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Name: Airon Servais
Position: Offensive line (center/offensive tackle)
Year: (Redshirt) Sophomore
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 303
Hometown: Green Bay, Wisc.
High School: Ashwaubenon
2017 Stats: Started all 12 games at center for the Syracuse Orange, taking more snaps than any other player on the team (1,036). He was also third on the team in knockdown blocks with 36 total.
2018 Projections: Despite a fairly strong 2017 season, Servais may not necessarily be this year’s starter. Over the course of the spring, Sam Heckel switched over the center as the team made room to welcome Aaron Roberts back to his spot at left guard, which moved Servais to the right tackle position. However, with Texas A&M transfer Koda Martin arriving on campus, that may push Servais into a key reserve role (albeit just for this season). He could also potentially move back to center. Nothing’s confirmed yet.
How’d He Get Here?: Servais was the (original) first commitment of the Dino Babers regime, saying no thanks to schools like Northern Illinois, Wyoming and Eastern Michigan (plus some Ivy League programs) for a chance to play for the Orange.
What’d Recruiting Sites Say?: Everyone was in agreement that he was a three-star prospect.
Money Quote: Airon shared that the very experienced offensive line learned quite a bit last year:
“Last year was our first year for some of our guys being in that competition. It’s always a shock when you first get out there. It’s so much different than any game you played before.
Now that we’ve gone through it, we know what to expect. We know the level we need to play at, and that just pushes you harder in practice. You know what you’re going to be playing against in the fall, so you know how hard you have to work right now.”
Twitterfeed: @AironServais68
Tweets Of Wonder: Julian highlights why Servais is so versatile.
The heavy fellas haven’t given me much this spring beyond this drill—Airon Servais demonstrating why he’s been able to play all five positions on the line. Excellent combination of size, balance &power. Babers has emphasized depth needed on the O-Line throughout spring practice. pic.twitter.com/UftyJO29xb
— Julian Whigham (@JulianWhigham) April 10, 2018
What movie would Dino Babers recommend for him?: Throwing it back a ways, the Marx Bros. started in 1938’s “Room Service,” which depicted a theatrical producer attempting to avoid eviction. This doesn’t sound like a concept that would work as well in today’s film environment, but it was just fine for some comedy back then.
Interesting Nugget O’Interest: Airon’s hometown of Green Bay is known as the Toilet Paper Capital of the World, given the industry’s founding there and its continued presence in the area as a major employer.
Let’s Get A Good Look Atcha: