The Line Iowa: OL Top Performers and MVP

On Saturday, May 15th FIST Football and Cream City Combines brought “The Line”, a Linemen only showcase to D1 Des Moines at Sportsplex West. This is the third installment of the showcase and it features: position specific drills and instruction, laser verified combine drills, realistically organized one on one’s, several College staffs on site for recruiting, and so much more. The event saw a tremendous amount of talent come out from Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Find out which athletes stood out in a truly elite group over the course of the day through impressive reps and elite combine metrics. The Line will be returning to Iowa and other regional locations soon to continue to build lasting connections and provide second to none opportunities for Linemen across the midwest. Offensive Line & Overall Showcase MVP Ryan Saddler Jr., Iowa, Pleasant Valley, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2F4vvE">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanCMsaddlerJR">Twitter</a> <img class="wp-image-145487 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/012-Saddler-Ryan-e1621439725747-300x226.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="226" /> Laser Verified Combine Results: 10 yd- 1.76; 20 yd- 2.97; Pro Agility- 4.89; L-Drill- 7.62; Powerball- 40’9 Saddler was nothing short of exemplary all afternoon and was identified unanimously as The Line Iowa’s Showcase MVP. He posted some jaw dropping combine numbers, which only solidified what everyone saw from him throughout the rest of the event: truly elite potential and an incredibly high ceiling. Saddler was so explosive out of his start in the 10/20 split, was as fluid through the movement patterns of the Pro Agility and L-Drill as someone can be, and was able to show off top notch functional strength in the Powerball. All of this ability carried over directly into his position specific drills where coaches witnessed impeccable technique that is mature beyond the years of a high school Offensive Lineman. It is clear that Saddler is coached incredibly well and that he has spent countless hours honing his craft. During drills he was incredibly quick and powerful through his insteps. Saddler got moving with a ton of velocity and kept outstanding posture while playing within his frame each rep. He demonstrated that he knows exactly how and when to adjust angles to the alignment and paths of his targets. Saddler showed off the ability to build a lot of force and carry that through a target to really drive his opponents. During one on one’s Saddler absolutely shut down everyone that tried to line up against him at Center. His short set absorbed pass rushers perfectly: he was square, had leverage, and used independent hands. Saddler never bit on moves until there was an immediate threat, which left opponents with no option but to bull rush and he stonewalled it. Oh, he also took reps during this segment on defense, and made some very good Offensive Linemen look silly with jab steps and violent hands. Top Performers Thomas Paasch, Wisconsin, Green Bay Southwest, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FStk0">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasPaasch3">Twitter</a> <img class="size-medium wp-image-145491" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/001-Paasch-Thomas-e1621439684439-300x260.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="260" /> Laser Verified Combine Results: 10 yd- 1.88; 20 yd- 3.16; Pro Agility- 5.17; L-Drill- 8.2; Powerball- 34’3 Paasch is a very put together young athlete standing over 6’5 and weighing in over 280 pounds. Knowing that and then taking a look at his combine metrics make his performance that much more impressive. For someone his size to be able to start moving, especially on the 10/20 Split and Pro Agility, as quickly as he did is proof of top notch athleticism and biomechanics. During position specific drills Paasch was very precise and on point with his technique. He had good posture in his stance and was able to maintain that really well through different movement patterns that replicated angles and steps Offensive Linemen take on the field. Paasch was also able to impressively keep an opponent’s midline through changes of direction during mirror drill. During one on one’s Paasch was one of the most patient Offensive Linemen in attendance. He knew how to use his reach and the timing of his first strike to keep pass rushers at bay and shut down an initial attack. [player_tooltip player_id="118707" first="Tristan" last="Moctezuma"], Wisconsin, Sheboygan Lutheran, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6l2WB9_OqQ">highlights</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TristanMoctezu3">Twitter </a> <img class="size-medium wp-image-145494" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/005-Moctezuma-Tristan-e1621439902897-300x251.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="251" /> Laser Verified Combine Results: 10 yd- 1.96; 20 yd- 3.27; Pro Agility- 5.22; L-Drill- N/A; Powerball- 31’8 Moctezuma showed an incredible amount of toughness and fortitude during this event as he pulled his hamstring early on in the L-Drill and still excelled during position specific drills and one on one’s. Prior to tweaking his hamstring Moctezuma put up really terrific numbers in the 10/20 Split and Pro Agility. On film it is clear that Moctezuma can reach and overtake defenders and combo or climb to the second level. The success he had with those metrics was very impressive and came as no surprise. Moctezuma made it known during Offensive Line drills that he has a great depth of knowledge when it comes to the position. His understanding of angles, strike mechanics, and hand placement was very noticeable in his drill reps. During one on one’s Moctezuma strategically took a lot of reps from one side of the ball so he could drive through his healthy leg and he looked great doing it. He was able to cover a lot of ground from Tackle and square up some speedy edge rushers. [player_tooltip player_id="99933" first="Luke" last="Vonderhaar"], Iowa, Pleasant Valley, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EuJFu">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LukeVonderhaar">Twitter </a> <img class="size-medium wp-image-145498" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/007-Vonderhaar-Luke-e1621440104477-300x212.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="212" /> Laser Verified Combine Results: 10 yd- 1.73; 20 yd- 2.92; Pro Agility- 4.52; L-Drill- 7.43; Powerball- 41’6 Vonderhaar was one of the most technically advanced athletes at the entire showcase and posted combine metrics that were tier-one overall. His elite athleticism was on display throughout each phase of the event. Vonderhaar’s Junior film is excellent and there is no doubt he has put in a lot of work to be even better for his Senior campaign. Vonderhaar was explosive out of his stance and moved with velocity in drills that assessed lateral and downhill patterns. He is a very lean 250 lbs and could easily fill out, while maintaining his footwork and quickness, to become an absolute monster. Vonderhaar proved just how vast his skill set is and many coaches commented on how they could see him playing at the next level as a Tackle, Tight End, Defensive Tackle, or Defensive End. Vonderhaar brought violent hands, could counter any secondary move, adjusted angles based on his opponent’s alignment, and maintained an inside relationship during one on one’s. He looked really sharp as a pass rusher, too. [player_tooltip player_id="99893" first="Joe" last="Turner"], Iowa, Davenport Assumption, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/11577671/5f8861498cdee8151477b50c">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Joe_Show73">Twitter</a> <img class="size-medium wp-image-145505" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/009-Turner-Joe-e1621440331463-300x208.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="208" /> Laser Verified Combine Results: 10 yd- 1.93; 20 yd- 3.26; Pro Agility- 5.02; L-Drill- 8.27; Powerball- 35’9 Turner, another big winner from The Line Iowa, had himself a day and left D1 Des Moines with his first offer to play College ball from Upper Iowa University. Turner has all the measurables: his frame, body composition, reach, and hand size are exactly what coaches are looking for at the next level. Turner has the athletic tangibles and skill set to match; his stock should skyrocket as he heads into his Senior season. Turner was very explosive during position specific drills and that came as no surprise seeing how much velocity and force he could move with during the combine. He kept excellent posture to and through the point of attack during run blocking drills, which requires well-trained mechanics, and got a lot of force into the point of attack. During one on one’s many coaches noted how he was able to maintain his relationship to his opponent and keep his feet regardless of the move a pass rusher attempted. Turner’s strikes were strong and well-timed through his set. [player_tooltip player_id="99932" first="Brandon" last="Vander Sluis"], Iowa, Le Mars, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EX9YQ">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonSluis">Twitter</a> <img class="size-medium wp-image-145507" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/013-Vander-Sluis-Brandon-e1621440480384-300x222.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="222" /> Laser Verified Combine Results: 10 yd- 1.86; 20 yd- 3.10; Pro Agility- 4.84; L-Drill- 8.08; Powerball- 40’10 Vander Sluis executed throughout the event with a lot of confidence and, rightfully so, because he was dominant. Vander Sluis shows on film that he can get from his stance to his target in the blink of an eye to overwhelm and overpower opponents. His 10/20 Split and Pro Agility verified his body of work on the field with some very excellent times. Several coaches commented during position specific drills on how impressive Vander Sluis’ footwork was. His ability to apply force through the floor, keeping the feet engaged on the ground, and moving nimbly through drills stood out from the crowd. This helped him get a lot of power and force in run blocking drills so he could attack explosively from the lower body. Coaches also commented on how great his posture and leverage that he established in his stance and maintained through reps. Vander Sluis had by far one of the more technically sound pass sets of the day and took great angles to his opponent’s midline to maximize surface area. Cody Koch, Iowa, Tipton, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11441255/5e444e2c3df5b5101c4ac1ba">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/codykoch_72">Twitter </a> <img class="size-medium wp-image-145511" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/018-Koch-Cody-e1621440686867-300x265.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="265" /> Laser Verified Combine Results: 10 yd- 2.11; 20 yd- 3.49; Pro Agility- 5.55; L-Drill- 9.06; Powerball- 37’10 It was such a pleasure getting to see Koch live at The Line Iowa; he has battled back from a severe neck injury putting in loads of work in the weight room and traveling to hone his craft with top notch training services. Seeing how far he has come shows second to none drive and determination. What was so great is that you would never guess he had such a major setback based on his performance. He posted strong combine numbers and moved very well showcasing top notch athleticism in each metric. Coaches were very impressed with him during position specific drills and loved his size. Koch had noticeably good footwork and strike mechanics. He packed a lot of power behind his punch that was really emphasized by the ability to get strength from the entire body. Koch knows how to play within his frame and maintain posture and leverage. Koch stayed square during one on one’s, made opponents pay with violent strikes, and has a very high ceiling overall. [player_tooltip player_id="23952" first="Carter" last="Gorder"], Iowa, Mason City, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EWde8">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/carter_gorder">Twitter</a> <img class="size-medium wp-image-145521" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/024-Gorder-Carter-e1621440888762-300x206.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="206" /> Laser Verified Combine Results: 10 yd- 1.8; 20 yd- 3.06; Pro Agility- 4.87; L-Drill- 7.83; Powerball- 35’0 Gorder was so quick and agile through changes of direction, evidenced by his combine metrics, and on display all afternoon in his position specific drill and one on one reps. Gorder tested out extremely well in each combine drill and showed off comprehensive athleticism that makes it no surprise he is a two-time all district Offensive Lineman. Gorder has an enormous frame, wingspan, and hand size, which he moved well with and knew how to use to his advantage. He moved with a low center of gravity keeping his weight over his hips and within his frame during drills. Seeing Gorder up close made it clear that his biomechanics are well-trained and he maintains them with ease from his stance to the point of attack. Not too many young Offensive Linemen understand the value and application of posture and leverage, but Goder certainly does. Goder, time and again, was able to knock pass rushers out of their lane with strong hands and keep his feet moving to prevent opponents from getting home. [player_tooltip player_id="31261" first="Craig" last="Ervin"], Wisconsin, Altoona, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EPEnU">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/craigervin17">Twitter</a> <img class="size-medium wp-image-145525" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/027-Ervin-Craig-e1621441072748-300x203.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="203" /> Laser Verified Combine Results: 10 yd- 1.88; 20 yd- 3.19; Pro Agility- 5.09; L-Drill- 8.51; Powerball- 33’0 Ervin is a giant of an Offensive Linemen measuring 6’7 and weighing in at a trim 280 pounds; he has all the size you could dream of and plenty of room yet to fill out. Ervin, with a colossal wingspan and enormous hands, has all the tools that just can’t be coached. For someone his size, to move as well as he does, is an asset and big advantage. To have a 1.88 10 yd and a 5.09 Pro Agility at his height is elite. All of these measurables make him an ideal Offensive Tackle and he backed it up with some very impressive ability during drill work and one on one’s. Coaches often commented on how he was able to explode out of his stance and build up a lot of force in his first few steps. Ervin was very light on his feet and could get to a spot during run blocking drills with ease. His feet were further on display during drills that assessed lateral movement and pass sets. That footwork did not disappear during one on one’s as he stayed active and executed well-timed strikes. Peyton Mazur, Illinois, Christopher Community, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FRXPL">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MazurPeyton">Twitter</a> <img class="size-medium wp-image-145527" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/030-Mazur-Peyton-e1621441412316-300x211.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="211" /> Laser Verified Combine Results: 10 yd- 1.98; 20 yd- 3.31; Pro Agility- 5.15; L-Drill- 8.36; Powerball- 35’4 Mazur was without a doubt one of the more explosive and functionally strong athletes at The Line Iowa. His initial movements were rapid, confirmed by his 10/20 split and Pro Agility, and he has the ability to overtake an opponent once he’s locked on. Mazur has a massive, imposing frame and he knows how to use it. This was obvious during each position specific drill; you could tell other Offensive Linemen and coaches who were holding med balls and bags really felt Mazur’s power when he brought his hands. Mazur brought that power when he was working through drills that replicated lateral and downhill blocks. Everything he brought to the table at the event was a clear indicator that he can clear out a ton of space at the line of scrimmage and manhandle opponents. During one on one’s Mazur had several reps where he took angles in his drive that kept him in front of pass rushers. From there it was game over and he took Defensive Linemen right out of their rush lanes for wins.