Preview '08: OL

OL Depth Chart
LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Derek Sherrod So.	Anthony Strauder RSr.	J.C. Brignone RS0.	Michael Gates Sr.	Mark Melichar RSo.
Chris Spencer RJr.	Addison Lawrence RFr.	D.J. Looney RFr.	Craig Jenkins RJr.	Quentin Saulsberry RFr.
Phillip Freeman Jr.			Dakota Merritt RFr.

Derek Sherrod was scheduled to start at RT until Michael Brown was kicked off the team. Now Sherrod will be the LT a year ahead of schedule. As a true freshman, Sherrod was the backup RT and stole more and more time from J.D Hamilton. By the Liberty Bowl, they were splitting snaps nearly 50-50. It would have been nice to let Sherrod grow another year at RT, but Mississippi State doesn't have that luxury. Derek Sherrod looks like a future NFL draft pick and will probably be better than Michael Brown, but it may not be this year.

Anthony Strauder started at LG last year and will continue that role this year. He has tons of experience, easily the most of the OL, and is solid at his position. Combine him with Sherrod and the left side of the line looks very strong.

J.C. Brignone will take over at center after he beat out Johnny Carpenter in the spring. He has some experience as a reserve guard and is probably more talented than the departed Royce Blackledge. He doesn't have the experience that Blackledge had which will likely hurt him in the short run.

Michael Gates takes over at RG after splitting time with Craig Jenkins last year. Jenkins was the starter at the beginning of last year, but Gates eventually took the job from him late in the year and has never relinquished it.

Finally, Mark Melichar gets the nod at RT. He backed up Brown at LT last year. If there is a weakness in the starting 5 this may be it.

Start looking at the depth and things get shaky. Jenkins is a quality backup at both guard positions but everyone else is mostly a question mark. Addison Lawrence, D.J Looney, and Quentin Saulsberry have obviously never played a down, although Saulsberry might be pretty good as he was neck and neck with Melichar for the starting RT spot until the final week of practice. Spencer has been around a while but has bounced around from guard, to center, and finally to tackle.

Grade: 6.5/10

I want to give a 7/10, but the 2nd string group is too much of an unknown to do so. I really like the first team OL though. If they stay relatively injury free I see them having a fairly good year. On the other hand if a couple injuries occur, especially to Sherrod, this group could get derailed fast.