Oftentimes, one of the biggest differences between FBS and FCS football teams is found in the trenches.
Dealing with SEC linemen will be one of the top challenges for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff when it faces Arkansas at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
UAPB head coach Alonzo Hampton said the battles of the lines will dictate the game.
“Typically, what happens is the guys in between the lines, offensive line, D-line, you can play with them for about a quarter, quarter and a half, and then they start wearing on you,” Hampton said. “Then it’s the same thing over and over and over. Now it boils down to what? Nutrition. It boils down to Jimmys and Joes.”
UAPB comes into this game with questions at offensive line. The Golden Lions bring back two starters, Christon Love and Rolando Jones. They are swapping positions from last year, with Love playing center and Jones playing tackle, and UAPB must replace the rest of the line.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Courtney Van Buren II, a backup last season, will start at left guard, while UNC Pembroke transfer Jeremiah Rodgers will start at right guard. Benedict College graduate transfer Keavius Barnes will start at right tackle. Multiple freshmen will be among the backups.
That offensive line will be up against an Arkansas front led by preseason first team all-SEC defensive end Landon Jackson. Last season, Jackson had 44 tackles with 13.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks.
Jackson isn’t alone, though, as Arkansas returns both starting defensive tackles. Cameron Ball made 32 tackles with 1.5 for loss last year, while Eric Gregory made 16 tackles with 2.5 for loss. Gregory led the team with six quarterback hurries.
Arkansas listed junior Nico Davillier and senior Anton Juncaj as possible starters at the other defensive end position.
The Arkansas defensive line’s average height is 6 feet, 4.6 inches, and its average weight is 293.4 pounds. The UAPB offensive line’s averages are 6 feet, 3 inches and 291 pounds. Despite being a bit smaller than the Hogs, Barnes said he feels great about UAPB’s line.
“We just gotta come out strong, come out hard,” Barnes said. “Play fast, play physical. Stay low. Lowest man wins in the trenches, but also, we have to keep our composure. Stay with the game, don’t get out of our game, and be able to just stay consistent with them.”
On the other side of the ball, Arkansas’ offensive line also struggled last season, despite head coach Sam Pittman’s background as an offensive line coach.
The Razorbacks bring back two starters, right guard Josh Braun and left guard Patrick Kutas, but Kutas is not expected to play Thursday due to injury. Redshirt sophomore E’Marion Harris is listed as his potential substitute.
Arkansas filled out the rest of the starting line with transfers: center Addison Nichols from Tennessee, left tackle Fernando Carmona Jr. from San Jose State, and right tackle Keyshawn Blackstock from Michigan State.
That group will stand between UAPB’s defensive front, led by defensive ends Anas Luqman and Khalil Arnold, and Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green.
Arnold led UAPB last season in tackles for loss with 7.5 and sacks with four. Luqman recorded 2.5 of each in the Golden Lions’ first two games before tearing his MCL and missing the rest of the year.
On the inside, Elijah Jenkins is looking to step up from his reserve role last season as he moves to defensive tackle. Transfers Antonio Johnson and Jason Gwan are listed as possible starting nose tackles.
UAPB’s defensive line has an average height of 6 feet, 2.4 inches, and an average weight of 256.6 pounds. The Arkansas offensive line’s averages are 6 feet, 5.6 inches and 321.6 pounds.
The Golden Lions’ defensive line is one of the more experienced units and is expected to lead the defense, but Arkansas will no doubt present them their biggest challenge of the season. Jenkins said, however, the defensive linemen aren’t thinking about it that way.
“We do the right things, so it’s not really the challenges we look for,” Jenkins said. “We respect our opponent. We understand who we’re going against. I understand the respect part is there, but at the end of the day, as our defensive line, as (the coaches) always tell us, you have to trust yourself.”