Coach Torres: Linemen Are The Backbone Of The Ingraham Rams

As he enters his third season leading the Ingraham Rams, head football coach Louis Torres doesn’t hesitate to name the backbone of his team: the linemen. Often overlooked in the spotlight-driven world of high school football, Torres says these players are the glue that holds everything together.

“Quite honestly, it is the biggest role,” says Torres. “Without them on both sides of the ball, or if our line isn’t good and cohesive, then we are just not going to be a very good team. They are a very important part. It is such a tough position. They are out there working hard, and I think linemen should get the recognition for that. Nobody really sees the amount of work they put in during the season and even off-season, and they are all pretty good football players.”

“We could have a great running back and a bad line, and we won’t be very good. But, if we have a good line and an average running back, we could be great,” continued Torres.

While linemen are typically both big and strong, Torres looks beyond just size and strength when looking at who could be a good fit for his offensive and defensive line.

“It is really not about size and strength. It is really about attitude and effort,” says Torres. “You don’t have to be big—you just have to have a lot of fight in you, play hard, and give it everything you’ve got. That is what we are really looking for.”

“We’re looking for guys who are selfless, team guys, and all about being positive and elevating others around them with an infectious positive attitude,” added Torres. “So, it really is about attitude and effort—and I know that is so cliché—but it really is the most important thing.”

Torres said senior linemen Casey Leahy, Josiah Bailey, and Joseph Easterling embody that mindset and have stepped up as leaders this season. Their dedication in the weight room, on the field, and in the classroom earned them the title of team captains.

“Through the workouts in the off-season, and just their attitude and effort, they are leaders,” Torres said. “They have elevated their play and academics above what we require for them to be there. So, the whole team and the coaches voted them to be captains.”

For Leahy, a senior and all-conference offensive and defensive lineman, it’s not just about doing his own job—it’s about making sure the entire team is on the same page. He knows that success on the field starts with the hard work and effort of the offensive line.

“When one of us messes up, we all mess up, and I take pride in making sure that we all get our blocks right,” says Leahy. “We are a team within a team, and I truly think that we are the hardest workers on the team. We all work well together, and I mean it starts with us, the O-line. I take pride in not letting our quarterback get hit, and if they get hit, I take that personally because I want the best for them.”

Easterling, a senior and two-time all-conference defensive lineman, says the bond among the linemen extends beyond the field.

“We are really like a band of brothers from all different backgrounds and places, so we really feed off each other on the field,” said Easterling. “If one of us makes a play, we are all celebrated by every man on the line because that is just what we are, and that’s the brothers we are. Outside of football, the same goes in the classroom and in school, and if one of us does better than the other on a test, we are celebrating them—but at the same time, we are also pushing to help the next brother also reach that same level of greatness.”

Torres believes the strong bond and sense of brotherhood that the group has built with one another is what sets them a part from other position groups.

“I think what makes them special is that they truly seem to like each other,” said Torres. “They work hard together and they have fun while putting in enormous effort. They do it consistently every day, and they expect the guys around them to follow suit. They are very nice, caring, good people, who are going to be great members of our community in the future, and I am just really proud of these guys.”

Senior lineman Jun Park, who joined the group this season, says the biggest challenge for him has been adjusting to a new position and improving his technique.

“This is actually my first year as an offensive lineman, and my first year playing for Ingraham, so that is the biggest challenge that I face because I am in a new position and at a new school,” said Park. “I have only played defensive line before, so I don’t have some of the basic offensive line techniques as the other linemen here just yet, but I am still working and learning.”

Senior Will Harris is also new to football but said his experience on the line has been very rewarding.

“This is my first year playing football, but I think the brotherhood with the other linemen and the team as a whole really is just awesome,” said Harris. “All the team dinners and activities that we do together have really helped build a strong camaraderie with us as a group. I am really grateful for that, and the coaching staff helping put all of us together and set us up for a good season.”

Bailey, an all-conference selection on both the offensive and defensive lines, believes that some fans don’t recognize the athleticism that goes into being a successful lineman in today’s game.

“With us being bigger guys, and having to be mobile and quick, it’s kind of harder,” said Bailey. “Most people wouldn’t be able to do the things we do if they weren’t athletic—like moving fast—because some guys really can’t. We just have to be able to do things at a higher rate and skill than other positions, like receivers.”

Ingraham’s junior linemen, Adrian Dalton and Rafa Davhary, are focused on improving their game as they finish out their high school careers, and stressed the importance of teamwork and strong communication.

“This is my first year playing football, and I have been improving a lot,” said Dalton. “My coaches and my teammates help me every day to constantly grow, improve, and work to get better [for next year].”

Davhary added that communication is critical to the line’s success.

“If we don’t continue to work together, grow, and have good communication as a team, it can break the whole play. Bad communication can just destroy the whole play by not having the line in sync,” said Davhary. “We are a team within a team, so we have to stay in sync.”

As it relates to the team’s overall success, Leahy credits Torres for building a culture that players want to be part of.

“When he first came in, we had a big senior class, and with them leaving, we definitely had a very big culture change,” said Leahy said. “The year after that, we had a lot of players that made other players not be able to play at their full potential. And I feel like he has really made a culture change so that players want to be here and work hard, because I have noticed a lot more people showing up to workouts, practice, and overall just wanting to play football.”

Easterling echoed that sentiment and said Torres’ ability to connect with his players is admirable.

“He knew it wasn’t easy coming into a new school with a senior-heavy class and having to have a bunch of kids buy into a new coach, but he has adjusted in ways that I haven’t seen any coaches adjust,” said Easterling. “He makes practice more fun to come to because in the beginning it was hard for everyone to buy in, but at the end of the day we all knew he was somebody that we wanted to play for and put that jersey on for Friday nights.”