The FCS has its fair share of standout interior offensive linemen coming back in 2024.
Whether they are guards or centers – or they’re starting as tackles this year out of team need but are more naturally suited interior linemen – HERO Sports is going to spotlight one per conference who has committed to returning to the FCS level.
Here are still several studs preparing for FCS football this fall. Take a look, conference by conference:
RELATED: Best Returning FCS Offensive Tackles
BIG SKY
Jackson Slater, Sacramento State, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: Slater started all 13 games at left guard last year
Slater has started on the line for the Hornets since his redshirt freshman season in 2021 – mostly at guard, but also at tackle in the 2022 postseason. He was a First Team All-Big Sky player last year and made several All-American teams. One could easily include Montana State’s Justus Perkins here, who would be a star anywhere on the line, along with Montana’s Liam Brown and several others. Also keep in mind that MSU’s Marcus Wehr can and will play tackle, but is also considered a pro prospect on the interior.
BIG SOUTH-OVC
Zack Gieg, SEMO, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: Highly regarded interior lineman, All-Conference in 2023
Gieg will be one of the top prospects on the interior line in 2024 and will be the key cog for SEMO. Also keep an eye on Vance Van Every at UT Martin after playing previously at FBS Ohio U. (highlighted by a game against Penn State) and having been a JUCO All-American at Northwest Mississippi C.C.
CAA
Charles Grant, William & Mary, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: Started all 11 games at tackle, but is expected to be a guard prospect at the next level.
Grant was an All-American last year, as well as a CAA First-Teamer, and he has been a consistent standout on the line since starting half the season in his redshirt freshman season in 2021. He has been the Tribe’s left tackle ever since – starting 29 games there — proving his versatility up front.
IVY
Austin Gentle, Harvard, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: Gentle started all 10 games up front.
Gentle was named an Ivy League Second Team All-Conference player last season by just about every media outlet, and was also listed in 2022 as a sophomore. He has 21 games of experience coming into 2024.
MEAC
Nick Taiste, South Carolina State, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: Honorable mention HBCU All-American (Boxtorow)
Taiste came out of high school as a center prospect and has proven he can handle just about anything for the Bulldogs. Keep an eye on Howard’s Darius Fox, also.
MVFC
Gus Miller, South Dakota State, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: Miller has been the starting center for two consecutive national championship teams.
Miller was honored last year as the No. 1 center in the nation at the FCS level when he received the 2023 Rimington Award, which has been given for more than 20 years. Make no mistake, Miller is hardly the only talented interior lineman in the MVFC, as SDSU teammate Evan Beerntsen is widely respected as one of the top guard prospects at the FCS level, and great players like NDSU’s Grey Zabel and Youngstown State’s Jaison Williams are just two more talented players – among many in the MVFC.
NEC
Jake Timm, LIU, Jr.
2023 STAT LINE: Second Team All-NEC as a sophomore last year
Timm was presented LIU’s Ironman Award and the Team Captain’s Award last fall, and he will go into his third season as a key contributor up front for the Sharks.
PATRIOT
Bardhyl Gashi, Colgate, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: Had 10 starts last fall for the Raiders
Was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection last year, and he is expected to be one of the top interior linemen in the FCS this season. He has started 22 of his 27 games played since first arriving at Colgate.
PIONEER
Dylan DeMaison, Dayton, Jr.
2023 STAT LINE: Has started for three years on the O-line with 30 career starts.
DeMaison was named a First Team All-Pioneer Football League lineman last year and has been a massive contributor for the Flyers since 2021. He was named Dayton’s Offensive Player of the Week three times last year.
SOCON
Blake Whitmore, Western Carolina, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: Started all 11 games at center for the Catamounts
Whitmore has started 27 career games and first saw action for Western Carolina in 2019 – even seeing action against Alabama towards the end of the season. He’s been a mainstay ever since at WCU. Chattanooga’s Reid Williams is another notable candidate from the SoCon, among others.
SOUTHLAND
Evan Roussel, Nicholls, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: First Team Southland Conference at center
Roussel has started on the offensive line for the Colonels since the spring season of 2021 when he was a true freshman. He’s been recognized three times on various HERO Sports All-American teams since that season.
SWAC
Ashton Grable, Florida A&M, Jr.
2023 STAT LINE: Started at tackle for the HBCU national champion Rattlers.
Grable has become the key cog on the Celebration Bowl champion Rattlers’ offensive line, and while he will play tackle this year, he is more of a pro prospect in the interior of the line. He has two years left.
UAC
Lyle Santos, Southern Utah, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: Team captain who started 9 games last year, and has 36 career starts.
Santos has been the consummate contributor on the offensive line for Southern Utah during his career. He has started at right guard and center, and last year was recognized as a key part of an offensive line that allowed only nine sacks all season – a mark that ranked 10th in the nation. Tarleton State’s Tuli Teuhema, Austin Peay’s Chandler Kirton, and Central Arkansas’ Justin Lairy are three other top candidates here.
