Photo: Greg Poole/Bulldawg Illustrated
After going with Trent Thompson on the defensive front, now we move back over to the offensive side of the ball for No. 6.
Brandon Kublanow holds down the No. 6 position on this list. The 6’3 292 pound, Marietta, GA native is facing an incredible amount of pressure this season and his importance cannot be understated. In my opinion, the center position is the most important on the offensive line (yes even more important than left tackle). However, that is not the only thing that makes Kublanow important.
The center is the leader of the offensive line and the rest of the group tends to take on the personality of their leader. Last season the offensive line struggled and seam to lack some confidence and I believe that was in part because Kublanow was having some struggles adjusting to playing center and was a little bit hesitant. However, during spring practice he showed that he has made tremendous strides at the position and is leadership shined through by earning the Hugh Hendrix Award. He isn’t always the most vocal leader but he will always lead by example.
However, what put him in the No. 6 position is the No. 9 player on this list, Jacob Eason. The best friend of a young quarterback is an experienced center. An experienced center can adjust protections based on the alignment he sees and if he recognizes a blitz coming from one side he can slide the protection. Now entering his senior season, and second at center, Kublanow is poised to help make Eason’s transition much more manageable and give him the best possible opportunity to succeed.
PTCDawg – It varies but, yeah. Size counts too. Center tends to big a slot for the good lineman who is a bit shorter and, maybe, a bit smarter.
Greg Poole TEXAS DAWG I could be wrong but I would think most high school coaches have their best linemen at tackle. So most OL that are D-1 type players are most likely not at C in high school.
I love Kubs nasty streak! I hope he steps up as a leader and brings the O line together. I only wish he was a bit bigger. Pittman’s coaching makes him a lot better this year. Well that and his confidence of having played there last year.
TEXAS DAWG If you remember Kublanow came in as a guard. There are a few centers on the radar. I saw a goog looking kid from Alabama (Clay Webb) at one of the CKS Camp.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/5312305/clay-webb
I do believe our success on the O side of the ball will be directly tied to the performance of the OL. My only point of disagreement is I think his importance cannot be overstated. :>)
TEXAS DAWG I think Lamont Galliard is next. Sage Hardin may get a look as well. Alabama had a lot of success basically inserting their most intelligent offensive lineman and making him a center. Guys like Barrett Jones and Ryan Kelly but had played some tackle prior to being moved to center.
I agree that the center position is the most important on the line. I am a little puzzled with all this hot recruiting of the offensive line that not one center has even been mentioned (have I missed something?). Do they plan to convert one of the guards, or is there just no talent out there at center that is worth going after? Kublanow is a senior this year. Didn’t Wynn play some center but who is up after him?
Agreed. Spring was Eason’s acclimation period. Fall is when the real QB battle begins…
IYH_BI Yep. That period will decide the starter for UNC.
KirbysDawgs He did definitely get some snaps with Kublanow and I expect him to get snaps early and often in the first 5-10 days of fall practice.
KirbysDawgs All three QBs threw with the ones during spring practice. Eason did start at number three in the rotation, but they did rotate.
Not if he never gets a single practice with the young quarterback. So far that has not happened.