'There’s a cohesiveness': Seasoned offensive line is indeed a strength for Holy Cross football

WORCESTER — Holy Cross senior offensive lineman Luke Newman arrived on the hill three years ago as a 6-foot-5, 250-pound all-state performer at Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, who did not allow a sack during his junior or senior season, navigating his way around the HC weight room and working his way into the Crusaders’ lineup.

“I think I came in not even knowing how to clean in high school,” Newman said, referring to the weightlifting exercise.

Newman, who last season earned All-America accolades at left tackle, enters 2023 at 305 pounds, with a slightly smaller body fat percentage than he had as a freshman, cleaning 350 (up from 265) with fabulous form, and typifying the strength, speed, explosiveness and tenacity of HC’s standout upfront unit.

“It’s truly remarkable to see my progress over time,” Newman said after Wednesday's practice on newly renovated Kuzniewski Field. “I’ve gained a lot of power, and obviously weight has come with it. Everyone will give a lot of credit to (associate strength and conditioning) Coach (Chris) Grautski, and what he has done for this program is just fantastic.

“When Coach G wants to put weight on the offensive line,” Newman said, “he’s going to do it the right way, do it over a period of time, where you gain that weight, and it’s healthy weight, and you can grow with it and play with it.”

During HC’s remarkable 2022 run to the Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinals, Newman was part of an offensive line that allowed the Crusaders to rank fifth nationally in scoring offense (38.8 points per game) and sixth nationally in rushing offense (243.8 yards per game).

Newman, senior left guard Eric Schon and fifth-year right guard C.J. Hanson all earned All-Patriot League first-team honors last season. Along with senior center Christo Kelly and fifth-year right tackle Pat McMurtrie, and top backups Dalton Daddona, a fifth-year, and Declan McCauley, HC’s O-line brings experience and leadership.

“The amount of reps they have played together now,” coach Bob Chesney said, “there’s a cohesiveness, and they don’t say much. There are little motions, and things they can do, and there is a non-verbal communication that goes on with them that wasn’t here maybe three years ago. They’ve played together now, some of them, for four years, so that consistency, that belief, that trust is what certainly stands out to me.”

Hanson has started 27 straight games at right guard and Newman 26 in a row at left tackle. Schon moved into the starting lineup last year. An injury limited McMurtrie to two games in 2022, but he was a starter the previous two seasons. Kelly, who takes over for the great Nick Olsofka, appeared in nine games last year.

“It’s truly special being next to these guys who are with your moral values and have the same goals,” Hanson said. “You know what’s going on. It’s like we’re all in each other’s heads.”

HC’s projected starting five averages 6-foot-5 and 302 pounds.

Chris Zarkoskie is in his first season as HC’s offensive line coach. Chris Smith, a former Holy Cross star center who previously coached the OL and served as offensive coordinator last year, departed to take a position with the New York Giants. Dean Kennedy, who was HC’s quarterbacks coach last year, took over as OC.

“This is a very veteran group,” said Zarkoskie, who spent the last two seasons overseeing Princeton’s offensive line. “They work hard, they prepare well, and the tight-knit community they have as an offensive line is very special. That happens in a lot of places, but it is extra special here.”

Before helping to guide Princeton to two outstanding offensive seasons, Zarkoskie coached at New Hampshire, his alma mater, Brown and Lehigh.

“All of us are really appreciative of how open Coach Zar has been with us,” Schon said. “It’s been nothing but a positive experience. Everyone on the offensive line is looking forward to our first season with him. We’re excited to have him as part of this program.”

Among HC’s six freshmen offensive linemen is Shrewsbury High alum Brad Blattner.

“With our experience comes a lot of responsibility with the younger guys that we’re going to get ready to play soon,” Newman said. “We want to get them adjusted to our scheme and our offense as soon as possible. With this group (of veterans) we can do that.”

Eleven days into practice, and a little more than two weeks from the 2023 opener against Merrimack, HC’s offense is coming together.

“It looks phenomenal,” Hanson said. “Everyone is moving fast (senior quarterback Matthew) Sluka is just a star out there. We’re getting our defense better, and they’re getting us better. It’s truly great right now.”

—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on X, formerly known at Twitter, @JenTolandTG.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Seasoned offensive line is indeed a strength for Holy Cross football