Old Dominion University Football begins camp on Monday, Aug. 7. With camp a few days away, ODUSports.com will do a position-by-position preview this week. Today we preview the offensive and defensive lines.
Offensive Line (16)
| Tony Barnett | So-r. | 6-4 | 321 |
| Nick Clarke | Jr-r, | 6-4 | 312 |
| A.J. Davison | Jr-r. | 6-6 | 298 |
| Darius Garcia | Sr. | 6-3 | 331 |
| Devin Hannan | So-r. | 6-4 | 293 |
| Chad Hendricks | Jr-r. | 6-6 | 305 |
| Andrew Lawson | Fr-r. | 6-3 | 305 |
| Eric Magwood | So-r. | 6-4 | 298 |
| Jace Mallory | Fr-r. | 6-4 | 288 |
| Manny Matiarena | Sr-r. | 6-4 | 302 |
| Jack Miller III | Fr. | 6-7 | 260 |
| Cameron Muller | Fr. | 6-4 | 305 |
| Lawrence Pettaway | Fr. | 6-2 | 310 |
| Elijah Rivers | Fr. | 6-5 | 275 |
| T.J. Storment | Fr-r. | 6-6 | 312 |
| Isaac Weaver | Fr-r. | 6-6 | 283 |
Offensive Line Preview
The ODU offensive line returns five players that started games from the record-setting 2016 season, while the Monarchs have a host of young players looking to step in as well.
A young group that featured just one senior starter a year ago, this year’s version is once again a young group that has just one senior. Despite being a young group, the unit has combined for 77 career starts.
Darius Garcia is that lone senior. Garcia started the first six games of 2016 at right tackle before suffering a season-ending injury. Garcia will be ready for camp this fall and is penciled in as the starter at right guard.
Junior Nick Clarke has the longest streak of games started on the offensive line with 19-consecutive starts at center. A calm presence in the middle, Clarke handles the offensive line calls and is flawless in his shotgun snaps to the quarterback. He has twice been on the Rimington Trophy Watch List given to the best center in the country.
Junior Chad Hendricks played in all 13 games, starting the final 10 at left tackle. A former walk-on that is also a member of the ODU ROTC, Hendricks is expected to slide over to right tackle this season.
Redshirt sophomore Tony Barnett started six games last season at left guard and played in all 13 games.
Behind the returning starters from last year is a group short on experience, but high on talent. Redshirt freshman Isaac Weaver is the leader of that group. A native of Marietta, Georgia, the 6-6, 280 pounder is expected to take over at left tackle this season.
Junior A.J. Davison redshirted last season, but is expected to compete for time at either guard position, while Andrew Lawson and Jace Mallory will also compete for positions at guard and center. Another redshirt freshman, T.J. Storment, will look compete for playing time at tackle.
A transfer from West Virginia State, Eric Magwood had to sit out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, but is eligible this season and will compete for a spot at tackle.
Freshman Elijah Rivers joined the Monarchs in January from Fork Union Military Academy. He joins a laundry list of offensive lineman form Fork Union, including current starters, Tony Barnett and Darius Garcia.
True freshmen Jack Miller and Cameron Muller also join the Monarchs and will give added depth to the group.
Defensive Line (19)
| Daniel Appouh | Jr-r. | 6-4 | 249 |
| Casey Bernard | So-r. | 6-2 | 249 |
| Maxime Evans | Fr. | 6-4 | 280 |
| Miles Fox | Jr. | 6-1 | 292 |
| Marcus Haynes | Fr. | 6-4 | 223 |
| Janaz Jordan | Fr. | 6-4 | 290 |
| Ryan Londree | Jr-r. | 6-3 | 277 |
| Ty-Kee McCullers | Fr-r. | 6-3 | 275 |
| Jeremy Meiser | Fr. | 6-3 | 285 |
| Juwan Ross | Fr-r. | 6-2 | 292 |
| Bunmi Rotimi | Sr-r. | 6-4 | 275 |
| Mufu Taiwo | So-r. | 6-5 | 295 |
| Pat Toal | Jr-r. | 6-4 | 316 |
| Brandon Tyson | Jr-r. | 6-1 | 342 |
| James Valle III | Fr. | 6-4 | 220 |
| Tim Ward | Jr. | 6-6 | 243 |
| Cameron Washington | Fr. | 6-4 | 245 |
| Sam White Jr. | Fr-r. | 6-3 | 242 |
| Oshane Ximines | Jr-r. | 6-3 | 247 |
Defensive Line Preview
The 2016 defensive line had the most depth of any ODU position and depsite the loss of Rashaad Coward (Chicago Bears), the 2017 group has just as much depth.
The unit begins with a strong pair of bookends in Bunmi Rotimi and Oshane Ximines. Rotimi is tied with Craig Wilkins for the ODU career record in sacks (13.5), while Ximines edged him out last season by half a sack (7.5) for the ODU single-season school record.
Junior’s Daniel Appouh and Tim Ward are starting caliber defensive ends relegated to backup duty due to Ximines and Rotimi. Appouh battled injuries last season to play in eight games and notch 17 tackles and two sacks, while Ward added five sacks and 25 tackles. The ability of Appouh and Ward allows the coaching staff to sub players throughout the game so they are fresh in the fourth quarter.
Redshirt sophomore Casey Bernard saw the first action of his career last season, while Sam White redshirted.
Freshman Marcus Haynes joined ODU from Fork Union in January and adds depth to the unit.
The Monarchs also added true freshman James Valle on National Signing Day.
The defensive tackle position is also in good shape even with the loss of Coward. Miles Fox started nine games last season and registered 27 tackles, while Pat Toal and Ryan Londree will likely compete for the second starting position.
Toal played in 11 games, recording 12 tackles, while Londree played in 10 games, notching five tackles.
Mufu Taiwo is another big body with playing experience after appearing in six games last season, while Brandon Tyson returns after missing all of 2016 with an injury.
Ty-Kee McCullers and Juwan Ross add depth after redshirting last season, while Janaz Jordan, Jeremy Meiser and Cameron Washington will compete for playing time as true freshmen.