Five Seniors to Watch in ’21: OL

The offensive success of a team begins with the Offensive Line.  Without a solid Offensive Line in place, it matters little who the skill position players are as the QB wouldn’t have time to throw, the RB wouldn’t have room to run and the WR wouldn’t have enough time to separate from the DB.  In the class of ’22, there are 30 Offensive Linemen in the top 185 and 2 in the top 9.  Here are 5 Senior OL who are looking to have a breakout Senior season or improve upon a very good Junior season in 2020. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="35582" first="Andrew" last="Daniels"], 6’2", 270, Andover Central</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="35582" first="Andrew" last="Daniels"] is the 6th ranked OL and the 54th ranked player overall.  He plays as a LG.  When run blocking, he uses his very good quickness and agility to pull through the hole on power plays, squares up against the LB, rolls his hips on contact and uses his play strength to drive him out of the play while showing his very good physical toughness as he finishes the block to the ground.  When pass blocking he bends at the knee, keeps his feet moving constantly while playing at a wide base, delivers a powerful hand punch inside the frame of the DT, sinks his hips as he anchors well and is able to use his good play strength to negate the progress of the DT while keeping a great distance between himself and the QB. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="35551" first="Tui-Asau" last="D. Saili"], 6’3, 330, Jefferson West</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="35551" first="Tui-Asau" last="D. Saili"] is the 8th ranked OL and the 63rd ranked player overall.  He plays as a RT.  When run blocking, he shows very good quickness off the ball, plays at a low pad level, is very physical at the point of attack as he wins battles with his hands inside the 5T on base blocks as he uses his excellent play strength and leverage to drive his man off the ball and finishes the block to the ground with ease. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="113294" first="Brandon" last="Kerr"], 6’2", 255, Maize</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="113294" first="Brandon" last="Kerr"] is the 12th ranked OL and the 102nd ranked player overall in the class of 2022.  He plays as a LG.  When run blocking, he fires out low, delivers a powerful hand punch inside the frame of the 2i while using his very good play strength in his upper and lower body to put his man on skates while executing a base block.  He shows very good physical toughness as he finishes the block to the ground for a pancake.  He uses his very good quickness to pin the NT lined up in a 0T on a down block while the C and RG pull on the power play.  When pass blocking, he keeps his feet moving constantly while playing at a good base using his hands and play strength effectively to negate the progress of the 1T and shows very good competitiveness to play until the whistle on every play. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="113617" first="Andrew" last="Mann"], 6’4, 260, Andover Central</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="113617" first="Andrew" last="Mann"] is the 13th ranked OL and the 107th ranked player overall in the class of 2022.  He plays as a LT.  When run blocking, he uses his good play speed and athletic ability to reach to the second level and uses his long arms, very good play strength and physical toughness as he washes the MLB out of the play.  Displays very good quickness to win the outside shoulder and seal the edge against 7T on playside reach blocks While pass blocking, he sets up vertically initially while moving to 45 degrees, shoots his hands quickly placing them inside the frame of the 5T and displays good nastiness as he throws his man to the ground with ease. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="35637" first="Acen" last="Villegas"], 6’0, 275, Lawrence</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="35637" first="Acen" last="Villegas"] is the 14th ranked OL and the 113th ranked player overall in the class of 2022.  His stellar play on the line during the 2020 season opened up holes for star RB [player_tooltip player_id="35344" first="Devin" last="Neal"], gave QB [player_tooltip player_id="100161" first="Jackson" last="Dooley"] enough time to pass the ball effectively and enabled the Lions of Lawrence High School to have their best season in a while.  He plays as a LG.  While run blocking, he quickly gets his hat across the 3T and uses his very good leverage, hand use and play strength to drive his man off the ball.  When reach blocking at the 2nd level, he uses his quickness and play speed to get to the LB and uses his size and play strength to overpower his man with ease.  In pass pro, he bends at the knee, sinks his hips as he anchors, and shoots his hands quickly and violently delivering a powerful punch to the 3T or 2i and keeps his feet moving to maintain a good distance between him and the QB. &nbsp; &nbsp;