Football | October 25, 2019

Looking at all the positions on a football team, offensive linemen are usually very tightly knit — a band of brothers who like to rock a defensive line and watch a running back roll through a hole.
 
That really goes for Western Michigan's offensive linemen, especially when two of them formed a band and enjoy playing rock 'n roll songs.
 
Senior center Luke Juriga (6-foot-4, 298 pounds) anchors the line with junior Mike Caliendo (6-4, 300) at left guard, junior Jordan Asbury (6-3, 295) at right guard, junior Jaylon Moore (6-5, 315) at left tackle and junior Spencer Kanz (6-6, 295) and junior Mark Brooks (6-6, 295) at right tackle. Sophomore Dylan Deatherage (6-4, 300) can come in for just about any position.
 
They will be looking to open holes on Saturday when the Broncos (4-4 overall, 2-2 Mid-American Conference) host Bowling Green (2-5, 1-2 MAC East) in a 12 noon game.
 
"Have you seen their YouTube band video?" WMU head coach Tim Lester asked with a huge smile. "They are terrific."
 
In that video, Juriga is on the piano, Asbury the electric guitar and senior defensive tackle Wesley French (6-5, 295) singing. Juriga can also play the guitar and drums.
 
''I took cello lessons and played in the school orchestra from third to the fifth grade,'' Juriga said. ''I did that to play the guitar. I had lessons for a couple of years. All the songs I pick up from YouTube. I didn't like the cello because I wasn't able to play the music I wanted to play.''
 
The band is just another way for the Band of Brothers to get together and have fun. In fact, they have been together for a long time.
 
''I live with Spencer, Jordan and [junior wide receiver] Jaret Curtis,'' Juriga said. ''Mike [Caliendo] comes over a lot. We always have a bunch of guys on the offense over.
 
"The bonds we make are the best," Juriga continued. "It means so much to really know the guy you are next to on the line. It makes it a lot of fun.''
 
Looking at the MAC stats, the fun they have off the field has translated into a lot of fun on the field. The Broncos are second in the league in points per game (34.4) and total offense (447.8 yards). They are also fifth in rushing yards per game (181.6) and fourth in passing yards per game (266.1).
 
Senior running back LeVante Bellamy is second in the MAC in rushing at 109.6 yards per game. Senior quarterback Jon Wassink is third in the league in passing, averaging 262.3 yards a contest.
 
Perhaps the most amazing statistic, though, is that Juriga has started all 47 games since he has been at Western Michigan.
 
"He's so durable as a center or guard [his position for the first three years] that it's incredible," Lester said. "On every championship team, or every good team, I've had, we've had the same five starters all season long. So far that's what has happened here. We rotate the two right tackles, but the other four will play a ton."

There is no doubt Juriga's athletic and durability genes come from his family. His father played 10 years along the offensive line in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos. His mother was a volleyball player at Big Ten power Illinois. His brother played linebacker at Navy. His sister played volleyball at Florida Tech.
 

 And then there is Juriga's grandfather.
 
"I'm definitely blessed with thicker bones and body," the center said. "I remember my grandpa was 80 years old and fell through the attic. He just got up, walked away and didn't hurt himself."
 
Besides the bigger bones, Juriga is very flexible because he incorporates yoga as part of his lifting and workout plan.
 
"I'm definitely one of the more flexible guys on the line," Juriga said. "When I go home [to the Chicago area], my sister likes to do yoga circuits. I've been big into stretching. It makes you feel better.''
 
What makes the lineman really feel better is when their blocks help Wassink complete passes, or they open a hole for Bellamy, who can use his 4.3 40-yard speed to make a long gain.
 
"Coming into Western with Jon and Bells and Tuck [senior running back Davon Tucker], and having a lot of good memories with those guys makes it special here," Juriga said. "Those guys and many others can make plays."
 
Like Bellamy's whirling dervish run against Miami. As Bellamy was going down in the backfield, he planted his hand, spun a bit and took off. Unfortunately for Juriga, he missed most of that because he and the rest of the line were throwing blocks.
 

??What? ?? How?

LeVante Bellamy doing LeVante Bellamy things.

ESPNU | https://t.co/D6GuTL9pdW#LetsRide pic.twitter.com/zRba0RE6Hx

— WMU Football (@WMU_Football) October 12, 2019

 
"I did see him break out and I was actually running in front of him at one point, but I didn't realize he was cutting everywhere," Juriga said. "With a quick back like that, when he hits the hole right, you just need to get a block for a second. If you can climb to the second level and get your hands on another defender, that's all the back really needs to make a cut and be gone. Bells' breakaway speed is always exciting.''
 
And Lester points out that because every team knows about Bellamy, the offensive line is blocking against a stacked group of defenders in front of them.
 
"They have been going against loaded boxes," the coach said. "To almost rush for 200 yards as opponents are putting eight or nine in the box is really impressive. They will continue to get better and better because they care so much. I don't think they have hit their peak yet.''
 
Juriga's peak may come in the next few years as Lester thinks his center could be drafted by an NFL franchise in the third or fourth round. The fact that he can play multiple positions on the line will be huge at the next level.
 
"The league is really excited because he can play center or guard," Lester said. "In the NFL, teams usually carry eight offensive linemen, so if you are the sixth, seventh or eighth guy, you better be able to do multiple things. A coach will have pieces to move around and that will help Luke the most."
 
Juriga will graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering.
 
Or maybe he will just keep the band together, rocking and rolling.

#LetsRide