VIDEO: Coaches in Cars Getting Coffee – Joe Ray and the Offensive Line
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the fifth part in an eight-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2023 season. This feature breaks down the Eagle offensive front with assistance from offensive line coach Joe Ray.
Carson-Newman's offensive line is a fair mix of new and old for 2023. Gone are all-conference guard Mike Peppin (although he didn't go far, making the move to the coaching staff as an offensive quality control coach) and two-year starter Ethan Marshall. However, the Eagles return an All-SAC tackle in Christian Jones, a 10-game starter at center in Brian Do and one of the greatest inspirations in college football in guard Colt Sinor, who started six games last year after recovering from testicular cancer.
"These testimonies have helped build leadership within our room," Ray said. "They've built a relationship with each other. They really are getting in tune with each other and the things they care about. They are all watching each other develop to see all their stories intertwine."
Jones was a force to be reckoned with on Carson-Newman's offensive line, Jones tallied 49 knockdowns across Carson-Newman's 11 games, the most in a single season for an Eagle offensive line man to All-American Phil McDowell's 44-knockdown season in 2019. Jones graded out with a 85.91 percent average for the season.
"Christian has a high ceiling," Ray said. "It's exciting to have him back. He had a strong season last fall and has carried that momentum into the spring and summer. He has the ability, and now he's focusing on the details to continue to progress."
Jones high water mark for grade came against Limestone with a 90. He had a pair of eight-knockdown games against the Saints, as well as an eight-KD game against Lenoir-Rhyne. The Valdosta, Ga.-native helped clear the way for four Eagles to rush for more than 400 yards and two to earn All-SAC honors.
Moving to Jones' right, Hunter Lucy returns from an injury suffered after a promising fall camp in 2022.
"We thought Hunter was going to be one of those five guys last year before he got hurt," Ray said. "He got through that injury and I think he used it to say that he wants to be one of those guys. He shows a lot of promise. Him and a lot of the guys in our room have a story and they are building a testimony."
Lucy appeared in five of the Eagles' first six games as a reserve o-lineman in 2021 before sitting out the final four weeks of that season with an injury.
Meanwhile, Do wraps up his six-year, three-stop collegiate career at center after 10 starts last season.
"Brian is the old man in the room," Ray said. "With that comes a ton of experience. If guys have questions, they lean on him to fill in the holes and fill in the gaps. He's seasoned."
Sinor was the utility knife of offensive lineman last season after starting five games at left guard and a game at center. To bury the lede, he recovered from and has been cleared after a resurgence of cancer in the offseason.
"Colt is insane," Ray said. "Fathom the thought of him beating cancer two times and then playing collegiate football. It's awesome to be able to hear his story and watch his story build and progress."
While the left side of C-N's line is largely settled, the right side has oodles to talk about. Ray pointed to returners Claude Vangelus, Rick Jeantihomme, Nick Hart and Fletcher Gibson, as well as newcomers Xzavier McKinney, Amil Savage and Daysun Ranew as players who can make an impact on the right side.
"Were to the point where we have a lot of competitive depth," Ray said. "We've worked hard to develop that over the past couple of years. That second line that rotates in and out, we feel like it can still get things done at a level that we need."
Carson-Newman's position previews continue Sunday with a glimpse of the specialists with help from special teams coordinator Antonio Goss.
