The Missouri Valley Football Conference has consistently been at the top of the FCS in the 2010s. While a lot of key players from last year have moved on to the pros, there’s still a ton of talent in the Valley.
As the season nears, we’ll rank the top five returners at each position group. Today, we give you the offensive linemen.
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MORE TOP 5: QB | WR | TE | RB | OL | LB | DB | DL
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5. Tyler Ciurej, South Dakota
In most cases, it's easier to play as a Division I football true freshman the further you are away from the line of scrimmage. Eighteen-year-olds are more likely to hold their own as a wide receiver or cornerback than battle in the trenches with men four years older than them. But that wasn't the case with Ciurej.
The 6-foot-4, 310-pounder anchored the USD offensive line at center on a unit that ranked second in the FCS and set an MVFC record with 523 yards per game. Ciurej started the last 10 games of the season, including the playoffs, and was named on our Freshman All-American First Team. He is also named on the MVFC preseason All-Conference Second Team.
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4. Gavin Wiggins, Youngstown State
The YSU offensive line is always a mean and physical unit with a downhill running attack. Wiggins, listed at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, plays a big role in that as he enters his senior season starting all 27 games the last two seasons at right guard.
He also started the final four games as a freshman in 2015 at left guard. YSU averaged 222.5 rushing yards per game behind the big offensive line. Wiggins was rewarded for his play with a Second Team All-MVFC honor. Entering 2018, he’s named on the preseason First Team.
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3. Drew Himmelman, Illinois State
An absolute monster, Himmelman even towers over his fellow offensive linemen. He’s listed at 6-foot-10 and weighs 310 pounds at left tackle. And he’s only a sophomore, so added weight is likely to come if he can hold it comfortably.
As a freshman last year, Himmelman started all nine games played as an MVFC All-Newcomer Team player while getting a First Team nod on our Freshman All-American Team. He’s named on the Valley’s preseason First Team and is also a HERO Sports preseason Third Team All-American.
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2. Tanner Volson, North Dakota State
Volson stepped up as the starting center of NDSU’s offense that ranked second in the FCS in scoring. A run-first team, the Bison finished fourth in the FCS with 272.2 rushing yards per game. Volson earned MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week two times throughout the season.
He was also awarded a Second Team selection on the All-MVFC list at the end of the season. Entering 2018 as a 6-foot-4, 304-pound senior, Volson is on the preseason All-Conference First Team and a HERO Sports Second Team All-American.
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1. Vitas Hrynkiewicz, Youngstown State
Hrynkiewicz is the second MVFC preseason First Team player for the Penguins and is also on our preseason All-American Second Team. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior has started all 27 games at center since the 2016 national championship runner-up season.
He was a Second Team All-Conference player last year and was named on the Valley's All-Newcomer Team in 2016. Hrynkiewicz started his career at Independence Community College in Kansas before transferring to YSU.
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NEXT: The Best Traditions in the FCS
