HUNTINGTON - As with many offensive linemen, Marshall center Levi Brown made his biggest physical gains between his second and third years with the program.
Most figure out they have to, if they're going to get on the field at all. Brown was fortunate enough to start the first 11 games of the 2016 season, but that meant he received the message in live action.
That came at Heinz Field, when the Thundering Herd took on the Pittsburgh Panthers. Brown, then a redshirt freshman in his fourth game, had to block somebody nicknamed "Pot Roast Jr.," who is now in the Denver Broncos' camp.
Brown didn't know his name (Tyrique Jarrett), but knew that No. 6.
"He was one massive man," Brown said. "That was a nice wakeup call, and they had 'backers that screamed down in the 'A' gaps also. If I came around [to block them], they hit me in the mouth, so I knew I had to gain some pounds."
Twenty-three, by his reckoning. Now listed at 290, he has more of a rough-and-tumble look required for the most complex role in the trenches, that center position manned so capably from 2011-15 by either Chris Jasperse or Michael Selby.
Playing last year on a line that struggled with injuries on the right side to Selby and Clint Van Horn, Brown was impressive enough to make the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list, a roll call of the nation's top centers.
That in itself is not all that impressive, considering that 71 were named out of 130 major-college programs. But ponder this: Only Brown and tight end Ryan Yurachek are the only Herd players on any watch list.
Those could be your offensive captains in most weeks.
Brown has to lead a line that must improve a running game which averaged only 108.2 yards per game last season - the least since 97.2 in 2010. Only one Herd runner topped the 100-yard mark, with Anthony Anderson gaining 109 against Middle Tennessee.
The Herd will have four starters back from that game, the 10th of the season: Sandley Jean-Felix at left tackle, Jordan Dowrey at left guard, Brown at center and Nate Devers at right guard. The right tackle spot is most up in the air, with redshirt freshman Tarik Adams making a move in the spring.
Whether the previous paragraph qualifies as good news is to be determined. One thing for certain: Brown and his fellow linemen dug in over the offseason to do something about it.
So who else in the trenches had a good offseason in the weight room?
"Jason Smith, on the defensive side of the ball, he came in heavy and then he lost it all and slimmed back down. He looks really good now," Brown said. "[Defensive tackle] Ryan Bee, he's gained about 18 or 20 pounds, he looks good now. [Alex] Locklear, he's cut pounds to make himself better perform.
"[Walk-on] Cain Madden, nobody really hears about him much, he's slimmed down 15 or 16 pounds and he can move a lot better than we thought he did. All round, everybody on the lines made good cuts or good additions to our body."
As always, wait for the results.
nnn
Early, early, early camp observations:
n The play of Saturday evening's workout involved Chase Litton escaping a rush, moving toward the right sideline and finding Tyre Brady, who had finished his route and broke toward the ball. The throw went for about 25 yards, providing a tantalizing preview of coming attractions.
n I know better than to handicap the running back derby, but Tyler King has earned my full attention. He has been good for a long run or two each day.
King has been running with the "twos." Keion Davis and Trey Rodriguez are sharing the first-team snaps.
n The much-anticipated Jaquan Yulee won't stay on the third unit forever, but he has to earn his way from there. That's good news, really, a hint of just how deep the linebacker unit might be.
If you want a parallel, consider Mario Harvey. He played significant snaps in nine games in 2007 after sitting out a year, starting three. He had 10 solo tackles in his first start, late in the season in an otherwise rough afternoon at Central Florida.
But really, Harvey needed a season to become who he was. Vinny Curry needed a season to become Vinny Curry as we knew him. If Yulee pans out, we'll probably see him blossom in 2018.
n First-full-pads day can't come soon enough. That's Tuesday. Starting time all week is 3:20 p.m.
Contact Doug Smock at 304-348-5130 or dougsmock@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @dougsmock and read his blog at http://blogs.wvgazettemail.com/dougsmock/.