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2026 Offensive Line Musings

G

GrizNut

Well-known member
While closing out the toughest part of the college football year, we are finally getting close to that time of year. Anticipation looms across the country as football fans finish out the final month of the year without college football (Thank God). I am hoping to provide some sort of position by position preview for the upcoming season. I will start with where it all starts on offense...the offensive line. I have created a side-by-side chart of the 2026 Roster and the 2025 Roster. My hope is to engage and project a little to see where we stand going into next season. Players numbers, names, year in school and games played in the 2025 season are listed. Anyway, here is this weeks position group and some key points along with a far from concrete projected starting line-up.

#(2026) Offensive Line (18)GP#(2025) Offensive Line (22)GP
55Austin BeuhlerRJR1072Cade Klicmzak (Graduated)GSR13
78Lucas FreitasRJR1379Liam Brown (Graduated)RSR15
65Dylan Jemtegaard (Cal)GSR660Dillon Botner (Graduated)GSR15
72Jack D'AmbraRSR62Everett Johnson (Graduated)RSR12
75Dyllan Drummond (UNLV)RSO69Cannon Panfiloff (Graduated)RSR15
Wyatt Sandford (Carroll)RSR76Patrick Matan (Graduated)GSR15
77Carter BowenSR1355Austin BeuhlerRSO10
76Campbell Vandiver (S.C.)RJR75Jose Balver-Mendoza (Transferred)RFR4
68Torin JeskeRSO678Lucas FreitasRSO13
64Matt HildenRSO470Colin Amick (Transferred)RFR11
73Trevor SteinbachRSO77Carter BowenJR13
63Kaikoa Kanakaeole (HI)***RFR65Dylan Jemtegaard (Cal)RSR6
71Quinlan Hyatt (WA)***RFR68Torin JeskeRFR6
61Lincoln Hoefer (WA)***RFR64Matt HildenRFR4
66Ezra Meyer (M. Big Sky)RFR53Braunson HenriksenRJR
Josiah West (WA)***FR74Tate Templeton (No Longer w/TeamRSO
Owen Liechti (IA)FR73Trevor SteinbachRFR
Lincoln Senter (Great Falls)FR71Quinlan Hyatt (WA)***FR
61Lincoln Hoefer (WA)***FR
63Kaikoa Kanakaeole (HI)***FR
66Ezra Meyer (M. Big Sky)FR
51Spencer Tripp (Big Sky)FR

2025 Key Points
  • The offensive line provided the protection and running lanes for historic numbers during the 2025 Season. Grizzly QBs were able to throw for 4,282 yards, 33 TDs, while only allowing 23 sacks for 215 yards.
  • UM running backs combined for 2,573 yards on 542 attempts, 4.7 YPA, and 46 TDs.
  • Cannon Pantiloff was probably the most decorated OL loss with 30 starts in 41 games played. He was a 1st team All-Big Sky Conference Selection and was selected as an All-American by multiple media outlets.
  • Liam Brown had 43 starts in 52 games played over his career and was a 2nd team All-Big Sky Conference selection
  • Cade Klicmzak, Dillon Botner, Everett Johnson, and Patrick Matan all graduated and contributed as starters.
  • RFR Colin Amick, who was likely UMs most talented underclassman with 7 starts in 11 games played, transferred to Iowa State.
  • Others leaving the program include Jose Balver-Mendoza (Nevada) and Tate Templeton.
2026 Returning OL
  • RJR Lucas Freitas is the most experienced returning OL player with 1 start in 34 appearances.
  • Other returners with career appearances for UM: Austin Beuhler (12); Dylan Jemtegaard (6); Carter Bowen (13 UM-18 games played for NDSCS); Torin Jeske (6); Matt Hilden (4)
  • Trevor Steinbach saw no action his first two seasons, but will be looking to find the field.
  • Red Shirt Freshmen: Kaikoa Kanakaole had an outstanding spring and looked fantastic in the Spring Game, most likely to compete for a starting spot. Ezra Meyer, Lincoln Hoefer, and Quinlan Hyatt all look to find ways to get onto the field after their redshirt season.
2027 Incoming Freshmen
  • Jack D’Ambra (RSR; U. San Diego) has 30 games worth of experience for the Toreros.
  • Campbell Vandiver (RJR; University of South Carolina) dod not log game action with the Gamecocks.
  • Dyllan Drummond (RSO; UNLV) participated in 14 games as a backup for the Runnin’ Rebels.
  • Wyatt Sandiford ? (RSR, Carroll College) Participated in 15 career games for the Saints. Not on roster or TBD hoping he is still coming.
2027 Incoming Freshmen
  • Owen Liechti, (Akeny, IA).
  • Josiah West (Prosser, WA)
  • Lincoln Senter (Great Falls, MT)

This is a tough projection, that honestly could go many directions. I am confident in new OL coach Brent Meyers to work his magic with a very inexperienced group of returners and incoming transfers. I imagine he will find 5-8 hogs from this collection. I will do my best to provide positions, but honestly even guessing a top 5 at this point is kind of a crapshoot.

Starters Twos Threes RedShirt
LT-Wyatt Sandford Carter Bowen Quinlan Hyatt Josiah West
LG-Lucas Frietas Dylan Jemtegaard Ezra Meyer
C-Jack D’Ambra Matt Hilden Trevor Steinbach Lincoln Senter
RG-Dyllan Drummond Kaikoa Kanakaole Campbell Vandiver
RT-Austin Buehler Lincoln Hoefer Torin Jeske Owen Leichti

As stated before, I by no means think this is accurate in any way. I feel like the top 10 is likely pretty close to how the two deep will look by names, but not positions. The standouts in the Spring Game on the O-Line from what I saw were Lucas Freitas, Austin Buehler, Kaikoa Kanakaole and Dyllan Drummond. I think Kanakaole could end up at center as well, but I have a feeling about Jack D’Ambra and I don’t think he and Wyatt Sanford were brought in to sit on the bench. Of course, they will have to earn it, but they both have a ton of playing experience which is going to serve them well for their senior season with UM. Keep in mind this is mostly conjecture. I hope it creates some constructive discussion.
 
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would you consider a long snapper an o line position ? the problem I see is lack of experience as it clearly shows and most of us following know this but does that really matter ? Because event the seniors that started and graduated were not A quality. B quality yes but not A.
 
oldngrizzly said:
would you consider a long snapper an o line position ? the problem I see is lack of experience as it clearly shows and most of us following know this but does that really matter ? Because event the seniors that started and graduated were not A quality. B quality yes but not A.
Click to expand...
Long snapper is a special teams position. They block for 1-2 seconds for field goals and spread punts.
 
oldngrizzly said:
would you consider a long snapper an o line position ? the problem I see is lack of experience as it clearly shows and most of us following know this but does that really matter ? Because event the seniors that started and graduated were not A quality. B quality yes but not A.
Click to expand...

I consider long snappers to be specialists. I can't recall with certainty the last time a long snapper was actually an "offensive line" player, but I am fairly confident it hasn't been for well over 20 years. Long snappers are usually involved in punt coverage and are often more linebacker than lineman.Even on PATs they usually use flipper and punch technique that is designed to make a stationary wall unlike conventional pass blocking technique. Finally, long snappers are protected in ways that conventional linemen are not in the rules because of the vulnerable position the are often in due to their snapping technique.

There is not a ton of game time experience, but UM had 6 seniors (really 7 with Jemtegaard, who was awarded a 6th year) who graduated. UM develops, strengthens, and bulk up their linemen for the first 2-3 years. Development mostly happens in practice and they get gametime experience when the game is under control or they are the next man up. It is a luxury and a curse.
 
Great job compiling all this info. One small tweek, Carter Bowen is a true Sr. He never redshirted. Not that it matters anymore since he now gets a bonus 5th year to play next year too if he wants it. Also, his Fr year he was a TE, but I'm sure he was learning blocking techniques then too.
 
alabamagrizzly said:
Great job compiling all this info. One small tweek, Carter Bowen is a true Sr. He never redshirted. Not that it matters anymore since he now gets a bonus 5th year to play next year too if he wants it. Also, his Fr year he was a TE, but I'm sure he was learning blocking techniques then too.
Click to expand...

Corrected
Yeah I did miss that. I, along with the rest of college football, will have to figure out how to list years so it makes sense.
 
AZhoopsMTfootballfan said:
Long snapper is a special teams position. They block for 1-2 seconds for field goals and spread punts.
Click to expand...
Have we got the official ruling on that now that Bobby H is gone. He was always adamant that PAT/FG kicking was part of the offense and not special teams. Can we reach out to BK for the ruling? Also, did I miss our announcement on a special teams coach hire???
 
Griz til I die said:
I'm probably in the minority but I think the OL is gonna be better this year than it was last year.
Click to expand...
I think it could be, but I haven't seen this year's enough to make that call for sure. Have you gotten to watch them in practice comparitively?

Last year's OL was honestly pretty good. Skill guys don't have the seasons our guys had with a crappy OL. They were at least a B+ if not A- if I were to grade them out.
 
alabamagrizzly said:
So ive started doing this for my fantasy league.
Fr
So
Jr
Sr1
Sr2
Click to expand...

I like it! I was thinking just 1-5 since the old school classifications are honestly irrelevant going forward. They are more academic than athletic. It is nice that 5 to play 5 it will cut down the number of possible classifications from around 12 to 5.
 
Wolf777 said:
Have we got the official ruling on that now that Bobby H is gone. He was always adamant that PAT/FG kicking was part of the offense and not special teams. Can we reach out to BK for the ruling? Also, did I miss our announcement on a special teams coach hire???
Click to expand...
Ok but what about punt? Is that part of defense so long snapper and punter are actually offensive and defensive positions?
 
GrizNut said:
I like it! I was thinking just 1-5 since the old school classifications are honestly irrelevant going forward. They are more academic than athletic. It is nice that 5 to play 5 it will cut down the number of possible classifications from around 12 to 5.
Click to expand...
Ya, this year Solo is a Sr6😂.
 
Wolf777 said:
Have we got the official ruling on that now that Bobby H is gone. He was always adamant that PAT/FG kicking was part of the offense and not special teams. Can we reach out to BK for the ruling? Also, did I miss our announcement on a special teams coach hire???
Click to expand...
AZhoopsMTfootballfan said:
Ok but what about punt? Is that part of defense so long snapper and punter are actually offensive and defensive positions?
Click to expand...

They are Special Teams, hence punters, kickers, long snappers, and even holders, I suppose, being considered specialists. I dont think we need Bobby Hauck's permission to call them anything anymore.

I will probably p!ss off everyone off when I address specialists with QBs and possibly running backs due to content and argument being kinda low on those two position groups.
 
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