Scouting the Shore: 3 Standout Offensive Linemen Setting the Tone

After much talk about the ground and pound styles of offense seen throughout the Shore Conference, this next positional outlook features the unheralded heroes paving the way up front. A trio of offensive linemen from strong programs like Donovan Catholic, Lacey, and Red Bank Catholic cracked the USA Today top seventy, with [player_tooltip player_id="27892" first="Cameron" last="McNair"] and [player_tooltip player_id="27982" first="Vince" last="Carpenter"] both making the top 25 in our statewide top 100. Below are scouting reports on McNair, Carpenter, Lacey’s [player_tooltip player_id="27944" first="Nick" last="Povia"], and other under the radar offensive line prospects. <strong>2021 OL [player_tooltip player_id="27892" first="Cameron" last="McNair"] - Donovan Catholic </strong> McNair is the third ranked Shore prospect by the Asbury Park Press, fifth in the 2021 class for offensive linemen, and 34th overall. A bulldozer of a left tackle, McNair takes pride in digging out second level defenders with exceptional power in his hands. This is a player that will always keep rushers at an arm’s length, working inside their frame to stun at the line of scrimmage. McNair plays like an interior lineman at times with his drive and motor to look for work along the line, but is plenty nimble at tackle to reach blitzing defenders or keep the pocket clean from the edge. <strong>2022 OL [player_tooltip player_id="27982" first="Vince" last="Carpenter"] - Red Bank Catholic</strong> An ascending player, Carpenter is 31st on the Shore top 70, 24th overall in his class, but second only to Hun’s [player_tooltip player_id="27960" first="Jacob" last="Allen"] at his position for 2022 prospects in our top 100. He joins crosstown contender Red Bank Catholic after playing for Regional the past two seasons. A lengthy right tackle with broad shoulders and quick feet, Carpenter is fluid in his kick slide to cut off the angle for rushers. When defenders look to redirect inside, Carpenter shows off his vice grip hands to stop them in their tracks. This is a player that deals with change of direction well and is agile enough to block linebackers in space. <strong>2021 OL [player_tooltip player_id="27944" first="Nick" last="Povia"] - Lacey</strong> Povia may be 86th in our 2021 top 100, but is 15th among linemen and 37th out of 70 in the Shore. Povia jumps off the tape as the biggest lineman by far on the Lions’ front, measuring at 6’2" and 305 pounds. Playing both guard positions, Povia has no issue winning the leverage battle against tackles to create holes for his backs. Against smaller pass rushers, Povia wins with a violent first hit. Look for Povia to improve his contact balance and footwork when asked to play on the move this season. If he does so, this is a player that can climb the positional rankings thanks to his physical attributes. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Under the Radar Linemen</strong></span> <strong>2021 OL James Smith Jr - Rumson Fair Haven</strong> Smith is a wall of a left tackle for the Bulldogs, with his best flashes coming in the run game. This is a player that opens up massive lanes on the ground, his willingness to roll over defenders standing out on film. Typically asked to slide inside to provide numbers in Rumson’s power run game, Smith’s improvement in pass protection is a box to check entering his Senior campaign. Smith is the 23rd ranked player on APP’s top 70. <strong>2021 OL Pat Fulginiti - Southern Regional</strong> There’s a term often thrown around football circles called ’scouting the helmet’, which is easy to do for a historic program like Southern Regional. Known for a blue collar style of play in the trenches, Fulginiti is the latest anchor to the Rams’ front five. Fulginiti comes in two spots behind Smith on the Shore rankings at 25th. Mechanical in his pass set at left tackle, defenders simply have a hard time attacking the edge against Fulginiti’s square build. When rushers go with a power move against him, Fulginiti stops it cold with the ability to reset his hands and maintain leverage. Fulginiti snaps out of his stance quickly and is a balanced player with short strides in the run game. <strong>2021 OL Gabe Braithwaite - Keansburg </strong> Two spots down from Fulginiti at 27th is Braithwaite, who plays with a mean streak that sets the tone up front for Keansburg at right tackle. This is a team that took strides on offense last season thanks to Gabe’s brother Mikail seeing some time at quarterback. More of a runner than a passer, Gabe clears the lane by playing well through the whistle and creating an impressive amount of lower body drive. <strong>2021 OL Darian Newcomb - Brick</strong> Rounding out the offensive linemen in the top 70 at 67th overall, Newcomb is a returning starter for the Dragons. Their quick passing offense rarely allowed Newcomb to flash his ability to sustain blocks in pass protection, but this is a sound right tackle that also lines up on special teams and defense. Newcomb is an easy mover in the open field with a strong punch. <hr /> The final position on offense to preview for the Shore will be quarterback, followed by all three levels on defense. This series should take us close to kickoff around New Jersey, and provide a solid scouting guide for Monmouth and Ocean county teams as the live period begins.