How State College offensive linemen Michael and Thomas Dincher are becoming budding stars
Little Lions offensive lineman Michael Dincher trains with his twin brother Thomas in the snow during the winter and on the blazing hot turf of State College’s South Track during the summer.
Michael Dincher possesses the size, standing in at 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, to play at the next level. He’s received college scholarship offers from Bowling Green, Coastal Carolina and Old Dominion. The offensive guard is ranked as the 51st-best interior offensive lineman and the 16th-best player in Pennsylvania in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports. His brother, also a junior, is about the same size and is looking to boost his name on the college recruiting trail, as well.
His offensive line coach Mark Weakland, a former offensive lineman at the Citadel, believes that Michael can make the most of his gift and end up at his dream school.
“He has the work ethic, he has the mentality and he’s got the size and strength,” Weakland said. “It’s all on him. If he continues that work ethic, he can go as high as he can. He could go to Notre Dame, if he wants — I know that’s a big school he loves. He and his brother wear a lot of Notre Dame gear. Honestly, I told him this last year, ‘If you keep at it, if you keep your work ethic going, we can get you there.’ I truly believe that he’s on his way.”
The story of the Dinchers starts in Montoursville, a suburb of Williamsport. They played flag football together in the first grade with the ball often in their hands. As Michael Dincher recalls, “I always wanted to run the ball because blocking in flag is pretty boring.” The obvious irony in that statement is that he and his brother would end up playing offensive line, a position that solely consists of pass sets and run blocking — a far cry from his flag football days.
After playing a season at Montoursville Area High School, the two moved to State College. Of course there were a number of changes, as the competition level rose. Michael and Thomas had to make adjustments to the style of play and the latter suffered an injury that caused him to miss the remainder of the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
“It’s definitely a lot different up here,” Michael Dincher said. “I was from a 3A school called Montoursville down in the Williamsport area and the competition is just so much higher at 6A. I put the work in and I was ready.”
Once the season came to an end, the brothers worked on their pass sets and run blocking in the basement. Every chance that Michael Dincher could get, he worked on his footwork, heading to the football field to do drills for a few hours, run, lift weights and take on the correct diet. Thomas on the other hand, had to rehab.
Now, they are working out together in a park near their house, making up for lost time on the football field. Thomas Dincher’s goal is to show college scouts that he deserves an opportunity at the highest level, too, and he’s fighting for it each day.
“It helped this offseason to watch the drills that he [Michael] does because I didn’t do anything,” Thomas Dincher said. “It just helps my technique to see what I need to fix. It’s all mental reps. This last year, I was out of practice almost every single day. It’s important for recruitment.”
Their attention to detail isn’t lost on State College head coach Matt Lintal, who has seen them put in the necessary effort to become better players on the field. They have a meticulous regiment that includes using their mind just as much as their body.
Lintal is a witness to their work ethic each day, whether it’s on the practice field, the weight room or in film sessions.
“They’re very committed to the game, they’re watching film nonstop, they’re watching not just highlight films of other guys, but they’re watching teachable film,” Lintal said. “They’re searching and making sure that they know everything that they can know. They’re watching offensive line cut-ups from college players and NFL players. They’re just trying to learn the game as much as they possibly can. They really bring that knowledge to the field with them every day.”
Their hope is that one day, they can reach their ultimate goal of playing Division I football.
“This year, we’re hoping to get as far as we possibly can in the playoffs,” Michael Dincher said. “Eventually, both of us are trying to go to a Division I school and play together on the offensive line.”
Thomas agreed.
“I’d like to win a state championship and I’d like to get some offers and join my brother.”
