heavy rotation early in the season until players separate themselves.
Smith Jr. played in 13 games and started one last season and was named Miami’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
Senior Marcus White, junior Brandon Lawhorn Moore, redshirt sophomore Mitchell Butler, freshman Ayden Annarino, freshman Lucas Barnes, freshman Anthony Tanaka and freshman Jonathan Stangl round out Miami’s rostered offensive linemen.
Terrill earned his first career start in the Arizona Bowl. For him, the experience offered a glimpse of what it takes to anchor the line for an entire season, not just a single game.
“That bowl game was a good start, but it’s a lot different doing it 12, 13, 14 times over a season,” Terrill said. “Consistency is the goal. We just want to get better every week, open holes in the run game, and give DQ time.”
He’s referring to new quarterback Dequan Finn, a transfer from Toledo whose playmaking ability changes everything up front. Stylishly different from longtime quarterback Brett Gabbert, Finn is a dual-threat with the speed and strength to turn broken plays into highlights.
“Sometimes you miss a block, and it isn’t automatically a sack,” Martin said. “It can turn into a big gain, which is every O-line coach’s friend.”
Terrill has already seen it firsthand in practice.
“Plays are never dead,” Terrill said. “There are so many times I think a guy is starting to slide off me, and then I see Dequan 10 yards downfield juking a DB or spinning out of a linebacker. It keeps us locked in longer because you never know when a play is really over.”
For a group with no starting experience together, leadership becomes just as important as technique. Terrill said the linemen have leaned on each other, drawing from years spent in the program even without game reps.
“We know we have an inexperienced group,” Terrill said. “We don’t have a lot of starts or snaps in this room, but a lot of us have been here for a while. We learned from the guys last year, and now it’s on us. Getting better each week, fixing the holes in the run game, giving DQ time — that’s how we’re going to win games.”
Martin said the key will be blending rotation with development and finding the right five while giving everyone a chance to prove themselves against top-tier competition.
“We love the nucleus, we love that group,” Martin said. “They’re attacking the process. They’re going to have to learn under fire, but they’re embracing that.”
