2023 Georgia All-Underrated Team: Offensive Front

Controlling the line of scrimmage is the single most important thing in football. Without a strong prescience up front, winning is not easy. Each year, the state of Georgia consists of numerous highly touted linemen, especially on the offensive line. For that reason, schools from all over the country flock to Georgia each year to fill out their needs. Even with the high demand, there are hundreds of recruits each season that fly underneath the radar. Here are just a few... <strong>TE</strong> | <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="97099" first="Jackson" last="Head"]</strong> - 6’3 - River Ridge Head was one of the most productive TEs across the state last season, catching 47 passes for 695 yards and 10 TDs. At 6’3 225, Head has enough size to be efficient in the blocking game and be a matchup problem on the outside. Where he really stands out is his athleticism. He is a fluid route runner that can explode off the line, which means he can create separation with ease. With the ball in his hands, he is a surprisingly speedy and twitchy player that is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. To go along with his speed, Jackson is also a very physical player. He can go up and win jump balls over smaller defenders or he can fight through contact with the ball in his hands. Head has seen plenty of attention from FCS schools, but his film and production indicate he can play at a higher level. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13002402/6159cf1bbed7540bfccf4f57" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>OT</strong> | <strong>Obadiah Obasuyi</strong> - 6’7 - Alpharetta Obasuyi is a raw prospect, but someone would be smart to bet on his upside. At 6’7 285, Obasuyi already has college-ready size, but he has yet to grow into his frame. Once he does, he should be an incredibly impressive prospect on the offensive front, more than he is now. Obasuyi relies more on his physical traits than he does on his technique. He is explosive off the snap and can get downfield in a hurry to block smaller defenders. He is also a high effort player that uses his lower body strength to drive defenders out of the play. Pass set isn’t very polished, but he has extremely long arms and quick feet that make up for it. He knows how to use his length to his advantage and keep space between him and the defender. Once Obasuyi grows into his frame and polishes some things, he has a chance to grow into an elite offensive tackle. For that reason, he deserves a spot on this list. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14945540/61d225d616009f0b8029be7a" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>OL</strong> | <strong>Shaun Shockley</strong> - 6’2 - Flowery Branch A big reason for Shockley being so underrated might be his height. Nonetheless, he plays much bigger than it might say on paper and is an extremely well-rounded player. For starters, Shockley plays with great pad level, which is rare out of younger players. He generates power from his lower body and plays through the defender which allows him to dominate at the point of attack. To go along with that power, he is very explosive off the snap, which allows him to pack a punch and get a leg up on whoever lines up across from him. Shockley has the skillset and versatility to play all across the line of scrimmage, but we project him to the interior lineman spot. Shockley was named to the all-region first team this past season and was named a team captain at the GACA all-star game, so he has received some recognition for his level of play. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12861752/61b36dddd4688802c4d935bd" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>C</strong> | <strong>Philip Eichelzer</strong> - 6’4 - Walton When trying to find an underrated center in the state, it was fairly obvious who the choice would be. I saw Eichelizer last December at the GACA ASG, and he came away with a very impressive showing. Eichelzer, a multi-year starter at Walton, has received several offers from FCS and mid-major schools, but he has still flown under the radar on the national level. At center, Eichelzer is that physical force that teams crave and need in the middle of their defense. On film, most plays end with Eichelzer driving a defender into the ground. This tells me that he is a high effort player, but is also a violent player that plays with great pad level. His technique paired with his lower body strength makes for an extremely physical player that creates instant penetration for the running game. With another big season, Eichelzer could see his stock blow up on the trail. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/2902777/61bdd7ec176c7909f4254a5f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>OL</strong> | <strong>Skye Richarson</strong> - 6’5 - Blessed Trinity Richardson is one of the fastest and most athletic linemen you will see on film, as far as 2023 linemen in Georgia are concerned. He moves like a TE, which allows him to peel out and work as a lead blocker or run downfield and work as an escort for the ball carrier. Richardson recently picked up his first D1 offer from Air Force, and it is clear that his speed would work beautifully in that triple-option style offense. Richardson isn’t just limited to his speed. He stands at 6’5 285 and is extremely physical with his hands. He does a great job of gaining leverage on defenders by attacking their inside shoulder. Richardson’s unique combination of size and speed can’t go unknown for long. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13232167/61b63d17b3c8530710611358" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>OT</strong> | <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="97694" first="Tyler" last="Douthit"]</strong> - 6’5 - Woodstock Douthit will round out of the offensive side of this team. Douthit is a little raw and his pad level can get high at times, but is a violent blocker with quick feet. Douthit is the definition of an impact style blocker. Oftentimes, he lowers his shoulder to knock defenders to the ground, clearing a path for the ball carrier. What he lacks in fundamentals, he makes up for in his hustle and physicality. Where Douthit really stands out is his pass set. He has quick feet which allow him to stay in front of faster defenders, and he uses his length to separate himself from the defender. A few FCS programs have offered the Woodstock standout, but I have a feeling a few more will enter the sweepstakes eventually. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12977975/61367d83578dff0aac5e9a19" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>