The offensive line Mentor boasted in 2018 was ballyhooed as one for the ages — at the very least among the best the Cardinals program had ever run out there.
Is that bar being recalibrated by the 2025 Cardinals?
Through seven games, Mentor is not only undefeated (7-0, 4-0 in the Greater Cleveland Conference), but the Cardinals are averaging 42.3 points and 458 yards per game. At the core of that offensive onslaught is a group of offensive linemen who might be the best Mentor has ever put on the field, including four who have committed to play college football, with three headed to FBS schools.
With Navy recruit JoJo LoDuca at center, North Carolina State commit Landry Brede at one tackle slot and Kent State commit Colin Prichard at the other tackle slot, the Cardinals have three FBS commits. A fourth lineman — guard Gibril McClendon — is headed to Tiffin University. Fellow guard Amari Bradley is certainly in the realm of playing college football someday, too.
The current Mentor offensive line at the very least rivals that of 2018 when two Cardinals signed with Big Ten schools — Ryan Jacoby with Ohio State and Nico Samac with Michigan State. Samac is currently on the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens.
“It’s really hard to compare because so much goes into it,” Coach Matt Gray said. “You’ve got those five guys up front, the quarterback plays a big part of it, the running backs play a big part of it. It’s a great combination.”
“”It’s special because they have that attitude. They have that mindset. If it’s run or pass, they’ll attack it and go.” – Mentor coach Matt Gray on his offensive line.
To be sure, Mentor has a plethora of athletic talent at its offensive skilled positions. Junior quarterback Brogan Jones has thrown for 1,067 yards and eight touchdowns. Alongside him are two more FBS recruits — Kent State commit Jackson Farley (1,304 yards 21 touchdowns) at running back and Miami (Ohio) Justen Hodge (28 catches, 467 yards, five touchdowns) at receiver, among that skilled group.
After a 55-21 win over Strongsville, a win that included 606 yards of offense (393 on the ground), Farley knew where his team’s bread was buttered.
“Our offensive line did amazing,” Farley said. “I think they won the game ball or whatever you can call it.”
Gray said Mentor’s offensive linemen challenge him every day in practice. Having previously been an offensive lineman in his playing days and being an assistant on the 2018 team when Mentor’s line boasted Jacoby and Samac, Gray knows what makes an offensive line special — and he has one of those lines on his hands now.
“It’s special because they have that attitude,” he said. “They nave that mindset. If it’s run or pass, they’ll attack it and go.”
During a preseason interview with The News-Herald, Gray said the line’s work ethic, willingness to learn and lead is what would make or break the 2025 Cardinals. Since most of this year’s line got valuable playing time in the past, including LoDuca who cut his teeth as a freshman starter, experience is key. After the lopsided win over Strongsville, Gray reiterated the importance of that preparation and experience.
“You can’t substitute experience,” Gray said. “From the physical standpoint, they’re big, they’re strong. They pass the eye test up front, but what we’re able to do mentally… We had different wrinkles and adjustments for every time where (Strongsville linebacker Storm Miller) was, and a couple of their defensive linemen in pass pro that most groups wouldn’t have been able to do.”
Mentor hosts Shaker Heights (1-6) on Oct. 10, followed by a road game with Lorain (2-5) in Week 9 and a home game with Euclid (3-4) in Week 10.
The question will remain — is this the best offensive line in Mentor history? But suffice it to say the Cardinals’ trench-men aren’t as hung up on that as they are to perfecting their trade.
“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing,” 6-foot-6, 300-pound Brede said. “We’re trying to get us better and I think we’re doing that. We’ve got to keep improving because we’re not good enough yet.”