OXNARD, Calif. – For Caelan Williams and Caleb Cook, a veteran-laden O-line room is defined by one thing above all else: brotherhood. It's the bond that keeps the group together through long practices, road trips and every snap, operating as a unified unit. 
 
The veterans provide guidance for younger players, and the youngsters, in turn, push them to keep raising the standard with every practice and every game. 
 
"No spot is guaranteed," Cook said. "You could play six years and still have a new guy come in and take your spot if you're not doing your job. That's all it is: competition against teammates, the conference and the nation. Without it, you get stagnant and complacent."
 
For the past six years, the O-line room has had five different coaches at the helm, but that streak has ended with Zach Lankford, who enters his second season as the O-line coach. 
 
"Every year I've been here, we've had a new offensive line coach–until this year," Cook said. "I've loved and learned from every coach I've had, but having the same one for more than a year is amazing. You're not starting over, and it's easier to build a personal relationship when you have the same culture."
 
Williams attributed the words "brotherhood" and "grit" to the room. 
 
"The whole team is a brotherhood, but our O-line room is really close," Williams said. "Second, I would say grit. We work hard and are tied together, and we know what we want to accomplish this year."
 
Following the theme of brotherhood, Cook defined the O-line room in three words: physical, family and seasoned. 
 
"Most of us have been together for three or four years, so it is really a true brotherhood," Cook said. "As offensive linemen, everything depends on communication and protecting others–doing our job. If we don't communicate, nothing works."
 
The linemen, regardless of academic year or experience, have built a culture of respect and accountability. This environment they've fostered makes coaching a shared responsibility among teammates. 
 
"We're all approachable, and it's not just vets teaching younger guys; it goes both ways," Cook said. "We critique each other, accept coaching from teammates, not just from coach, and that makes it easier for the younger players to see that and respect us more."
 
Grounded in a strong culture, the linemen have rallied around Lankford, embracing not just his leadership but the standard he sets.
 
"He treats us like pros," Williams said. "I can speak for all of us when I say, all of us want to play for him. We all want to succeed for him. We all trust him."
 
"Coach Lankford is the type of person you just want to be around," Cook said. "The energy and attitude he brings. He makes us work hard and holds us accountable. We're really grateful for his family–his wife and kids–because they make food and support us, and we're really appreciative."
 
Like the many other offensive rooms, the O-line strives to D.R.I.V.E–Drive, Relentless, Intentional, Violent and Effort–every time they step on the field. 
 
"When you look at those words, you have to have every single one to be a great offensive lineman," Cook said. "We take that personally every time."
 
However, the job of an offensive lineman boils down to one word: domination.
 
"That's the whole point of the position," Cook said. "If we dominate and do our job to the utmost degree, we're going to win about every single ball game."
 
Spending nine days in California and playing two road games across the country serves as an early-season test, but the team views it as another camp.
 
"It's definitely a test," Cook said. "But no matter where we are or what's going on, we have a job, and we're all focused on what we came here to do. It feels like another fall camp – we don't get time away from each other. For better or worse, we're together 24/7, and that only strengthens our brotherhood. It's not just a word to us; it's who we are."
 
"It's definitely bringing us closer, spending time together outside of football–eating every meal, rooming and hanging out," Williams said. "It's building our chemistry as a team. Like Coach Helton said, this trip is meant to galvanize and harden us."
 
With Game Two looming ahead, the Eagles are determined to stand united as they drive through the remainder of the season. 
 
"After this past weekend, we know we have to respond and improve from where we're at," Williams said. "We know it wasn't good enough, and we're going to do everything in our power to improve and fix what we need to this week so that we can be successful for the rest of the year."
 
Game Two will be played at USC on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 4:30 p.m. PT/ 7:30 p.m. ET. Tune in on FS1 or the Georgia Southern Sports Network.