Samford Offensive Line Takes Grass’ Challenge Personally

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - August 17, 2026

The before and after message to the Samford offensive line came from their head coach.

In this case, we’ll begin with the after message that first-year Bulldog head coach John Grass delivered on Friday morning during the program’s media day. That message came after Grass was asked about the position that grew the most since the beginning of fall camp. He also included the before message in his response.

“If I had to pick one group I would say that has grown the most and made the most improvement, I'd say it's up front in our (offensive line),” Grass said. “Our offensive line has really improved probably the most because they were a weak link. That first two weeks of spring I was talking about, they were a weak link and they knew that. I think they embraced that, the light switch flipped and it kinda changed and they’re a physical unit. They've gotten better and that's where it starts at is both sides of the ball is up front. If you want a group that improved it would be that group.”

Sitting nearby, waiting to get their turn at the microphone, were three members of the offensive. The fact that center Noah Watts, tackle Kaleb May and guard Kaleb Pearley were three of the four players chosen to represent the offense is a good indication of how much the offensive line improved since Grass’ first spring practice at Samford began.

So what do the players remember about the weak link conversation?

“I mean, it is humbling,” said Pearley. “It's like a strike to the chin, but we needed that because when you hear weak link, it shows that we need to be better, and we need to be the leaders of this team because we’re the front line. We're the first to go out. We're the first to do everything, so it really demands that you be great. It really elevates your standard, and we check each other. We hold each other to that standard so we can be the strong link of this team.”

May also said the words hit hard but were also helpful.

“I did start last year,” May said. “So to hear that we weren't where we needed to be or we weren't as good as I thought we were it was tough. It was very tough. It made me want to come into this year very different, with a whole different mindset, wanting to push more than we did the year before.”

No one has to remind them that last year was difficult. When the Bulldogs began the season they had five first time offensive line starters with Watts, May, Pearley, tackle Web Davidson and guard Tyler Douthit. It didn’t go smoothly for a group that was part of an offense that allowed a FCS worst 52 sacks on the season. Davidson and Douthit each played in 12 games, May played in 10 games, Pearley had nine appearances and Watts playing in eight.

Now all five are back and competing to show that what happened last year will not happen again.

“Really, like, I feel like we're a more physical offensive line,” Pearley said. “We emphasize strain and finish, and that's something we have really improved on as offensive line. We're way better unit than we were in January. Like, I feel like this offensive line would beat the offensive line in January by a hundred points. I mean, we came a really, really long way and that's from Coach Grass, the strength staff, (offensive line coach Brandon Thomas). You know, they really pushed us to help us elevate our game.”

Perhaps the best part is that it didn’t come easy.

“Well, to be honest, it’s tough,” Watts said. “This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life and I think all the other guys can attest to that. Coach (Jake) Venable down there in the strength room, they’ve really gotten after us and just taught us, they're making us just have a new DNA our old self.”

Defensive tackle Hank Weber said the change is noticeable.

“Hats off to them,” Weber said. “They've really put the work in. It's truly a testament to them and the work that they've done. From the extra work that they put in after workouts, after practice, it's truly like night and day difference from last year's offensive line to this one. You got to get your head right or you're gonna get blown back a couple yards for sure. Those guys are working hard and it's making everybody better.”

And it all started with some honesty for their new head coach.

“I feel like calling us out that shows that he loves and cares about us and he wants us to be great,” Pearley said. “He can see that potential in us to call us out. … He’s not just going to come in here and pretend like everything's okay when it's not."