GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman's 10-3 campaign a year ago was fueled by a number of factors, including one of the FCS's most balanced offensive attacks built upon solid, consistent offensive line play. With five  lettermen returning off that unit, among whom are three starters, plus the addition of two transfers, Furman appears to have a key piece in place to field a potent offense in 2023.

"We have a nice mix there, a better situation than we were in a year ago," said Furman head coach Clay Hendrix, who has acknowledged that 2022's success involved some good fortune, as in keeping the Paladins' five starting offensive linemen on the field for virtually the entire 13-game campaign.

"This year it really starts with those three returnees — Jacob Johanning (6-3, 276, R-Sr.), Pearson Toomey (6-3, 297, R-Sr.), and Wyatt Hughes (6-3, 293, R-Sr.)."

Johanning, the most heralded of the group, registered 907 play participations at guard and was a consensus first team All-Southern Conference selection and AFCA second team All-America choice a year ago.  His solid play keyed one of the FCS's most effective ground attacks that averaged 212.8 yards per game while producing a 1,149-yard, 11-touchdown campaign by All-SoCon running back Dominic Roberto.  A local product from Simpsonville, S.C., and St. Joseph's School, Johanning, who sports 30 starts and over 2,000 plays as a Paladin, was recently rated the No. 9 offensive linemen in the FCS by Hero Sports writer Sam Herder.

"Jacob's an outstanding player for us," said Hendrix.  "He made the transition this spring to center, but he can obviously play guard.  He has an unusual mix of athleticism, toughness, strength — just an incredibly powerful guy and smart."

Toomey matches Johanning as far as veteran play and effectiveness go.  He logged 915 plays at tackle last fall and counts 22 starts and over 1,500 play participations in a career that saw him land consensus All-SoCon honors in 2022.  Herder tabbed the Jacksonville, Fla., product as the No. 17 offensive lineman in the FCS.

"Pearson had a really solid year for us at right tackle," commented Hendrix.  "He's a really powerful guy, who I think plays bigger than most people realize.  He's probably pushing 300 pounds now and is very explosive."

Joining Johanning and Toomey in forming Furman's veteran line trio is Hughes, another versatile performer.  A year ago the Chattanooga, Tenn., native and owner of 17 career starts, charted 879 plays at guard.

"Wyatt is very versatile and dependable and can play guard or center.  He played all last year with a bad ankle, which he had fixed in January.  That kept him out of spring practice, but he's now ready to go.  He's another very bright guy."

A common thread among Furman's group of 17 offensive linemen is positional versatility, a quality position coach Matt McCutchan has stressed from day one since coming over from East Tennessee State following the 2021 season.

"That's been a big point of emphasis by coach McCutchan, working all of those guys at multiple spots.  Right now we're trying to figure out who our best five are."

The top candidate to replace graduated All-SoCon tackle Anderson Tomlin is transfer Fred Norman, Jr. (6-7, 340, Gr.), a McCutchan understudy at ETSU who registered over 20 starts in three seasons,13 of which came in the Buccaneers' 2021 SoCon championship campaign that featured one of the most potent rushing attacks in the FCS.

"Fred is going to play a lot of football for us.  He's obviously a big guy who worked hard this summer and is in really good shape.  He's going to play at about 335-340 pounds and is a really smart player and good fit for our guys. He and coach McCutchan have a great relationship. We expect a big year out of him."

The graduation of center Evan Jumper on paper leaves that position to be filled.  While the void may be covered by either Johanning and Hughes, other returnees expected to be in the overall mix include Luke Petit (6-3, 285, R-So.), Gerrik Vollmer (6-5, 298, Gr.), Blake Hundley (6-3, 295, R-Jr.), Ryan Lamb (6-2, 298, R-So.), and E.J. Wilson (6-4, 297, R-Jr.).

"Luke was a guy we thought would play a lot for us last year but practiced only four or five days in the preseason before going down with a knee injury.  He ended up missing the entire season, so we're glad to have him back.  Right now he's working at both center and is in the mold of Jacob and Pearson — very athletic and powerful, and good in the weight room." 

A successful return by Vollmer could be a big plus.  He's a University of Virginia graduate who appeared poised to grab some playing time last year before sustaining a leg fracture the first week of the preseason.

"Gerrik has come back from injury and done well.  He can play all three positions but is primarily a center/guard."

Hundley logged 135 plays a year ago and can work at either guard or tackle, as can Lamb, who tallied 66 plays and earned his first career start (at guard) in the Paladins' 24-19 win over Charleston Southern. Wilson is also capable of playing both positions. He was credited with 47 play participations in 2022.

Eli Brasher (6-4, 291, R-Fr.) and Luke Westerman (6-2, 265, R-Fr.) represent second year players who were accorded redshirts.

"Eli played a little bit for us last year.  He had a good spring and shows some promise, and Luke will give us some depth in there."

Among newcomers to the unit, the Paladins added one undergraduate transfer in the offseason in Tex Elliott (6-4, 295, R-Jr.) from Colorado State and signed three high school products — Chris Luna (6-3, 275, Fr.), Brody Balliew (6-5, 265, Fr.), and Hayden Garner (6-5, 280, Fr.).

"Tex arrived this summer and has done well.  We feel like he has a bright future here.

"We have Chris working at center and like what we see out of him.  Brody is another big body, big frame guy from a good high school program, Calhoun (Ga.), and Hayden Garner looks good."

Evan Stanley (6-1, 275, Fr.) and Zach Miller (6-3, 260, Fr.) will look to provide depth.