This is the fourth story of a seven-part series breaking down position groups on Bowling Green State University’s roster entering the 2024 season.
BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green State University’s offensive line made some strides during the 2023 season.
A lot of those same faces will get another opportunity to showcase their improvement this year.
A handful of players with starting experience, as well as a key transfer from the FCS level, will be counted on to help try to take the Falcons’ offense to another level. Third-team Mid-American Conference tackle Alex Wollschlaeger highlights a group that has more than 80 combined starts in their BGSU careers.
■ Week of June 23: Defensive backs
■ Week of June 30: Wide receivers/tight ends and defensive line
■ Week of July 7: Offensive line and linebackers
■ Week of July 21: Running backs
■ Week of July 28: Quarterbacks
“I think we just grew a lot technique-wise,” Wollschlaeger said after the Falcons completed spring practice in early April. “[Offensive line] coach [Greg] Nosal really drilled into us getting our technique down day in and day out, and I think just getting our steps right, getting our fits right, and improving our run blocking overall, and same goes to pass protection.
“This is when you focus not so much on the play, but the technique behind it being in the offseason. So I think just huge steps technique-wise.”
BGSU lost just one starter, left tackle Kameren Stewart, along the line from last year’s squad, so familiarity and camaraderie with the first unit should be a strength for the Falcons. Depth could be a concern, though, as nearly half of the 14 linemen on the roster have yet to take an offensive snap in college.
Here is a look at the state of BGSU’s offensive line.
2023 in review
The offensive line helped the Falcons rush for 137.5 yards per game, which was a significant improvement from their 100.3 per outing during the 2022 season and 102.3 the previous year in which BGSU ranked at the bottom of the MAC. The Falcons’ 22 rushing touchdowns were, by far, their most in five seasons under head coach Scot Loeffler as well. BGSU allowed 29 sacks last year, which ranked in the bottom half of the MAC; five of them came in a loss to Toledo.
Position coach
Nosal, who is also BGSU’s co-offensive coordinator and run game coordinator, took over as offensive line coach last year after starting out as the running backs coach when he joined Loeffler’s staff in 2020. Nosal was previously a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, from 2013 to 2015 when Loeffler was the school’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Nosal was a two-year starter and an all-Atlantic Coast Conference left guard for Virginia Tech, as well as the Hokies’ offensive lineman of the year in 2010.
Probable starters
Wollschlaeger, Alex Padgett, Nate Pabst, Jake Burns, and Nick Reimer. There could be some movement as to who starts where, especially with several players listed on the roster at different positions from where they played last year. Wollschlaeger (6-foot-7, 295-pound senior) has started 25 of BGSU’s 26 games the last two seasons at right tackle, while Padgett (6-6, 330, junior) started every game at center in 2023.
Burns (6-2, 305, senior) started the last five games at left guard last year after Tunde Fatukasi (6-5, 320, senior) started the first seven. Pabst (6-5, 290, junior) started every game at right guard, while center/guard and Perrysburg native Cade Zimmerly also has plenty of experience after starting 10 games as a true freshman in 2021.
Most intriguing newcomer
Reimer has an opportunity to step right in along the line. The 6-6, 310-pound senior appeared in 35 games over the last four seasons at Merrimack before recently transferring to BGSU. Reimer earned first-team Northeast Conference honors in 2023 while blocking for first-team all-league running back Tyvon Edmonds, Jr., whose 1,247 rushing yards led the NEC and ranked in the top 10 in the FCS.
Storyline to watch
It will be interesting to see if BGSU’s offensive line can provide holes for the running backs on a consistent basis. Standout back Terion Stewart had a strong year with a career-high 762 rushing yards despite missing the last several games with an injury, but most of his yards (596) came after contact, according to Pro Football Focus.
What to expect this fall
As long as the Falcons can stay healthy, the offensive line should be a force in the MAC. The players know the system, and with so many veterans also returning in the backfield, out wide, and under center, BGSU could be an offensive juggernaut if the line does its part.
First Published July 10, 2024, 9:08 p.m.
