Louisville enters the 2025 season with roughly 10 offensive linemen the staff can be confident in. That’s a far cry from previous seasons when an injury led to guys stepping onto the field who just couldn’t hold up. Richard Owens has quickly earned the confidence that his group will perform up to expectations, no matter […]
Louisville enters the 2025 season with roughly 10 offensive linemen the staff can be confident in. That’s a far cry from previous seasons when an injury led to guys stepping onto the field who just couldn’t hold up. Richard Owens has quickly earned the confidence that his group will perform up to expectations, no matter what personnel he’s dealing with. But, this group will be the key to the team getting over the hump and making the playoff. The depth and options may be just what they needed to get the job done.
The key to any offensive line is the center, and UofL has one of the best in the country in Pete Nygra. Nygra has great size at 6-4/300, and his experience as a three-year starter is invaluable. Nygra is the leader of the group as well as the key at the line when it comes to calls as well as adjustments. Tyler Shough was known to change the play at the line a good amount last year, and Nygra’s experience is a part of that. I think he’ll have another great season this year as well.
Lance Robinson is the only other player on the line that I feel comfortable about as a penciled-in starter. Robinson has played well throughout his career when he’s been healthy, but he’s been hit by injuries for two years now. I think he will be a reliable guy at left guard, which should help the offense with a run identity early in the season. As of now, I would expect Jordan Church to be the top option to back him up.
The other guard spot looks like a three-man race, to me. Naeer Jackson owned this spot in the spring, but Victor Cutler and Church both got reps there in the fall. Jackson was a two-year starter at FIU, and though he didn’t have great numbers according to PFF, he did improve greatly as a pass protector in his second year. Cutler has struggled since moving up in competition two years ago, so it’s hard to see him turning the corner in his final year. Church is also moving up in competition from FAU, but he was an all-conference pick with much better numbers than the others. We’ll have to wait and see who gets the start.
The tackle spots have seen a few different guys get first team reps during practice, so it is hard to know just who will start this year. Rasheed Miller returns after being a key reserve last season, with Trevonte Sylvester also back to battle for a starting spot. Mak Pounders transferred in from Mississippi State, and Mahamane Moussa came in from Purdue. Both players started at the P4 level, and both could have a shot at starting this season. Louisville has a good problem as they have too many options on the line, but they also have another thing going for them.
UofL has a light schedule to start the season, which will give the entire staff a chance to figure out who their best group is on the field. Owens will be able to get these guys on the field in real game scenarios and get a good evaluation on who his best five are. Injuries left him without a lot of options last year, but it very well could be the exact opposite this season.
BREAKOUT CANDIDATE
It seems unfair to choose Pete Nygr, but I think he could be a guy who lands on the all-conference team this year. I could also see him getting some national recognition if this Louisville team gets to the playoff. Offensive linemen don’t typically get much notice unless the team is playing well, and Nygra will likely need that to get the notice he deserves.
Category: General Sports
