Football Position Preview: Offensive Line
8/31/2016 4:07:00 PM | Football
NEW YORK—This is the seventh part of a preseason series previewing each of the 2016 Columbia Football position groups. On the 10th day of preseason training camp, we focus on the Lions' offensive line unit:
From a numbers standpoint, Columbia's offensive line is the team's most experienced position group as the Lions return three starters and eight of their top-10 players from last year's roster. Offensive line coach Jon McLaughlin has a host of players competing for playing time as the group enabled running back Cameron Molina (805 yards on 204 carries) to finish second among the Ivy League's top rushers in 2015.
Columbia's four returning offensive line starters are senior left tackle Kendall Pace, junior right tackle Bewley Wales, senior right guard Nathan Gibbs and sophomore Charlie Flores. The four veterans have combined for 54 career starts. A three-year starter and leader of the group, Pace enters his senior year after having played in 29 games at Columbia. Wales, who started all 10 games at center as a sophomore last year, will make the transition to right tackle. Gibbs started all 10 games last year at right guard. Flores is back at left guard after a one-year hiatus. As a freshman in 2014, he started in five of 10 games played at guard.
The Lions also have a host of depth and players back with experience at all five positions including sophomore Markham Paukune, junior Tyler Schonewolf, junior Mike McGrath, senior Ben Robbins, senior Reid Stables, junior Pat Denny and sophomore Brock Anglin. Newcomers Parker Coogan, Lamine Nouck-A-Nwal, Joseph Scowden, William Carson, Drew Schoeberl, John Fischer II and Peter Szymanski all join the unit.
OFFENSIVE LINE PERSONNEL ROSTER
Left Tackle
OL-Kendall Pace, SR, 6-5, 305, Suitland, Md.
OL-Brock Anglin, SO, 6-6, 290, Dallas, Texas
OL-Lamine Nouck-A-Nwal, FR, 6-4, 275, Doylestown, Pa.
Left Guard
OL-Charlie Flores, SO, 6-4, 300, Fort Worth, Texas
OL-Mike McGrath, JR, 6-6, 325, Berlin, N.J.
OL-Joseph Scowden, FR, 6-4, 300, Nashville, Tenn.
OL-William Carson, FR, 6-3, 285, Lexington, S.C.
Center
OL-Tyler Schonewolf, JR, 6-3, 275, South Williamsport, Pa.
OL-Parker Coogan, FR, 6-2, 270, Kingwood, Texas
OL-Reid Stables, SR, 6-3, 282, Littleton, Colo.
Right Guard
OL-Nathan Gibbs, SR, 6-5, 295, Hickory, N.C.
OL-Markham Paukune, SR, 6-4, 295, Fort Worth, Texas
OL-Pat Denny, JR, 6-3, 280, Pittsburgh, Pa.
OL-John Fischer II, FR, 6-3, 280, Springfield, Ill.
Right Tackle
OL-Bewley Wales, JR, 6-5, 295, Tulsa, Okla.
OL-Ben Robbins, SR, 6-8, 285, Fallston, Md.
OL-Drew Schoeberl, Fr, 6-5, 265, Columbus, Ind.
OL-Peter Szymanski, JR, 6-6, 280, Park Ridge, Ill.
