More at ease, Rimac looks to be integral part of tight-knit offensive line – WV MetroNews

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — When Tomas Rimac looks back on last season and thinks of the adjustment to his first extensive action of Power 5 Conference college football, he sees himself in at least somewhat of a different light these days.

“I’m more confident and learning to use my length that I’ve been blessed with,” Rimac said. “It helps me out a lot controlling my body and using that to my advantage. I used some of that at the end of last season, and during spring ball it was something I really focused on doing, and going into fall camp, it’s something I continue working on.”

As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Rimac worked his way into the starting lineup for West Virginia’s final five games.

A native of Brunswick, Ohio, Rimac is hopeful that experience proves to be beneficial as he strives to be an even more integral part of the Mountaineers’ offensive line this season.

“Last year, my biggest down side was I’d keep leaning,” Rimac said. “That was a really bad habit. I’m trying to break it playing with my length.“

Rimac is able to identify the pros when he doesn’t lean and cons that cons when he does, particularly as it pertains to pass protection.

“In a pass setting, I go to strike too early and end up leaning, then they can shed off me,” he said. “When I use that length, I keep my chest up and stay square with good body posture.”

Still, Rimac’s play was plenty good enough that he was in on 430 offensive snaps, including a career-high 91 in a victory over Oklahoma. He also registered four knockdowns against eventual national runner-up TCU and Rimac named to The Athletic’s Freshman All-American First Team.

Rimac says it was during that matchup with the Horned Frogs that he felt he belonged.

“I split reps at Texas Tech and got my first feel for playing in the game. It really hit me when I got the start against TCU and played the whole game,” Rimac said. “Getting in there and not missing a beat. Going back to brotherhood, we all play with each other so anybody can step in there and get it done. That’s what I helped do. I didn’t hold anybody back, tried to contribute and got it done.”

With all five starters returning, there’s an expectation for West Virginia’s most experienced positional group to show significant improvement and be one of the team’s top units.

Center Zach Frazier is the Mountaineers’ lone Preseason All-Big 12 pick, while tackles Wyatt Milum and Doug Nester help solidify things on the edge. Along with Rimac, Ja’Quay Hubbard and Brandon Yates are competing for the other starting guard.

“It helps us out having the experience playing together,” Rimac said. “We started getting used to playing with each other, especially when I came in at the end of the season. That carried right into spring ball and I feel like we’re picking up right where we left off from spring ball right into fall camp.”

The 6-foot-6, 314-pound Rimac believes that camaraderie along the offensive line increases the chances for the unit to play at its desired level.

“All five have to be doing the same thing and the right thing to look good,” Rimac said. “If one person does something the wrong way, it makes the whole o-line look bad. Chemistry is a very big and important part of it and as a whole group, we’re unbreakable and learning together, doing everything as one. That really helps us out on the field. When Frazier says something, we all have it. There’s not, ‘No let’s do this.’ That helps with the chemistry and getting stuff done.

“As offensive lineman, we’ve always had it, but the more we practice together, it gets stronger. The more time we spend with each other, the more we’re going to connect and create that chemistry.”

The more the unit can go unnoticed, the better off they are.

“Offensive line play is not fun but it needs to be done,” Rimac said. “That’s where all the hard work goes. Not saying other stuff isn’t hard work, but people think watching the ball is more fun and when you actually look at the offensive line, it’s a lot more technique and details that you need to look for. It’s hard for somebody that’s not revolved around football to understand. Sometimes you have to explain it to somebody, but you try to dumb it down for them.”