This article was published with Dawgs247 on August 18, 2015 and can be found here.

ATHENS, Ga. — The most difficult part of any position battle is losing it. After weeks of intense workouts and practices, the disappointment of ending up No. 2 on the depth chart can be heartbreaking. It’s a challenge that players who excelled at football all their lives are completely unfamiliar with.

Offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn hasn’t let any bad feelings linger. Wynn competed with junior Brandon Kublanow for the starting center position during the spring and part of fall camp. Despite Kublanow having all but won the job, Wynn has little issue with the outcome.

“I was fine either way,” Wynn said. “Coach Sale always says he’s going to put the best five out there. I was just hoping I could contribute some type of way.”

Wynn holds a heck of a consolation prize: the starting left guard position. It’s a big challenge for the six-foot-two, 290-pound sophomore, but his play speaks for itself. The drawn-out process in choosing David Andrews’ replacement at center shows he provides plenty of talent on the offensive line.

In preparation for the new role, Wynn has been bulking up. Although he jokingly said he only gained a couple of pounds since the spring, Sale put the number right at 22 pounds. Wynn said he remains comfortable with the added weight.

“I feel good,” Wynn said. “I don’t feel [a] change. I feel a little bit heavier on the field and able to anchor down more, so that’s good.”

The coaching staff has made it apparent that they trust Wynn’s abilities. He has tried his hand at tackle during one-on-one drills, and he’s gotten plenty of work at center and guard. This jack-of-all-trades style is appealing to him, especially after only starting one game in 2014.

His ability to play wherever necessary may be key in the coming season. Mark Richt sounded less than enthused with the play of his second-string offensive line last week. If Kublanow, left tackle John Theus or right tackle Kolton Houston go down with an injury, the best option may not be to move a backup to the vacated starting role. It could cause the coaches to use a plug-and-play system with Wynn becoming the centerpiece.

When asked about moving to tackle once Theus graduates, Wynn was non-committal. Instead, he sounded like he’s been watching film on Baylor’s LaQuon McGowan, a 410-pound lineman who moved to tight end. Wynn used his infectious laugh to dance around the notion of where he’ll end up next.

“It don’t matter to me,” Wynn said. “Wherever Coach [Richt] needs me, I’m going to be at. If he wants me at tight end, I’ll be there at tight end. Wherever they can use me.”