As the college football season approaches, HERO Sports takes a look at the top returners at each position in every FCS conference.
More Top Players: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs
In order to win an FCS national championship, a team has to play 15, sometimes 16, games and survive a 24-team playoff. And unless you have the fortune of playing home games indoors or down south, chances are high those November and December games are going to come down to who wins in the trenches on a frigid day. A solid offensive line can carry a team a long way. A mediocre offensive line can cost a talented team a shot at a title.
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Big Sky: Skyler Phillips, Idaho State
At 6-foot-2, 315 pounds, Phillips entered his fourth year of starting last season. But his season was cut short with an injury after four games. He received a medical redshirt to return this season to lead the Idaho State offensive line once again. [divider]
Big South: Frank Cirone, Charleston Southern
Cirone was an all-conference first team selection in 2016 after starting nine games and grading out at 87 percent. He currently has 132 career knockdowns as CSU had the nation's sixth-best rushing attack in 2016. The 6-foot-3, 280-pounder has been a starter since 2014. [divider]
Colonial Athletic Association: Aaron Stinnie, James Madison
A key for JMU to go from a playoff qualifier to a national title winner was getting the big boys to get more physical under head coach Mike Houston. Stinnie led the charge, starting all 15 games at left tackle. At 6-foot-5, 290 pounds, he is on multiple preseason all-American teams. [divider]
Ivy League: Mitchell Sweigart, Princeton
A first team all-conference selection last season and an honorable mention the year before, Sweigart is expected to have another big year as a top offensive lineman in the Ivy League. He’s 6-foot-5, 290 pounds and started all 10 games at left tackle last season and all 10 games at right tackle the year before. [divider]
Mid-Eastern Athletic: Brandon Parker, North Carolina A&T
A monster at 6-foot-7, 309 pounds, Parker has the eyes of NFL scouts on him this season. NFLDraftScout.com ranks him the 24th best offensive tackle in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has started in all 36 games played leading up to his senior season.[divider]
Missouri Valley Football: Jacob Ohnesorge, South Dakota State
A HERO Sports all-American Third Team pick last year, Ohnesorge will be a captain for SDSU for the third straight season. The 6-foot-3, 295 pounder has started 39 straight games coming into this season. [divider]
Northeast: Ben Huss, Duquesne
Huss is 6-foot-2, 310 pounds and a preseason all-American. He paved the way for STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award winner and NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year running back A.J. Hines last season. Huss will be a four-year starter this season. [divider]
Ohio Valley: Justin Lea, Jacksonville State
JSU has been dominant in conference play in recent seasons and a big reason for that is the boys up front. Lea is 6-foot-4, 290 pounds and has started every game since his freshman season in 2014. He has multiple preseason and postseason all-conference and all-American accolades. [divider]
Patriot League: Anthony Coyle, Fordham
Coyle was a first team all-conference selection in 2016. The 6-foot-5, 297-pounder has been starting for Fordham since 2014 as a freshman. He has earned some kind of postseason award in every season as a collegiate player. [divider]
Pioneer Football League: Daniel Cooney, San Diego
Anytime you’re 6-foot-8, 315 pounds who can move, the NFL scouts will find you even if your conference doesn’t offer scholarships. Cooney is just a junior, so expect his stock to rise with another strong season. He was named USD’s co-Most Improved Offensive Player last season and made the FCA FCS Coaches' All-America Second Team. [divider]
Southern: Josh Cardiello, Chattanooga
Cardiello enters his third year as a starter and was named to the preseason all-conference first team. At 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, he’s shown his versatility and durability by starting all 13 games as a sophomore in 2015 at right guard before finishing the season at left tackle. Last season he started all 13 games at right guard and was named to the SoCon Second Team. [divider]
Southland: Stockton Mallett, Central Arkansas
A preseason all-conference first team selection, Mallett will be a vital part of a Central Arkansas team looking to push Sam Houston State for the Southland title. He’s 6-foot-3, 302 pounds and has started 32 career games. [divider]
Southwestern Athletic: Sam Baptiste, Alabama State
A bulldozer at 6-foot-4, 340 pounds, Baptiste earned all-conference first team honors last year and was picked on the 2017 preseason first team as well. He helped pave the way for the Hornets' rushing attack of 220.5 yards per game.
