VIDEO: Jay Guillermo Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the final part in an eight-part series breaking down Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2021 season.  Jay Guillermo provides assistance in analysis for this break down of the offensive line.

Following the 2019 season, Carson-Newman had to replace a combined 142 career starts on the offensive line after the graduating two-time All-American Phillip McDowell, three-time All-SAC selection Jordan Seal and three starters who all logged at least 15 career starts Dillon Wilson, Tavon Murray and Reese Fain. 

Of the returners, Nick Root (Cartersville, Ga.) is the only lineman with significant experience at Carson-Newman. He has two career starts, one at left tackle in Carson-Newman's opener against West Florida in 2019 and a second at center in the Eagles March affair at UVA Wise. 

"Those guys have stepped up to the challenge of what we are asking them to do mentally and physically," Guillermo said. "We wanted to move guys around and make sure we had guys with experience at all positions due to what we have had to go through with CoVID. We've stressed to them mentally that they aren't just tackles and guards, they're offensive linemen.  They've met that challenge head on."

Root came to Carson-Newman after playing for former Carson-Newman quarterback and AFCA Good Works Team Member Joey King at Cartersville High School where he blocked for the number one quarterback prospect in the country at the time, and current Jacksonville Jaguar Trevor Lawrence. 

He was a three-time all-county and all-region selection.  He earned all-state honors as a senior. He helped the Hurricanes compile a 53-3 record in high school with four regional titles and back-to-back state championships as a junior and senior. 

"Nick has the want to," Guillermo said. "He has the effort and attitude to have a finisher's mentality. He is a nasty player. He gets after people, latches on to them and let's them know he is there. That's what you have to have. He has the mental capacity to handle that side of the game as well."

Christian Bass (Ludwici, Ga.) makes the move to the offensive line after spending time at tight end in his first three years at C-N.  He spent 2019 hurt, and took a medical redshirt, but appeared in nine games as Trevor Makarov's backup in 2018.  A three-sport star at Long County High School, Bass also played basketball and ran track.  He was a two-time all-region selection on both the football field and the basketball court.

"He has taken the challenge and run with it," Guillermo said. "As a tight end, he was a willing blocker. You see that in how he comes out with his hands. There's no substitute for being scrappy, and that's what he delivers, because he's not going to back down."

Cody Sullivan and his 6-4, 304-pound frame fills the spot to the right of Bass.  The guard got start for the Eagles in the spring against UVA Wise. 

A CoVID-freshman, Sullivan came to C-N from Woodmont High School in Pelzer, S.C. In his time with the Wildcats, Sullivan was a back-to-back All-Region selection in 2018 and 2019. Aside from football, he was also a part of the wrestling team, garnering All-Region honors with that squad, as well.

"Cody knows how to work," Guillermo said. "He got extra reps at a variety of positions because he wanted to know tackle and guard because he wanted to.  From him, being able to put that great effort into his frame and his size, he will have a great career here."

A fellow CoVID freshman Tyrell Ragland joins Sullivan at guard. Knoxville West product Tyrell Ragland. 

Ragland placed a key role in West's appearance in the state semifinals during his senior season. He paved the way for the Rebels offence to record 500 yards a game. A three-time All-State 5A team selection, Ragland was a three-time first-team All-Region selection in high school. He won team Player of the Game three times and made it to the All-Star team. 

In terms of the most experience in terms of time on the team, the Eagles turn to true senior Jesse West (Palmetto, Fla.) and true junior Ethan Marshall (Auburn, Ga.) 

"Ethan's going to be a little more vocal," Guillermo said. "He's really pushed the entire group to be leaders. We're a player led team, he's taken that and run with it. Watching the UVA Wise game, you can tell there's a lot of potential there.  He's mentally sharp. Technically, if he stays with the fundamentals, he's going to be special." 

Marshall appeared on the line against UVA Wise in the spring while West was out with an injury. 

Marshall started 23 games in his career playing for Shannon Jarvis at Mill Creek High School.  He earned all-region honors as a senior.  Marshall earned invites to the Junior Elite All-Star Classic and the GACA All-Star game as a senior.  He tallied 44 pancake blocks in his high school career. Marshall helped Mill Creek to a 13-1 record as a sophomore, earning a regional title and a spot in the state playoff semifinals that year. 

West is a former high-school teammate of All-SAC defensive lineman Brian Bembry, West played for Dave Marino at Palmetto High School. He was the offensive captain for the Tigers.  He also wrestled and ran track and field. 

Cliff Cole, Timothy Johnson and Kylik Lynch add depth at the position. 

Carson-Newman opens the season Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. against West Georgia.