In the process of building one of the most vaunted offenses in the Mid-American Conference, Ball State University quarterback Nate Davis and his receiving core have earned countless honors and accolades.
However, Davis will be the first to give credit to his offensive line for leading the way. Perhaps others are beginning to take note as well.
Senior tackle Robert Brewster, a first-team all-MAC selection last year, has been named to the Outland Trophy Watch List.
"It was a really big surprise," Brewster said. "Especially because as o-line we don't get no love, no joy. I've never heard my name [on the public address system], and I've never been interviewed for anything. Just to see that out of nowhere I'm up for the award now, it shows that even when you're not getting looked at, you still work hard."
If it took Brewster off guard, the news certainly wasn't a shock to offensive coordinator Stan Parish. As well as Brewster played last year, Parish said, his senior tackle is deserving of being considered among the best in the country.
"I've probably got a better feel for the national scope than he does because everybody talks to us about it," Parish said. "I've had the privilege of being around a lot of really good Outland linemen, and there aren't very many places Robert couldn't play right now. ... A lot of people think he's the best pass protector in our league, and so do I."
Of anyone on the offensive side of the ball, Davis arguably benefits from Brewster's efforts the most. Davis was sacked 26 times in 13 games last season and led the MAC with 3,667 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns.
Davis said Brewster is more than deserving to be in the national spotlight after everything the senior tackle has done for his program.
"Brew is a big part of our offensive line," Davis said. "I depend on him a lot, and of course everybody depends on him a lot. He's a senior, and he's got to be a leader for us."
Brewster said he isn't simply satisfied with being recognized on the watch list. Instead, he said being thrown into the national spotlight has made him hungrier than ever, leading to his most successful offseason during his time at Ball State.
"People have been coming up to me all the time and telling me how proud they are of me, and that's great to me," Brewster said. "But, as me, I'm a winner, and I love competition. So I love being honored, but I won't be happy until after the season when I actually win it."
Winning the Outland Trophy would be a nice spring board to Brewster's primary goal - playing next season in the NFL. Last year, the St. Louis Rams drafted former Toledo tackle John Greco in the third round, and Parish said Brewster is as good as Greco going into his final season.
"I know he'd like to continue playing football, but he knows if it's not his best football, he won't," Parish said. "He has to dominate in our league. The MAC has turned out a lot of really good linemen in the NFL. You've got to be lucky, you have to play well, and you can't put your whole life in that basket, but there's no question Robert has a chance to keep playing ball if he has a great year."
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