UT Permian Basin football returns this season with a number of experienced players in the trenches and a talented freshman class ready to push them.

The Falcons return five players with starting experience on the offensive line, including four seniors and three juniors. Offensive Line coach Victor Gill is excited to see how the competition between his group plays out over the next three weeks.

"We have 20 offensive linemen right now and go four-deep on the O-Line. That's something I've never experienced before and am excited about," said Gill. "We have a lot of talent and maybe just one or two spots at most locked up, so I expect to see a lot of competition. It raises everybody's game. A rising tide raises all boats. Pushing guys that are starters, guys that have been in the system, and we've seen a lot out of the freshmen so far. They have a lot of ability and right now it's a matter of how fast they pick up the offense."

Junior center Trace Notley enters his third season on the offensive line, and noted how much the experience returning will help not just those returning, but the 13 freshmen and sophomores this season.

"Having this many guys with experience coming back is going to help us tremendously, the older guys that have been here the last three, four years have all been through it together," Notley noted. "We've grown and have deep roots that can help teach the new guys our culture as an offensive line. We know where we've come the last three to four years and what we want to achieve this year."

A big focus for this year's group is going to be living in the moment. Notley says it's important for the offensive line to focus on the task at hand and be ready for anything.

"We came into this year with one word to describe us, and that's now," said Notley. "We want to be a group that's in the present and take care of what is right in front of us. We want to go places fast and not miss any opportunities to do things now."