Mid-Season Studs: Eight Linemen

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2021-22 football season has reached the midway point, giving us a good look at eight standout linemen who have been putting in serious work in the trenches.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Every name on this list are of players who have been working hard to build strong reputations for themselves during past seasons and summer camps.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Now, it is time for us to highlight four defensive and four offensive linemen to give them the credit they deserve.</span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="209832" first="Andrew" last="Nazarenus"] | Erie | 6’6”, 240lbs | 2022 DE</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Nazarenus brings a dominant presence off of the edge with intimidating size and unmatched athleticism. He uses his strength and speed to cause chaos in the backfield and finishes every play. Nazarenus will be entering league competition this week with a recorded seven tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass deflection.</span> <a href="http://iframe%20src=’//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11099903/614676b823474c0bf81f1b88’%20width=’640’%20height=’360’%20frameborder=’0’%20allowfullscreen/iframe"><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11099903/614676b823474c0bf81f1b88" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></a> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="209841" first="Jack" last="Rons"] | Dakota Ridge | 6’3”, 290lbs | 2023 LT</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Rons is a technically sound offensive lineman with superior potential. He uses his size, strength, quick feet, and elite awareness to set the edge and protect the QB. His high-motor, quickness off the line, and overall speed enables him to hastily pull from his left tackle position and move as a lead blocker on run plays. Rons is definitely a player to keep an eye on.</span> <a href="http://iframe%20src=’//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12862015/6155e750da5bc607804d8f58’%20width=’640’%20height=’360’%20frameborder=’0’%20allowfullscreen/iframe"><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12862015/6155e750da5bc607804d8f58" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></a> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="209833" first="Nathan" last="Hallmark"] | Fossil Ridge | 6’3”, 210lbs | 2022 DE</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">One thing that instantly stands out about Hallmark is that he is never not in the opponent’s backfield. His quickness off of the line combined with his overall speeds makes him almost impossible to block. He is the type of player who must be accounted for at all times, usually to ensure the play goes away from his side. He is entering league play with a total of 39 tackes, 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, four forced fumbles, two QB hurries, one punt block, and one safety. It should come as no shock that Hallmark is tied for the most sacks on the season, a stat that he has been the sole front-runner for over the past few weeks.</span> <a href="http://iframe%20src=’//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13983647/61383e293dea810b1c8b0b8d’%20width=’640’%20height=’360’%20frameborder=’0’%20allowfullscreen/iframe"><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13983647/61383e293dea810b1c8b0b8d" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></a> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="209835" first="Ari" last="Jacobs"] | Lutheran | 6’3”, 295lbs | 2022 G/C</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Jacobs is a big and powerful offensive lineman with a relentless playing style that is violent and unforgiving in its foundation. He has a quick first step and fast hands when firing off the line, which enables him to beat his man to the point of attack and get pressure on him first. Jacobs can create holes for backs, making him an ideal guard to run behind.</span> <a href="http://iframe%20src=’//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11211220/61476826f55fe20a0c9ef732’%20width=’640’%20height=’360’%20frameborder=’0’%20allowfullscreen/iframe"><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11211220/61476826f55fe20a0c9ef732" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></a> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="209842" first="Ethan" last="Bird"] | Littleton | 6’3”, 190lbs | 2023 DE/TE</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Bird is a skilled player who is more of an athlete than he is one specific role-player, which enables him to make standout plays from wherever he lines up. From his DE position, he has a total of 24 tackles, five sacks, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and an interception that he returned for a touchdown. Offensively, Bird has recorded two catches for 57 yards and one touchdown, as well as five carries for 44 yards. He uses his relentless motor as a lead blocker to barrel through would-be tacklers while working his way towards the next threat.</span> <a href="http://iframe%20src=’//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12925322/614f8188a022a504f8390e1a’%20width=’640’%20height=’360’%20frameborder=’0’%20allowfullscreen/iframe"><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12925322/614f8188a022a504f8390e1a" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></a> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="209834" first="Dalton" last="Brown"] | Mead | 6’4”, 285lbs | 2022 G/T</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Brown is a down-blocking master, making him another invaluable member to an offensive front with a strong run game. He is explosive off of the line and uses pure strength to bully his opponent out of the way to create holes. Brown’s ability to initiate contact and keep his feet moving is why he is steadily pancaking defenders in every game.</span> <a href="http://iframe%20src=’//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13705606/61528ea9c124d708f4f65723’%20width=’640’%20height=’360’%20frameborder=’0’%20allowfullscreen/iframe"><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13705606/61528ea9c124d708f4f65723" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></a> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="209840" first="Kaden" last="Shouse"] | ThunderRidge | 6’0”, 225lbs | 2023 DE</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Shouse is a versatile athlete who can bring pressure from the interior and the edge. He is a high-motor player with a nose for the football and the willingness to finish every play. His speed off the snap allows for him to get into the backfield before the quarterback has time to finish his drop steps. Shouse is a physical player who has recorded 11 total tackles, six QB hurries, and three tackles for loss.</span> <a href="http://iframe%20src=’//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14534458/614d67ee5ca9af12e4d846d8’%20width=’640’%20height=’360’%20frameborder=’0’%20allowfullscreen/iframe"><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14534458/614d67ee5ca9af12e4d846d8" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></a> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="143636" first="Matthew" last="Jennings"] | Pine Creek | 6’1”, 240lbs | 2024 C/G/T</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Jennings is a player who popped up on the radar during this past offseason because of his natural talent and sharpened set of skills that typically take young players a while to learn. He has the versatility and athleticism that enable him to play anywhere on the offensive line. What truly stands out about Jennings is how smart of a player he is. His elite understanding of football, especially when it comes to the trenches, is what makes his future with the game ceilingless.</span> [embed]https://twitter.com/Matthew67152489/status/1439642122936717314?s=20[/embed]