Fresno State Athletics
Fall Camp 2024 Spotlight: Offensive Line
8/6/2024 2:01:00 PM | Football
OFFENSIVE LINE OUTLOOK:
The offensive line has a new position coach for a fourth consecutive season, but it's a familiar face. Matt Smith, who served as a graduate assistant the past two seasons, was promoted in January and led the group through spring practices and into fall camp.
Smith, who was a Bulldog offensive lineman from 2017-21, helped prime All-Mountain West talents the past two seasons with at least two offensive lineman earning postseason honors.
Smith inherits a squad with 13 returners who have 106 combined starts, which leads the Mountain West and ranks 34th in the FBS in what undoubtedly is the most experienced group on the offensive side of the ball. The returners are led by 2023 second team All-MW selection Mose Vavao, who has started 42 consecutive games at left or right guard.
Fresno State ranked second in the Mountain West in passing offense, averaging 282.2 yards per game through the air. It also averaged 30 or more points a game for the sixth season in a row, the longest streak in the Mountain West. But the offense could be more efficient, and even potent, with more consistent line play from a veteran unit.
The Bulldogs struggled to run the football consistently a year ago, and ranked ninth in the conference in sacks allowed with 2.3 per game.
"My goal every game is 200-plus yards on the ground," said Smith. "That's the standard for our room. The big emphasis going into this camp starting from the winter to the spring, the summer to fall camp is we will be the most physical unit on the field. That's what we are trying to do every single day, and we better be able to see that on Saturdays."
Who's back: Vavao, Fresno State's team leader in career games started (42), has coined the term "Mr. Reliable." He was the only offensive guard in the Mountain West to play 650 or more snaps last season without a penalty.
The Newark, Calif. native was named to the Outland Trophy watch list presented annually to the best interior lineman in college football, in addition to being a preseason All-Mountain West pick, and an All-MW pick by Phil Steele (second team) and Athlon Sports (first team).
The unquestioned leader of the offensive line will face a new challenge this season as he moved from guard to center during spring ball, replacing Jacob Isaia.
"He's a stud and he's our leader," said Smith. "That's why we moved him to center. There's no better guy to run the show for us. He's a guy that I can count on for anything. If it's a football thing or a culture thing within our room, he's our guy."
Starters Braylen Nelson, Jacob Spomer and Osmar Velez also return for the Bulldogs.
Nelson started all 13 games at right tackle in 2023, one of two positions on the offensive to not see a different starter. Nelson played the most snaps of any Bulldogs' linemen last season.
Spomer has started 24 games since transferring to Fresno State in 2022. Last season, he allowed just nine quarterback pressures in 407 pass blocking snaps, ranking third among offensive tackles in the Mountain West while playing 91 and 29 more snaps than the tackles that were ranked first and second. Spomer suffered a season-ending injury at San Jose State last season (Nov. 11), but is expecting a return in 2024.
Velez has continued to develop throughout his career as a Bulldog, emerging as a consistent contributor in every game in 2022 and advancing to a starter role in 2023.
Toreon Penright saw action in nine games last season, taking snaps at left guard. Daniel Taumalolo played in five games, and stepped in for Spomer starting the final two games of the season. Edward Fonua utilized his redshirt season in 2023, appearing in four games as a special teams contributor.
The room also returns Julian Polendo, who saw action in 13 games primarily on special teams, in addition to Campbell McHarg, Marcus Simien, Matai Bell, Rolan Fullwood and Kingsley Ugwu.
Who's new: Five newcomers join the offensive line, bolstering its depth with two junior college transfers.
Ponafatu Kamuta transferred to Fresno State after spending two seasons at Fresno City College. He was an All-Conference selection and a second team All-American. Kamuta joined the program as a mid-year addition and participated in spring football with the Bulldogs.
Michael Eneh comes to the Valley from Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. Eneh had more than 20 scholarship offers, primarily from FCS schools.
Marsel Akins, a Tulare native, chose to stay home and play for the Bulldogs. Akins was a first team all-league offensive lineman at El Diamante High. The three-star recruit was named the 2023 All-East Yosemite League Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Ethan Dasmann, a three-star offensive lineman, joins the roster from Oak Ridge High School. He was the 2023 Sierra Foothill League Lineman of the Year and a three-time first team all-league selection (2021,2022, 2023).
What to watch for: With four returning starters, who will rise to the top and take the final spot?
Fresno State ranked 10th in the conference in rushing offense, averaging only 105.5 yards per game, its lowest going back through at least 1992. The offensive line will be challenged to create more holes for the running backs to balance the offensive attack and improve its pass protection.
The offensive line has a new position coach for a fourth consecutive season, but it's a familiar face. Matt Smith, who served as a graduate assistant the past two seasons, was promoted in January and led the group through spring practices and into fall camp.
Smith, who was a Bulldog offensive lineman from 2017-21, helped prime All-Mountain West talents the past two seasons with at least two offensive lineman earning postseason honors.
Smith inherits a squad with 13 returners who have 106 combined starts, which leads the Mountain West and ranks 34th in the FBS in what undoubtedly is the most experienced group on the offensive side of the ball. The returners are led by 2023 second team All-MW selection Mose Vavao, who has started 42 consecutive games at left or right guard.
Fresno State ranked second in the Mountain West in passing offense, averaging 282.2 yards per game through the air. It also averaged 30 or more points a game for the sixth season in a row, the longest streak in the Mountain West. But the offense could be more efficient, and even potent, with more consistent line play from a veteran unit.
The Bulldogs struggled to run the football consistently a year ago, and ranked ninth in the conference in sacks allowed with 2.3 per game.
"My goal every game is 200-plus yards on the ground," said Smith. "That's the standard for our room. The big emphasis going into this camp starting from the winter to the spring, the summer to fall camp is we will be the most physical unit on the field. That's what we are trying to do every single day, and we better be able to see that on Saturdays."
Who's back: Vavao, Fresno State's team leader in career games started (42), has coined the term "Mr. Reliable." He was the only offensive guard in the Mountain West to play 650 or more snaps last season without a penalty.
The Newark, Calif. native was named to the Outland Trophy watch list presented annually to the best interior lineman in college football, in addition to being a preseason All-Mountain West pick, and an All-MW pick by Phil Steele (second team) and Athlon Sports (first team).
The unquestioned leader of the offensive line will face a new challenge this season as he moved from guard to center during spring ball, replacing Jacob Isaia.
"He's a stud and he's our leader," said Smith. "That's why we moved him to center. There's no better guy to run the show for us. He's a guy that I can count on for anything. If it's a football thing or a culture thing within our room, he's our guy."
Starters Braylen Nelson, Jacob Spomer and Osmar Velez also return for the Bulldogs.
Nelson started all 13 games at right tackle in 2023, one of two positions on the offensive to not see a different starter. Nelson played the most snaps of any Bulldogs' linemen last season.
Spomer has started 24 games since transferring to Fresno State in 2022. Last season, he allowed just nine quarterback pressures in 407 pass blocking snaps, ranking third among offensive tackles in the Mountain West while playing 91 and 29 more snaps than the tackles that were ranked first and second. Spomer suffered a season-ending injury at San Jose State last season (Nov. 11), but is expecting a return in 2024.
Velez has continued to develop throughout his career as a Bulldog, emerging as a consistent contributor in every game in 2022 and advancing to a starter role in 2023.
Toreon Penright saw action in nine games last season, taking snaps at left guard. Daniel Taumalolo played in five games, and stepped in for Spomer starting the final two games of the season. Edward Fonua utilized his redshirt season in 2023, appearing in four games as a special teams contributor.
The room also returns Julian Polendo, who saw action in 13 games primarily on special teams, in addition to Campbell McHarg, Marcus Simien, Matai Bell, Rolan Fullwood and Kingsley Ugwu.
Who's new: Five newcomers join the offensive line, bolstering its depth with two junior college transfers.
Ponafatu Kamuta transferred to Fresno State after spending two seasons at Fresno City College. He was an All-Conference selection and a second team All-American. Kamuta joined the program as a mid-year addition and participated in spring football with the Bulldogs.
Michael Eneh comes to the Valley from Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. Eneh had more than 20 scholarship offers, primarily from FCS schools.
Marsel Akins, a Tulare native, chose to stay home and play for the Bulldogs. Akins was a first team all-league offensive lineman at El Diamante High. The three-star recruit was named the 2023 All-East Yosemite League Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Ethan Dasmann, a three-star offensive lineman, joins the roster from Oak Ridge High School. He was the 2023 Sierra Foothill League Lineman of the Year and a three-time first team all-league selection (2021,2022, 2023).
What to watch for: With four returning starters, who will rise to the top and take the final spot?
Fresno State ranked 10th in the conference in rushing offense, averaging only 105.5 yards per game, its lowest going back through at least 1992. The offensive line will be challenged to create more holes for the running backs to balance the offensive attack and improve its pass protection.
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ FootballFB Media Availibility [11/18]: Jadon Pearson, Ryan Wilson, Julian Polendo, Jordan Brown
Tuesday, November 18
FB Weekly Press Conference [11/17]
Monday, November 17
FB highlight vs Wyoming [11/15/25]
Sunday, November 16
Postgame Press Conference [11/16]
Sunday, November 16