These 5 offensive linemen are set to make an impact in Central Mass. football this season
The Central Mass. football season is getting closer, so the Telegram & Gazette is taking a look at some players to keep an eye on as the season goes on. Next up, offensive linemen:
Jordan Clifton
St. Bernard's, Senior
Clifton checks all the boxes when it comes to being an offensive lineman, one who excels on and off the field.
“He’s very physical and, again, moves extremely well for his size,” coach Tom Bingham said of his 6-foot-3, 280-pound road paver and pocket protector. “He’s very bright, high energy.
“Just a tremendous leader, a great student, a good member of the community. He’s just a really, as a coach, everything that you’re looking for.”
That has, not surprisingly, made him popular with not only the Bernardians’ coaching staff, but collegiate recruiters.
“He’s definitely a collegiate player,” Bingham said. “At least Division 2, but he’ll probably end up landing at the old 1-AA (Football Bowl Subdivision).”
After starting at guard last season and helping the Bernardians go 11-2 and reach the Division 7 state final, Clifton has been moved to tackle this season to take full advantage of his physical prowess.
“Our tackles will be pretty physical blocking down, flying to the second level,” Bingham said. “We feel like we have a little (more) athleticism this year, and our tackles have to get out into space. I know it sounds crazy for a kid that size to get out in space, but he is very nimble and moves well.”
Clifton, who has the versatility to play inside or outside on defense, joins junior center Jonathan Quigley and senior guard Jeiel Berdica as returning starters on the O-line.
Berdica, a three-year starter who, like Clifton, hails from Fitchburg, is the first unanimous selection as a captain in Bingham’s 28 years at St. Bernard’s.
Luke Esposito
Uxbridge, Senior
Esposito is a road paver and a pocket protector who is an excellent athlete and avid sportsman.
He’s a member of the varsity basketball team and previously played baseball for the Spartans. As a freshman with football pushed to the spring because of COVID, he played for the golf team and carded a hole-in-one.
“Yeah, he’s a decent athlete,” coach Matt Blood said. “He’s a big kid, thick kid, big body who moves very well. He has great feet, and he’s super smart. That’s really what kind of seals the deal with Luke.
“The coaches have done a great job of coaching him up, and he’s soaked it up since Day 1. He’s very impressive in my opinion for a high school lineman.”
And an excellent student, one of many National Honor Society members on a Spartan squad that has high hopes after going 8-3 and advancing to the Division 7 state quarterfinals last season.
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Esposito is a two-year starter at left tackle and part of a veteran group that includes fellow senior returnees Shane Okenquist and Nate Noyes at guard and Matt DiLibero at center.
Esposito may very well be a three-phase contributor as he’s in contention to handle kicking duties — he converted 10 extra points last season after stepping in as an injury replacement — and expectations are he’ll start at tackle on defense.
“Just a solid, solid lineman,” Blood said. “And, you know what, that’s a pretty high compliment because we’re veteran heavy on our line.
“All of our linemen, I’m sure that any one of the teams that we’re going against would love to have them. They’re big bodies who work hard and play with the best technique that they can.”
Tony Kendall
Leominster, Senior
Kendall made the rounds this summer, attending camps at, among other campuses, UMass, Holy Cross, Northwestern, Syracuse, Bryant and Maine.
To that end, the Blue Devils are moving this four-year varsity player and three-year starter who checks in at 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds from tackle to guard, where he projects to play at the next level.
“He has more of a guard build in terms of his feet rather than as a tackle, where we had him last year,” coach Devin Gates said. “He’s also going to play some defense for us, too.
“He’s by far and away the strongest guy we have on our team. Puts in work all year long in the weight room, and you’ll see him most likely at right guard and at defensive tackle for us.”
Kendall, who figures to be deployed on the interior situationally on defense, is also strong in the classroom as his grade point average checks in at 3.24.
Kendall and standout sophomore quarterback Osiris Lopez are the lone returning starters on offense from a unit that averaged 33.8 points as the Blue Devils went 8-3 and advanced to the Division 2 state tournament.
A captain along with classmates Xavier Cora (RB/LB) and Braden Martin (RB/DB), Kendall is the unquestioned leader of a deep group of linemen that includes senior Tyler Witzgall and juniors Carter Austin and Nate Hankins, a transfer from Fitchburg.
“He’s the head of the ship there,” Gates said. “He’s the motor. The kids will follow his intensity.”
Riley McCann
Grafton, Senior
McCann has provided the Gators with versatility and productivity since he became a varsity contributor as a freshman.
This three-year starter lined up at center last season, but has spent time at tackle and guard this summer with the latter position being where he’ll initially be deployed when the season kicks off at Nashoba Regional.
“The last couple of years he started at center, but we’re moving him to guard this year just to utilize his athleticism,” coach Chris McMahon said. “Pulling, get him out in space leading our running game. He really is a great kid, and he’s a tremendous lineman who is only going to get better.”
The 6-foot-2, 250-pound McCann, who recently maxed out on the bench at 365, will be joined up front by junior guard Chase Dimond, a returning starter, and junior tackle Connor Shepherd, who saw extensive action last fall in a reserve role.
Junior Austin McCormick will step in at center.
“We have a young guy there who has done a really nice job, so we’re pretty confident in the center position,” McMahon said. “But we want to get Riley in the best position to help our offense move the football.
McCann, a team captain, saw quite a few snaps on defense as a sophomore before moving into the starting lineup at end last season as the Gators went 11-2 and advanced to the Division 4 state final. The disruptive defender collected 87 tackles, including 13 for a loss, and five sacks.
“We have high expectations for Riley to build on what he did last year,” McMahon said.
Jake O'Brien
West Boylston, Senior
Coach Mike Ross gets right to the point when asked what makes O’Brien an impact player.
“He’s tough as hell,” Ross said of the returning T&G Super Team selection.
The 5-foot-11, 215-pound O’Brien is a three-year, two-way starter who paved the way for an offense that averaged 32.5 points and sealed off the interior for a defense that allowed 12.3 points as the Lions went 11-2 and claimed the Division 7 state title last fall.
O’Brien, who is deployed at left guard, is part of a deep and talented O-line that also returns senior right guard Brian Smith — who’s also a three-year starter — senior tight end Jake Arcand and junior tackle Aidan Hamilton.
Seniors Camden Gosselin and Henry Murphy, who served in reserve roles last season, are back as well.
“He’s extremely tough, and he’s fundamentally sound,” Ross said of O’Brien, an excellent student who aspires to play collegiately at the Division 3 level. “He has great technique and is very athletic, has good footwork.
“And he plays with an edge to him. He has a little edge, which I really like. He’s intense. I love those kids.”
Defensively, O’Brien is deployed as a tackle. He made 35 tackles, including 10 for a loss, and seven sacks thanks to a quick first step that makes him difficult to block.
The Lions also welcome back senior Jamie McNamara, a returning T&G Super Teamer, and Arcand, while senior tackle Cam Gosselin is in the running to round out the front four.
—Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RichGarvenTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Keep an eye on these 5 Central Mass. offensive linemen primed for big seasons
