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| It's like an O-line family portrait. Back row, left to right: Jackson Michalcik, Matthew Gilbey, Dominic Bitz, Michael Nwosu, Will Livingston. Front row: Charlie Peasron, Garrett Brophy, Drew Chairuangdej, Albee Cornachio and offensive line coach Stephen Crevani. Photo by Mike Atherton, d3photography.com |
By Joe Sager
D3sports.com
Like ninjas, the Johns Hopkins offensive line is happy to operate in anonymity.
Mike Nwosu, Charlie Pearson, Garrett Brophy, Drew Chairuangdej and Albee Cornachio don’t care who knows their names. They just want to keep leading the way for the Blue Jays.
“It’s said the offensive line is like air conditioning – you only notice it when it’s broken,” Pearson said with a laugh.
Well, the AC is cranked pretty high in Baltimore, then. The five starters have helped Johns Hopkins (12-1) reach the national semifinals for the second year in a row. The Blue Jays trek to UW-River Falls (12-1) for a trip to the Stagg Bowl.
“Ultimately, we’re process oriented with the way we approach things,” Pearson said. “We’re trying to focus on ourselves and get better how we can. It’s great to see how our hard work and preparation has shown on the field, so far.”
While the unit is happy to provide the building blocks for an offense that averages 458.9 yards and 41.5 points per game, it’s gaining some positive notoriety. Nwosu, the left tackle, was named a First Team AFCA All-American and is a strong candidate for similar honors when the D3football.com All-America team is announced next week. The senior has started a program-record 51 games in a row.
“He’s a special person to coach,” Johns Hopkins offensive line coach Stephen Crevani said. “It’s tough to find somebody of that talent that doesn’t want to take a break. He always wants to be his best. He is going to practice like each rep is to win the game. He elevates everyone around him.”
Brophy, a senior right guard, was named to the all-Centennial Conference team his first three years. He did not play last year, but instead served as a student assistant tight ends coach. He returned to the playing field this year to help solidify the line.
“What’s great is that coaching experience really shows on the field now. He sees everything happening from a coaching point of view, too,” Crevani said. “When things change up, he’s able to point things out and get everybody back on the same page.”
Pearson, a senior right tackle, is in his third year as a starter and played extensively as freshman. He’s riding a 40-game starting streak.
“Chucky is a quiet guy on the field, but he comes to work,” Crevani said. “He’s been solid and very reliable for us over the years.”
Cornachio, a sophomore, worked his way into the starting lineup last year at left guard.
“It’s a testament to him and his hard work,” Crevani said. “Coming in Day 1, you might not be a starter right away. Last year, he needed more time with the playbook and to work on his technique. He got better and was living in the playbook. A couple injuries later and he earned his way to a starting spot in Week 8 and stayed there the rest of the way through the playoffs. He’s a prime example of the culture here. Even if your number is not called at the moment, if you keep working and perfecting your craft, your number will get called. If you’re ready, then you’ll earn that spot.”
Chairuangdej, a junior center, is new to the team this year after transferring from Wheaton.
“Drew came in over the summer and, right away, Mike, Garrett and Chucky took him under their wing and showed him how we do things here,” Crevani said. “At center, you’re asked to do a lot here like communicating fronts, setting protections and things like that. They helped make him comfortable so he could be that leader. He immediately felt like he had been here his whole career. “
A welcoming environment is something the Blue Jays stress.
“The way we have our culture now and the mentorship that has happened from us is something that was embedded in the guys who came before us, guys like Luke Schuerman, J.R. Woods and others,” Pearson said. “Whether they were on the offensive line or not, it’s the culture they have implemented. We benefited from that mentorship and want to pass that down. Seeing the growth in the younger guys and seeing the fire light in them is a really exciting part.”
It’s all part of the selfless mentality the offensive line maintains.
“We take a big amount of pride in what we do,” Nwosu said. “At the end of the day it’s our job to keep our athletes safe and get them in the end zone. These guys have really bought in and invested a lot to do whatever we need to do to help our skill guys behind us.”
Nwosu is a perfect example. He was willing to move from right guard to left tackle halfway through last season.
“I had to learn the basics, like getting into a left-handed stance. Getting those fundamentals down and working on that technique took some time. I felt pretty confident in my pass protection ability, but I am feeling comfortable in the run game as well now,” he said. “It was definitely a challenge, but everyone else was there to help me. Chucky P. was here and I learned a lot from him. I had to flip all the plays in my head. It’s come along really well.
“My time at Hopkins has been phenomenal and I am extremely grateful. I just trust in the program and everything these coaches have set up. It has its rewards. I just come in with a good mindset, try to lead by example and take care of business on the field as well.”
The linemen remain extremely close and rely on that chemistry.
“The cohesion and trust is huge. We have to communicate a lot,” Nwosu said. “Each guy knows what their job is on each and every play. We never feel like we have to do too much. We just have to do our job and the next four guys beside you will do their jobs.”
“Consistency is something we strive to have at every positon,” Pearson added. “As linemen, we’re not always going to have the ball in our hands, but we take a lot of pride in wanting to protect our guys and pave the way and see our work reflected in the team’s success more broadly. So, we get the payoff in a different way.”
The Blue Jays dropped a 45-37 decision to Mount Union in last year’s semifinals. They hope their experience is the difference this time against the high-powered Falcons.
“It’s huge having that experience,” Pearson said. “It allows us to not really treat these playoff games as anything different. We maintain our second approach. Second, we have the calmness and clarity that we can perform up to our high standards. Having both that success and experience have really been huge for us.”