Editor's Note:  This is the first in a series of 10 features that highlight a group or position of the 2010 Mercyhurst College football team.

Offensive Line
A year ago, the Lakers benefited from having the same starters on the line for every contest and were led by a pair of All-PSAC West selections in Dave Hetrick and Andrew Salamon. This season, the Lakers must replace Hetrick, a three-year starter at left tackle, and Salamon, a two-year starter at right guard. 

That nucleus helped the Lakers to season-highs of 294 rushing yards against Cheyney and 254 passing yards against Lock Haven. The line also helped pave the way for a season-high four rushing touchdowns against Cheyney and three passing touchdowns against county rival Edinboro. 

Impressively, the Mercyhurst line also allowed just 10 sacks on the year, five better than the next-ranked Western Division school. However, even with the absence of the two All-PSAC selections who helped guide the line to the league's lowest sacks allowed total, the offensive line remains an experienced group. 

Junior Jim Maxwell at left guard and sophomore Kevin Poropat at tackle are the returning starters with junior Matt Cirell and red-shirt freshman Jeff Pollard joining them as projected starters at right guard and right tackle, respectively. 

After starting all 11 games as a freshman at right tackle, Poropat replaces Hetrick on the left side. He has increased his strength and conditioning in the offseason to complement his technically sound footwork and pass-blocking skills. 

Behind Poropat on the preseason depth chart will be red-shirt sophomore #Antonio Davis, Jr#. and true freshman Ben Gysin. Davis moved from defense and will be looked upon to learn the system quickly. Gysin brings athleticism to the position and could push for playing time. 

At left guard, Maxwell returns for his second year starting at the position. He will be the most experienced  player on the line after also having spent three games as a starter in 2007. His strength and conditioning have improved immensely in the offseason, and fourth-year offensive coordinator Eric Long expects him to be the anchor of this year's group, both physically and mentally. 

Supporting Maxwell at the position will be red-shirt freshmen Joe Coyne and Nicholas Bonacquisti and true freshman Beau Miller. Coyne gained knowledge of the offense and increased his physical strength during his red-shirt year while Bonacquisti returns from an injury, looking to increase his experience and add depth to the position. Miller is a very smart student-athlete who could fight for playing time. 

Red-shirt freshman Steve Reinhardt and true freshmen Marllon Pires, Ethan Zucal and Ben Woolston will compete for an open spot at center. Reinhardt came on late a season ago and developed into a utility player who can star at any position and will challenge everybody on the line.  Pires is an athletic player while Zucal brings power to the position. Woolston could see time at both center and nose guard, with more playing time likely coming on the defensive side of the ball. 

At right guard, Cirell is the projected starter, with red-shirt freshman James Perry and freshman Alex Schneider in backup roles. A physical run blocker, Cirell has big shoes to fill replacing Salamon but  gained valuable experience before suffering an injury last season. Perry will need to stay healthy to make a significant impact as injuries plagued him a year ago after taking a red-shirt year in 2008. Rookie Schneider needs time to develop and learn the system but benefits from his athleticism and size. 

Pollard returns to right tackle after a health issues forced him to miss a season ago.  A two-sport athlete at Mercyhurst, Pollard's inexperience should be offset by the knowledge he has gained of the position in his red-shirt season.