Prep Redzone Iowa 2024 Watchlist Drop: Big Skill

Ben Salomon

June 18, 2021 @ 05:58 PM

[player_tooltip player_id="156557" first="Tono" last="Cornell"], Offensive Line, Independence, 6’3, 280, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14499609/Tono-Cornell/highlights">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TonoCornell">Twitter</a> Cornell is a mammoth of a young man; he is put together and not sloppy at all. He moves exceptionally well for his size, regardless of his age, and is very mobile through his ankles and hips. Cornell is mechanically sound from his stance through the point of attack. He knows how to get his posture and how to move within his frame. Cornell covers defenders up and drives them away from the ball. He is impressive and will certainly get looks on both sides of the ball. [player_tooltip player_id="125574" first="Cody" last="Fox"], Offensive Line, East Buchanan, 6’4, 265, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EFvnh">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CODYFOX94">Twitter</a> Fox pairs a Division 1 frame with well-developed technique that is mature for any high school Offensive Lineman. The pressure he brings to the chest and midline of opponents right out of his stance is overwhelming. Fox’s strike mechanics are on point and well placed. If he beats his opponents to the punch it is game over. He generates a lot of force into the turf and can move quickly through any angle. He digs opponents out, steers them away, and stays attached. [player_tooltip player_id="156556" first="Payton" last="Jacobe"], Offensive Line, ACGC, 6’2, 230, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14460472/Payton-Jacobe/highlights">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/jacobe_payton">Twitter</a> Jacobe is a down block and pull machine. He can wash opponents down to clear out a ton of space in the box and kick out or lead through to a target impressively. It is not often interior guys like Jacobe can match or eclipse the athleticism of edge defenders and Linebackers. Jacobe really excels at the point of attack because he keeps his insteps pounding. He has impressive posture that gives him the ability to absorb a defender’s strikes and take them for a ride. [player_tooltip player_id="156615" first="Nico" last="Analetto"], Defensive Line, Clear Creek-Amana, 6’0, 200, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2F6cJu">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/therealanaletto">Twitter</a> Analetto plays with a better depth of understanding and more refined technique than the vast majority of Defensive Linemen his age. Combine that with a very high ceiling of athleticism, evidenced by flashes of impressive bend, body control, and acceleration, and you have a monster on the edge. He can own a gap with quick hand placement and squared up shoulders. Analetto also has an excellent foundation of pass rushing that is sure to lead to big productivity. [player_tooltip player_id="156613" first="Tod" last="Geiger"], Defensive Line, Montezuma, 6’0, 205, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FTWyy">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/geiger_tod">Twitter</a> Geiger wrecks gaps and totally disrupts blocking schemes. He gets a ton of velocity and explosiveness out of his stance that is just too much for his opponents to counter. His hands are violent as they land and he really understands how to strike through someone. Geiger is very much in control as he squeezes and gets knock back; he keeps his feet active and disengages quickly. His ability to get off blocks and make tackles behind the line of scrimmage is impressive. [player_tooltip player_id="118703" first="Caiden" last="Hunt"], Defensive Line, Southeast Polk, 6’0, 270, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EnUuS">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/caidenhunt13">Twitter</a> Hunt is already much more than just a big body that takes up space in gaps and at the line of scrimmage. Many young Defensive Linemen are out of control and don’t know how to support their forward momentum. That is not the case with Hunt; he launches, with great body control, right through his opponents. His hands come forward supported by leverage and a strong lower body. Hunt already knows how to bring inside gap pressure and work his lane; his ceiling is sky high. [player_tooltip player_id="156614" first="Max" last="Sanford"], Defensive Line, IKM-Manning, 5’11, 190, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14632698/Max-Sanford/highlights">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxSanford8">Twitter</a> Sanford is really impressive, especially on the edge, and shows an advanced understanding of the position when he does things like squeeze down blocks or get underneath pullers. He is fast and violent from his stance to the whistle; he shows zero hesitation in the way he attacks. With this approach and good leverage Sanford has shown that he can defeat blocks of much larger opponents. Sanford is quick to separate and get uncovered to wreak havoc in the backfield.