Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Current and future: Offensive line
By Sam Khan Jr.
As fall practice and the 2012 season approaches, GigEmNation will take a look at where the Aggies stand currently and in the future at each position group. Today, we glance at the offensive line:
Tackle Luke Joeckel will anchor A&M's offensive line, which could be one of the best in the country.
This crop should be among the strongest starting offensive lines nationally, particularly at tackle with the combination of Joeckel and Matthews, a pair of future NFL draft picks. All five have starting experience and only one (Lewis) is a senior. The quintet has started a combined 92 games, with Lewis leading the way (35 consecutive starts). Ogbuehi had a good redshirt freshman season at right guard but missed some time because of injuries. Harrison started five games as a redshirt freshman last year, four of which came in place of an injured Ogbuehi.
Klinke, a junior, earned a starting job at guard in the spring of 2011 and started the first three games before being removed from the lineup, but will try to push for some playing time at guard again this year. Compton is back to his original position of center after spending a season on the defensive line, playing nine games. Woodum saw action in the Aggies' opener last year while Cheek and Gutekunst redshirted their first year. Ifedi and Tipoti bring great size among the group of freshmen in the 2012 recruiting class; Ifedi is 6-foot-5 and 304 pounds and Tipoti is 6-foot-3, 330. Matthews has a good pedigree (he's the younger brother of Jake Matthews and son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews).
Aguilar (North Richland Hills, Texas/Birdville) is a 6-foot-5, 285-pound guard who is ranked fourth in the country at his position and 106th overall in the ESPN 150. The four-star prospect is a strong run blocker. Gustafson (Dallas/Jesuit), who is also a four-star prospect, stands 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds and is ranked 27th nationally among offensive tackles. He has plenty of upside if he can continue to add to his frame. Wilson, who is 6-foot-5 and 292 pounds, is a three-star tackle from Dallas Bishop Dunne and is ranked 43rd nationally among tackles. He has the best size among the current Aggies offensive line commits and he's a strong, physical player.
