Arizona Football: The Offensive Line is critical to team success

The Arizona Football offensive line is often overlooked, but nonetheless this been crucial to the teams’ success so far this season!

Whether you’re an avid fan or just a casual football fan, it is easy to notice the shiny pieces on a football team. For Arizona Football a lot of notoriety goes to J.J. Taylor, Khalil Tate and Gary Brightwell among others, as they often receive the most national recognition for their play.

However, if you have ever listened to a post game press conference, you would learn that their success often depends on the play of the big men in the trenches. Now seems like an appropriate time to recognize those men in the trenches, so lets begin!

Arizona Wildcats

Protecting Tate’s blindside this season, has been Donovan Laie who is currently in his sophomore season playing left tackle at Arizona. Laie hails from Oceanside high school in California, and comes in weighing at 315 pounds and standing six-feet-four-inches tall.

Even though Laie is arguably the best lineman on the team, the best part is we still likely get two more years of Laie on our offensive line too! In his career thus far, he has proved he can play at this high a level, and could be lights out by the time he’s a senior!

Standing right next Laie on the line is another sophomore, this being redshirt sophomore, Robert Congel, sporting No. 66 and playing left guard. Originally from Greenwood Village, Colorado, Robert played his high school ball at IMG Academy and actually walked-on at Texas A&M.

A transfer to Arizona, Congel also stands an impressive 6-feet-4-inches tall and weighs 310 pounds. I guess it is safe to say Tate’s left side is young and big. Congel has been a solid addition thus far, and is yet another, young offensive lineman whom Wildcat fans will get for two more years of!

But who is the man in the middle, the one that snaps the ball to Tate? He goes by the name of Josh McCauley! Ever since walking on with the Cats, McCauley has been quite the surprise, and certainly helps this line go!

Currently in his junior season at Arizona, McCauley is a local, Arizona product, originally hailing from Mesa, Arizona and play his high school ball at Red Mountain. There is no doubt that Josh’s experience at center and veteran leadership plays a major role in the success of Arizona’s offensive line, and he’s been vital to the Cats’ success.

Next to Josh is actually the only senior on the offensive line, and he wears No. 76, lining up at right guard for the Cats! Many call him Cody Creason, and like Laie, he is another California native, this one coming all the way from Folsom High School.

In 2018 and 2019, Cody has been a critical piece of this offensive line, and now that he’s a senior, not only Cody has the most reps in practice and games, but he is depended upon for his veteran leadership and experience both on and off the field. Let’s make sure Cody goes out a winner and no better way to help him do that than to sell out Arizona home games.

Last but not least, is yet another youngin’ on the offensive line. Lining up at right tackle for the Cats is former, Desert Pines High School star and Nevada native, Edgar Burrola.

Finally getting a great chance to contribute, Burrola is another key piece to Arizona’s success, and with an impressive, 6-feet-6-inch and 305 pound frame, Edgar definitely adds size and skill to the to the offensive line. Again, Wildcat fans can rejoice as they get 2 more years of Edgar moving forward as well.

It’s worth noting that, even though these five men a decent amount of the most reps for the Cats, Arizona has also been using guys like; Paiton Fears, Josh Donovan and Steven Bailey among others

While they may not get the most spot light, it certainly does not mean that they should be over looked, especially with how well they’re playing. Without the offensive line,Tate does not have time to throw, or holes to run through, and Taylor spends more time in the backfield than the end-zone. When talking about Arizona Football’s 4-1 start, make sure to mention the offensive line! As always, Bear Down and Go Wildcats!