By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post Sports
HAYS - As Fort Hays State opens its second week of preseason football camp, one of the biggest questions entering the 2026 season is along the offensive line.
The Tigers must replace three starters from last season. Josh Shaw, Brandon Kerr and Porter Dannevik combined to play in 114 career games with 99 starts, leaving significant production and leadership to replace.
Amari Angram-Boldin enters his fifth season as a Fort Hays State assistant coach and his third leading the offensive line.
"First of all, I just want to give a shout-out to the three guys that we did lose," Angram-Boldin said. "Three great players, three great human beings. They played a lot of football for us over the last four years. It's hard to replace that. They knew each other like the back of each other's hands."
Despite those departures, the Tigers return several players with starting experience. Avery Coleman, Neville Brown, David Sjoberg and Plainville native Mason Hogan all made starts at various points last season, while Jacob Mattice and Dylan Rock also gained valuable playing time.
They are competing for starting roles alongside Missouri Western State transfer Weston Langvardt, who appeared in six games for the Griffons last season.
"I think this group has a lot of potential, a very high ceiling," Angram-Boldin said. "The only thing is the lack of experience in MIAA play. They've been sitting behind some vets for the last few years, so now it's time for them to step up."
Developing chemistry and communication will be the biggest challenge as the group prepares for the season.
"It's about eyes and mouth," Angram-Boldin said. "You've got to be able to see the same thing, communicate what you're seeing and make sure everybody's on the same page. The more we can recognize the different looks our defense is giving us, make the adjustments and communicate what we're seeing and how we need to play it, the better off we'll be."
Angram-Boldin said facing one of the top defensive lines in the MIAA every day in practice should help speed the group's development before the season opener.
"When you've got a D-line like we've got, you have no choice but to get better every day," Angram-Boldin said.