With the return of Northwest Missouri State’s student-athletes to campus this week for preseason workouts, it’s time to find out who will be the BMOC – that’s “Big Man on Campus,” if you haven’t heard the aged expression – for 2008.

Junior defensive end Sean Paddock has to rank as one of them.

Coach Mel Tjeerdsma makes no bones about Paddock’s worth on a defensive line that was riddled by graduation.

“Paddock will be our leader on the line,” Tjeerdsma said matter-of-factly. “He’s been a great player for us, and he’ll continue to make plays.”

The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Paddock, who is back to 100 percent following offseason surgery, anchors a line that lost All-American Dallas Flynn at the other end position. Other graduates include Caleb Dohrman, T.J. Kaatman and 315-pounder Terry Bilbro.

Senior Tyler Northway is expected to replace Flynn at defensive end, but Tjeerdsma cautions, “The inside line positions are really up in the air.”

“We lost some guys, but we’ve also got a lot of guys that have played snaps here before and some new guys who we’re hoping will come in and fill in some spots,” Paddock assured.

“We’re going to find a way to get it done,” Paddock continued. “We always do, whether the guys are the same or not. We’ve just got to find out who it’s going to be.”

On the offensive line, there is no question as to the identity of the “big man.”

That clearly goes to transfer Lawrence Dampeer, a Decatur, Ill., native who spent time at Lane College in Jackson, Tenn. Dampeer had signed a letter of intent with the University of Oklahoma in 2003.

Listed on the preseason roster at 6-foot-4, 375 pounds, Dampeer is an imposing figure on the practice field, even though it might be late this fall before he can have an equivalent impact in a game. Dampeer has been out of football for about three years, Tjeerdsma said, and some of the extra bulk needs to come off before he can reach his potential.

The University of Oklahoma listed Dampeer at 275 pounds – 100 pounds lighter than he is listed at Northwest.

Fortunately, since Dampeer is a sophomore, Tjeerdsma can take his time to mold another solid lineman, much like he did with Bilbro.