This is the fourth in a series of articles previewing the 2018 Missouri S&T football season.  The daily stories will feature one position, or a set of positions, each weekday through August 2.  The stories will be available on www.minerathletics.com at 11 a.m., each day, with the exception of July 27 when it will be available following the release of the GLVC pre-season poll.

Today's article features the Miner offensive line.

ROLLA, Mo. -- While Missouri S&T has a potential lineup on the offensive side of the ball dotted with returning starters across the skill positions, the Miners' offensive line is a place where some new faces are going to gain more prominent roles in the upcoming year.

The Miners come into the 2018 campaign with only two returning starters from a year ago – guard Josh Elam (Aledo, TX/Aledo) and tackle Austin Holmes (Eagle Point, OR/Eagle Point), both of whom were All-Great Lakes Valley Conference performers last season – from a unit that helped guide the team to its best offensive season in school history.  However, the projected depth chart on the line has a number of players who have game experience or gained time learning the system in a redshirt season.

"Austin will be starting his fourth year for us on the line and he really grew into a leader throughout the course of last season," said head coach Tyler Fenwick.  "I would expect him to take a bigger leadership role this year along with Josh Elam (Aledo, TX/Aledo) and Josh Thornton (Katy, TX/Katy), two others who have a great deal of on-field experience for us."

Nino Schmitt (St. Louis, MO/Christian Brothers College HS), who served as the backup to two-time All-GLVC center Adam Echele (Wildwood, MO/Lafayette) a year ago, will take over at that position this fall and is expected to be backed by returner Kyle Springli (St. Peters, MO/Francis Howell North) and redshirt freshman Kyle Urich (Tulsa, OK/Bishop Kelley).  While Elam figures to man the left guard position, Thornton is the frontrunner to handle the duties at right guard.

"Nino is expected to step into the role at center and while he has some big shoes to fill, he had a great off-season and took the bull by the horns throughout the spring," Fenwick said."

One concern for the Miners heading into the year is the lack of experienced depth on the offensive line, but Fenwick feels that the group behind the projected starters is talented and can work their way onto the field during the year.

Brandon Gonzalez (Mission, KS/Bishop Miege) and Nathan Mikulski (Houston, TX/Cypress Falls) are expected to compete for roles at guard, possibly in the Miners' short yardage offensive packages as well.

Holmes has been a starter throughout his career at left tackle, while Ebrahem Salem (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West), who saw a good deal of playing time on the line in 2016 but did not play a year ago, is the top contender in the pre-season for the right tackle role.  Alex Mauntel (Springfield, IL/Sacred Heart Griffin) and Garrett Miller (Holt, MO/Kearney), a pair of redshirt freshman, figure to challenge for playing time as well.

2018 MISSOURI S&T FOOTBALL PREVIEW SERIES
July 23 – Quarterbacks
July 24 – Running Backs
July 25 – Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
July 26 – Offensive Line
July 27 – GLVC Football Kickoff/Pre-Season Poll
July 30 – Defensive Line
July 31 – Linebackers
August 1 – Defensive Backs
August 2 – Special Teams