By Pete Pelegrin
Twitter: @Petepelegrin

The FIU center's last name shouldn't be much of a challenge to spell. Yet, Neal Mars has encountered some that ask him how to spell it. M-A-R-S -- same as the planet.

"I've told people my last name and they have asked me how to spell it and that kind of shocks me," Mars said. "The first time someone asked me how to spell it I was confused. They asked if its spelled M-o-r-r-i-s, that's nowhere close."

What there is no confusion about is that Mars is striving to be the leader of the Panthers offensive line after highly-regarded, all-conference center Michael Montero graduated.

"One of the things I challenged Neal with is when I played at the University of North Carolina our center was a guy named Jeff Saturday," FIU offensive line coach Allen Mogridge said. "That is the standard. That's what it has to be. [Saturday] is the alpha. It's kind of like your old man at the house. He's the disciplinarian. He's the guy that makes everything run smoothly. One of the things we are asking Neal to do is not only better himself but become that leader on the offensive line."

Although Mars still has a while to go before becoming a perennial All-Pro NFL center like Saturday, the junior from Orange Park is taking steps in the right direction.

Mars played in every game last season and started four games at guard. He backed up Montero at center and learned plenty.

"Mike was always there trying to get me better," Mars said. "He always said 'You are going to be better than me.' Mike had a tremendous tenacity, he never gave up. He never showed weakness. He had a bum shoulder but he was always right there fighting and working out. He was always trying to get after it."

Mars played center his sophomore and junior years at Fleming Island High and moved to guard and tackle for his senior year. Mars has worked at both guard and center during his first two seasons with the Panthers. So he has an understanding of the offensive line.

"Playing all those positions gives me a feel for what those other guys are going to be doing, how they are going to react," Mars said. "Especially last year at guard because I know what they have to go through. I know what they have to see."

Mogridge has noticed Mars's improvement on and off the field since the spring.

"It isn't even fair to talk about Neal from where he was in the spring to where he is now in camp," Mogridge said. "We watch the film and all the guys have really done the attention to detail to hone the craft."

FIU lost four seniors from last year's offensive line and might have some inexperience on the offensive front but Mars doesn't see it that way.

"People say we are young but that doesn't mean anything to us," Mars said. "We've all been playing football a long time. It's just another day out in the field."