It has been a long road for Towson graduate offensive lineman Jean Germain, one that first began upon his arrival to campus back in 2019.
“I’ve been here for a few years and it wasn’t all the easiest,” Germain said.
Germain made just one appearance as a freshman, eventually redshirting the year only to miss the entire 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A season-ending injury in 2022 cost him his entire season, so he had just nine games and eight starts under his belt entering his redshirt junior year in 2023.
“I wasn’t able to be a starter over my first few years and I dealt with some adversity along the way,” Germain said.
While he hardly saw the field during his first four seasons with the Tigers, Germain has become an integral part of the offense and a leader in his past three seasons as the 24-year-old closes out a seven-year career with Towson.
Since the start of his redshirt junior season in 2023, the 6-foot-6, 355-pound offensive lineman has started in nearly all of the Tigers’ games and has excelled at a number of positions, from right guard to left guard to right tackle. This year, Germain is playing right guard.
“Being able to cherish every single moment here, being one of the top guys, being one of our leaders on the team, I try to take every single day and approach it as a leader,” Germain said. “Not only take the time to take care of myself, but also share with the younger guys who have been stepping up.”
The more he’s moved around, the more he’s been able to adapt and conquer, allowing him to be that much more effective on the field.
“He’s having an outstanding season,” Towson offensive line coach Alex Kolt said. “I think he’s had two really good seasons prior. This offseason, through spring ball and preseason camp, he took it to another level and he’s picked up right where he left off. This is as well as I’ve seen him play.”
Leadership is a big thing for Germain, a Burtonsville native and Paint Branch High School alum. He has learned a lot from past Towson offensive linemen, most recently 2024 co-captain Ralph Paige Jr., a Merrimack College transfer who blossomed into an All-CAA selection.
Paige was the vocal leader of the line. Germain has done what he can to step into that role this fall.
“Not only was he making the decisions, I was backing it up,” Germain said. “Going into this year, I wanted to take that energy that he carried last year and intensify it, make sure the guys are connected.”
Kolt has worked with Germain since joining the coaching staff in 2023 alongside current head coach Pete Shinnick. Staying healthy has allowed Germain to develop as an offensive lineman, and his confidence has shot through the roof.
“Seeing him step into that role has been really satisfying,” Kolt said. “… When we got here in January 2023, he was someone who would speak up, but didn’t always feel comfortable doing that. Now, he’s someone who’s really taken charge and embraced that vocal leadership role within the offensive line room.”
Towson is 3-4 entering its game at Stony Brook on Oct. 25. The Tigers got off to a great start in CAA play with a 26-24 win against Bryant on Sept. 27 but lost to Elon and Monmouth after that.
There is plenty of football left to be played for the black and gold, and Germain is optimistic about where the Tigers are headed.
“I think we’re still establishing ourselves,” Germain said. “We’re still trying to put together a full game of football, a 60-minute game. I think we’re really close, but it takes more work and guys being dialed in, myself included, to get there.”
Photo Credit: ENP Photography
Issue 295: October / November 2025
Originally published Oct. 15, 2025