The MEGA TKC Middle School Linemen Preview & Predictions

This weekend NextGen will be invading the Ford Center At The Star in Frisco, Texas for The Mega Event. The invite-only event is giving quarterbacks and offensive/defensive linemen an opportunity to participate in a highly competitive atmosphere with some of most talented athletes in the country at those positions. The MEGA TKC, which stands for Trench King Challenge, will be a competition for offensive and defensive linemen in the class of 2027 up through class of 2023. As of this posting there are over 70 linemen from 21 different states registered for the event. The linemen are being coached up by guys who train college guys for NFL draft. The goal is to teach, train and compete at the event. However, it goes deeper than on field talent. Athletes will then get in the classroom and talk about what they learned.  Coaches are expected to build up the athletes and go back home a changed, student athlete. Be a leader and change culture. An added bonus for The MEGA TKC is that Tom Brady's group, TB12, will be coming in to teach the athletes Tom Brady's workouts. In addition to installing Tom Brady's six core values of Leadership, Teamwork, Commitment, Character, Confidence and Mindfulness. The on-field work will be heavy, so let's look at some of the linemen who will be there and some predictions on who I expect to shine. <span style="font-size: 14pt"><b><u>Headliners</u></b></span> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-237609" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/JJsparks-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /> <strong>JJ Sparks | Florida | Offensive Line</strong> Standing 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds he is everything you want in a developing offensive tackle. Long limbed with a good ability to bend. Moves his feet well for a big kid this young. Also a power lifter. Physical kid that needs to keep pad level in check. Will be good for him to face some national competition here. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-278029" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/01/BrockSchlef-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /> <strong>Brock Schlef | Texas | Offensive Line</strong> Pound for pound he is hands down the strongest middle school offensive lineman attending the event--already benching over 250 pounds and deadlifting close to 400. Standing just a hair under 6-foot-2 and 255 pounds, Schlef has the ideal frame to play any of the positions across the front at this point, but looks like an interior guy going forward. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-237584" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/JamesCarrington-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /> <strong>James Carrington | Virginia | Defensive Line</strong> Already 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, Carrington is a well-put together prospect who can play inside in a 4-3, but ideally looks like an athletic end in a 3-4. Looks to be the latest and next super-talented athlete to go through powerhouse Oscar Smith High School. Already boasts offers from Jackson State, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss and NC State. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-255250" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/PrestonClarkFBUR3-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /> <strong>Preston Clark | Georgia | Offensive Line</strong> No stranger to big events and big stages, Clark was a leader on the offensive line for Team GFL, the three-time defending FBU National Champions. As fundamentally sound as you'll find anywhere in the country on the eighth grade level. Can play anywhere on the interior line. All effort, no attitude problems. Would be a captain for my team any day. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-237601" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/EvanGoodwin-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /> <strong>Evan Goodwin | Arkansas | Offensive Line</strong> The big fella is just starting to scratch the surface as to how good he can be. Standing 6-foot-3 and getting heavier by the day, he's up to roughly 250 pounds. Country strong is a good way to describe Goodwin. Consistently works hard in the weight room and has picked up wrestling this off-season. Needs to work on pad level and staying low, but he's solid. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-278041" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/01/BraylonMontero-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /> <strong>Braylon Montero | Louisiana | Offensive Lineman</strong> Standing 6-foot-1 and 265 pounds, Montero is an athletic interior two-way lineman. A member of Louisiana high school football powerhouse John Curtis Christian, he should impress. Has attended a number of NextGen events in the past and has always had success. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-278046" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/01/Preston-Arbuthnot-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /> <strong>Preston Arbuthnot | Texas | Defensive Line</strong> Arbuthnot will be giving up a lot of size to many of the other headlining linemen, but the kid they call "Bulldog" is used to that. At 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds, he's exactly what his nickname says he is. He fires off the ball extremely fast, hard and low to the ground. Understands leverage and uses it very well. Looks to be pretty strong too. Will be a good test for him. <span style="font-size: 14pt"><b><u>Something to Prove – Class of 2026</u></b></span> <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-265740 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/01/LukeNew-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Luke New | Mississippi | Offensive Line</strong> Hard working kid who I like a lot at center. Most recently was part of Team Mississippi which reached the finals of the FBU National Championship tournament. Time for him to step up claim his place amongst some of the best in the class. &nbsp; <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-278057 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/01/MateoWells-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Mateo Wells | Georgia | Offensive Line</strong> Well is a kid that I'm really starting to take a liking to. He's an athletic 5-foot-8 and 186 pounds that can get it done on both sides of the ball. Will be suiting up for Georgia powerhouse football program - Carrollton High School next year. Also a standout wrestler. &nbsp; <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-278059 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/01/Jaden-Morris-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Jaden Morris | Texas | Defensive Line</strong> One of the only true edge rushers coming to the event on the middle school level, offensive linemen are going to have their hands full with the quick Morris. At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds he bends nicely when attacking the edge and is quick off the ball. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt"><b><u>More Line Talent</u></b></span> <strong>Nicholas Barry | Arkansas | Defensive Line </strong>- Very big interior defensive linemen, possibly a 0-tech, that weighs in at 325 pounds. Required a double-team most of his middle school career. <strong>Cameron Middleton | Georgia | Offensive Line (2027) </strong>- Middleton is a big offensive lineman for only being in the 7th grade. Plays with a strong base and has a mean streak on run blocks. <strong>Ayden Rogers | Arkansas | Offensive Line (2027)</strong> <strong>Deven Robertson | Mississippi | Defensive Line</strong> <strong>Omar Williams | Florida | Offensive Line</strong> &nbsp;