After three years in the trenches of Camp Randall, offensive tackle Jason Jowers has a lot to say. He answers questions off the cuff. He laughs at himself often. He wields honesty the way Picasso wielded oil paints. He is an interviewer’s dream.
On this day, however, it’s what Jowers doesn’t say that really matters. He fields a question as to whether casual fans recognize him off the field, in public. Instead of the usual, quick reply, Jowers answers with a hearty guffaw.
“People will see you and they’ll say, ‘Well, either you’re a basketball player or a football player,'” the 6-foot-6, 305-pound Jowers said. “I try to tell people once in a while that I’m a diver.”
Since last season, Jowers has anchored the right side of Wisconsin’s offensive line. In 2001, his primary responsibility entailed plowing a path for running back Anthony Davis. Judging by Davis’ 1,466-yard season, it’s safe to say he accomplished his mission.
But Jowers makes up only 20 percent of Davis’ blocking team. Next season, he’ll most likely team up with right guard Jonathon Clinkscale, center Al Johnson, left guard Dan Buenning (pronounced Benning) and left tackle Ben Johnson to form UW’s first-string offensive line.
Only Madonna is more experienced than these linemen. Jowers and the Johnson cousins are all seniors in their final year of eligibility. Like the sophomore Buenning, they started every game last season. In fact, in 2001 those four missed less than a game’s worth of snaps. Along with Clinkscale, a sophomore who started six games last season (fellow sophomore Kalvin Barrett started the other six), next year’s starting offensive line will have 74 starts under its collective hip pads.
“You know the guy next to you, you know what his tendencies [are], you know what he does,” Jowers said. “And plus, the communication you get when you work together, I mean, you can’t even compare it to anything else. When you have to switch somebody in there who hasn’t been with you, it’s a world of difference. Being able to have the same five guys every day, it gives you that extra comfort level. You know the guy next to you is going to be there if you need him.”
Clearly, Jowers knows who he’s talking about. He shares a living space with Johnson and Johnson. He’s been teammates with Buenning and Clinkscale for going on three years. So he’s not at a loss for words when a reporter requests a crash-course scouting report on UW’s front five.
About Al Johnson, Jowers says, “Leader . . . He’s the one who, if we’re doing something wrong, says, ‘Hey, we gotta get this right, get it going.'”
About Ben Johnson, Jowers explains, “The quiet killer. Not going to do a lot of ‘rah-rah’ stuff . . . Ben’s a workhorse.”
Jowers on Buenning and Clinkscale; “[Buenning] is the most athletic [lineman] and one of the strongest guys we have . . . Jon [Clinkscale’s] my boy. I have Jon next to me every play . . . If he makes a mistake, he’s going to tell you. If you guys do something right together, he’s going to give you a high five.”
Jowers will even opine about his offensive-line coach Jim Hueber: “He is the very loud father that I never had.”
During spring practice, before assignments have been blown, before fingers have been pointed, Jowers’ optimism comes naturally to most. At this point in the season, every team can look forward to an undefeated season. Every player is an MVP. Even the third-string walk-on has a reason to look up. Consequently, separating hype from reality becomes difficult.
But look at the facts. Last year’s offensive line, with three new starters, cleared enough space for a freshman to run for 1,400 yards. A line devoid of seniors pancaked enough rush ends for two quarterbacks to throw for 1,000 yards.
Next year, all five of UW’s starters will return. Nowhere on the field does experience count for more than it does on the offensive line. In 2002, UW’s will have plenty.
“When you have your whole first unit in there, I think things click a little bit better,” said the very loud father, Hueber. “I think we’ve been working hard to make some corrections on some little things. That probably [gives] us a little bit better chance.”
