Jesuit’s offensive line ready for Lakewood’s Fowler

Posted Oct 19, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Oct 19, 2011 at 12:53 PM

When Jesuit travels to Lakewood on Friday night in a game that will decide the Class 5A District 8 champion, in order to give their offense room to operate, the Tigers’ offensive line will have to fight off five-star defensive lineman Dante Fowler, who is verbally committed to Florida State.

Fowler, a 6-foot-3, 240 pound defensive end, is rated the fifth-best at his position in the country.

“For both of my tackles, Cameron Ruff and Robby Gibbons, and even Robby Garcia (who occasionally plays guard), I told them now is the time to make a name for yourself,” Jesuit offensive line coach Brian McNulty said. “They want to know who was the big guy that shut him down.”

McNulty said they will throw a few double teams at Fowler, but won’t concentrate solely on stopping him.

“Their linebackers play very well,” he said. “Their whole team is quick.”

Fowler had 20 sacks last season and was also named to the MaxPreps/U.S. Air Force Defense All-American first-team.

McNulty, who played at Jesuit and went on to play at USF and Michigan State, has coached against top-rated defensive players in the past as an offensive-line coach at Plant. While with the Panthers, his line had to face former Armwood standouts Ryne Giddins, Petey Smith, Theodore “Man-Man” Jackson, and Matt Patchan.