All Five Starting Offensive Linemen Return In 2003 For Blue Devils - Duke University

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Aug. 12, 2003

DURHAM, N.C. - The ACC's most experienced offensive line resides in Durham.

Headlined by tackle Drew Strojny and guard Rusty Wilson, Duke returns all five starters -- and a combined 111 career starting assignments -- from the 2002 season. The five linemen started all 12 games last fall for the Blue Devils.

Duke's offensive front averages 313 pounds across the line, and will be counted on to open holes for the running backs while providing pocket protection for the quarterbacks. How good can this unit be in 2003?

"We can be as good as we want to be," said Wilson. "We have two really good athletes at tackle, two big bruiser-type guards and a very intelligent center who understands the offense. We can be one of the top offensive lines in the conference."

The Charlotte Observer cited the Duke line as the fourth best in the ACC behind Georgia Tech, Maryland and Florida State and ahead of N.C. State, Wake Forest, Virginia, Clemson and North Carolina.

On the left side, the 6-8, 300-pound Strojny pairs with guard Daryl Lewis, a 6-3, 330-pound senior. A post-season honors candidate and NFL prospect, Strojny leads the group with 31 starts -- all consecutive entering the 2003 season -- while Lewis is second with 26. Wilson, a 6-3, 320-pounder who shared Duke's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award with Strojny last year, pairs with 6-7, 315-pound Christian Mitchell, the lone junior in the group, to form the right side. Mitchell (16) and Wilson (20) have a combined 36 career starts between them. At center, Luke Bayer is back with 18 career starts under his belt at both center and guard.

In 2002, the Duke offensive line spearheaded a rushing attack that featured All-ACC fullback Alex Wade. Wade rushed for 979 yards -- the fifth-highest single season total in school history. Wade offered credit to both the players and their mentor, assistant coach Rich McGeorge.

"Our offensive line has improved immensely over the past two seasons," Wade said. "A lot of it is the offensive linemen getting stronger, gaining experience and confidence in their abilities in learning a system. A lot of it also goes to Coach McGeorge. I think he's a brilliant offensive line coach. He's taught them how to do their jobs and not get flustered when things go wrong. He's simplified the game for them. He tells them to just go out there and know who they have to hit and go hit that person."

Backups at tackle are Chris Best, Tyler Krieg and Jim Moravchik while Joe Boniewicz and Lavdrim Bauta will spell the guards. Dan Mooney could push Bayer for playing time at center while walk-on Andrew Guidry rounds out the group. Newcomers to the unit are true freshmen Garrett Mason and Zach Maurides.