Aug 18, 2021

🏈 Kelly and Amgram-Bolden set to anchor FHSU offensive line

Posted Aug 18, 2021 3:23 PM
The FHSU offensive and defensive line practice at Lewis Field.
The FHSU offensive and defensive line practice at Lewis Field.

HAYS – It seems like the offensive line is under the spotlight every season at Fort Hays State and that's no different heading into the 2021 season.

The Tigers return two full-time starters from the 2019 season in senior left guard Amari Angram-Boldin and junior left tackle Pat Kelly. The other three starting positions are up for grabs after 2019 starters Kendrick Davis transferred to Division I FCS Missouri State and Ted Hessing recovers from an injury suffered in one of the Tigers spring scrimmages.

Among those competing for a starting spot are juniors Toby Godwin and Caden Gober along with sophomore Nick Gossage who all saw time in 2019. Added to the mix is Kyon Clark who moves over from the defensive line along with transfers Tylor Lovette, Kristopher Sloughter and David Anderton. Lovette is a Derby native who played at Butler Community College in Eldorado before transferring to Division I FCS Abilene Christian. Sloughter comes to FHSU from Diablo Valley (Calif.) College and Anderton was on the South Florida roster last season but did not appear in any games.

“We’ve always started off with depth and then have been bitten by the injury bug early,” said offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Jeff Bryant. “For the most part, a lot of the seniors that should have been seniors in 2020 chose to stick around so they helped depth without even knowing it. The guys that we brought in appear to be guys that can definitely help us.”

Bryant feels offensive success this season rest squarely on the play up front.

“There’ve been games we’ve lost because we haven’t been able to protect the quarterback. There’ve been games that we’ve lost because we haven’t been able to establish the run. Everything we do at Fort Hays is predicated on balance. We try to run and we try to throw and our offensive line has got to be able to do both. The strength of the offensive line kind of coincides with how good the team goes.”

Pat Kelly is the veteran among the group. The Staten Island, N.Y. native played in two games in 2016 then was an All-MIAA Third-Team selection in 2017. An injury in the regular season finale forced him to miss the Tigers playoff game with Ferris State that season. Kelly suffered a season-ending injury in the 2018 opener against Central Missouri but returned for the entire 2019 season.

Kelly feels the offensive line is as deep as it’s been since he’s been a Tiger.

“You finally got guys that could start in past years that aren’t going to do it this year,” Kelly said. “It’s a good problem to have. It’s nice to know you always got someone behind you in case something happens. It’s always good to have depth and competition makes us all better.”

Amgram-Boldin made the switch from defensive line to offensive line prior to the 2018 season and was an All-MIAA Second Team pick in 2018 and Third Team selection in 2019.

“If we’re bad the team will be bad,” Amgram-Boldin said of the offensive line. “We have to come to play every game because, at the end of the day, we get the ball rolling.”

Angram-Boldin and the rest of the Tigers will see just how far they’ve come when they open at home September 2nd with No. 4 Northwest Missouri State.