Unranked Series Part II – Offensive Linemen
As we opened this series with skill position players, we will now transition to the guys that make them look good – the offensive linemen. Prep Redzone currently has ranked 27 of the very best junior offensive linemen in the…
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Continue ReadingAs we opened this series with skill position players, we will now transition to the guys that make them look good – the offensive linemen. Prep Redzone currently has ranked 27 of the very best junior offensive linemen in the state of Kansas, and all of them are indeed tremendous prospects. In part II of the unranked series, we’ll look at 4 offensive linemen that have a chance to cement their spot in the rankings this fall.
Gage Spachman – Blue Valley North High School, 6’3 230
As a two-way player on the line, Spachman (pictured above) pairs the lower body explosion and flexibility of an edge rusher with the nastiness of an offensive lineman, and he is just scratching the surface of the quality offensive tackle he can become. When he can attack his assignment in the run game, he flashes the ability to completely overwhelm his opponent. He fires off the snap low and with violence, and gains control on initial contact before his opponent can gather any momentum. When he gains control and drives his legs, he has the power to completely uproot his assignment and take him clean out of the play. He uses his natural band to very good effect in pass pro, as when he gets enough depth in his drops, he shows he can anchor and stop opposing rushers in their tracks. His footwork and positioning in pass pro still need some polishing, but when it goes right, the glimpses of his ceiling as a tackle are quite impressive. He opens up his hips with ease, and in addition to length, he has a good wide frame, and when you add his natural knee bend to the equation, he has all the tools to give fits to any 6A edge rusher. As his game continues to develop and his eyes become more comfortable, he will garner plenty of attention, as tackles with agility and explosiveness don’t grow on trees. This is a name to keep a very close eye on this fall.
Michael Spritzer – Olathe West High School, 6’0 270
6’0 linemen that use their height to their advantage are some of my favorite players to watch, and Spritzer fits the bill. What immediately jumps out on film is how quickly off the snap he can win. With a combination of tremendous leverage, violent initial contact, and quick feet, Spritzer can get up and under his assignment in a blink, making it difficult for opposing defenders to recover and stay relevant in the play when engaged, and to compound the misery for the opponent, Spritzer is an absolute pit bull when it comes to finishing blocks. While Spritzer does not possess ideal length, he remains effective in pass pro due to his quick feet and the efficiency with which he gets behind his pads. These allow for very good lateral movement that prevents pass rushers from crossing his face. Spritzer is also very effective when asked to pull. He moves very efficiently across the line with no wasted motion and does an excellent job gathering himself to square up to his target. Spritzer is a tenacious, quick, and highly effective blocker that should take the next step in his senior year as he improves his patience and eye discipline.
Rio Gomez – Newton High School, 6’0 285
It quickly becomes clear when turning Gomez’s film on, that the Newton High School product wakes up on game day choosing violence. The violence is first and foremost evident in his hands, as he can take complete control of his assignment with a jarring initial punch. He does a good job driving his feet through contact in the run game, and tenaciously finishes his blocks. With core strength that at times looks uncommon for a high school junior, Gomez can anchor and effortlessly absorb bull rushers in pass pro. In addition, Gomez flashes the ability to be very effective on reach blocks, with a naturally low center of gravity and very good flexibility teaming up with his violent hands. He does a good enough job getting his hips around when asked to seal, but he can create enough movement upon initial contact to allow his hips an extra split second to catch up. Gomez also looks good on the move, with a fluid stride, excellent balance and control of his frame, he covers ground very efficiently moving up to the second level and can change direction to cut off pursuing defenders. Gomez’s footwork could use some slight tweaking from a fundamental point of view, but he does flash impressively coordinated footwork when his eyes are comfortable. Rio Gomez is a mean, powerful lineman with sneaky athleticism, and with some more polish added to his game headed into his senior season, should be a name that will get bounced around plenty of recruiting meetings on college campuses this fall.
Jacob Racine – Bishop Carroll High School, 6’4 250
Racine simply possesses potential by the boat load. He shows impressive ease of movement for an offensive lineman and has ideal size and length for the position. What stands out initially besides his size is his upper body strength, which is on the frightening side for a high school junior. Once he latches on to his assignment, his control looks effortless, and due to his reach advantage, he can steer and rag doll his opponent out of the play. Another aspect of Racine’s game that should catch the eye of college scouts is the fact that he’s a natural knee bender, which can significantly raise the ceiling of a 6’4, country strong offensive tackle prospect. He drops his pads very efficiently, allowing his reach and power to take over and neutralize bull rushers in their tracks, as well as generating movement in the run game. Racine is also very difficult to get around in pass pro. He sets a wide base, and stays patient, trusting his length and upper body power to cut off the angle to the QB. Jacob Racine checks every box in what coaches are looking in an offensive tackle. If he can move his feet through engagement with more consistency, and play with a little more rage, he can play for almost anybody at the next level.