GRIT- Evaluating the Fullback (AKA the H, the Wing)

When I decided to start writing for Prep Redzone it was to help keep me involved with football, to keep the competitive juices flowing and quite frankly to give me an excuse to keep watching film on high school kids as I sit in my living room.  With that being said we all have an affinity for certain styles and positions on the football field.  I imagine my writing will cover all positions of the game I love but there is no denying I have favorites.  Offensive line is number one, but right behind them on the list is the fullback (Or positions however they are termed that resemble your father’s fullback!). So here we go as we take a look at the GRIT players, unselfish, multi-tooled grinders who make good offense go!  Here are the guys who play with <strong>G</strong>uts, <strong>R</strong>esilience, <strong>I</strong>nitiative and <strong>T</strong>enacity! &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="242420" first="Cody" last="Packer"]- (Saint Thomas Academy) 5’9 199lbs.  C/o 2024 Iso!!  The film starts off with iso and although it is not the most technically sound block Cody knocks the defender to the ground, and more importantly continues the block on the ground through the whistle.  That is what the Grit team is all about, the guys who do the dirty work because they love the actual act of being gritty and the physical nature the game gives you that no other sport allows.  At 5’9 he plays with a natural leverage and is explosive at the point of contact, he is going to need to learn to use his hands a little better so he doesn’t have to rely on shoulder blocking as much and also continue to run his feet.  With that being said his love of contact and instincts to be a finisher are unique and make him an extremely valuable asset to any offense that wants to set the tone with physicality. &nbsp; Jackson Hall- (Lakeville South High School) 6’0 205lbs. C/o 2023. @Jackson40399102 On a team that loves to run the ball, which also happens to have a ton of stars there have to be plenty of Grit guys to make it all go.  That’s where Jackson fits in for LVS.  In the three back attack there are certainly opportunities for him to carry the ball which he is very proficient at doing, but what gets him on this list is what he does when he doesn’t have the ball.  He has a great feel for attacking defenders with leverage when he is blocking whether it is a track kick-out or he has to feel his way through the line of scrimmage to fit on a linebacker.  He seems to always be under control, and does a nice job striking with his hands and his helmet up and he excels at staying on blocks and running his feet.  He shows how important it is to be 1 of 11 and do your job well with pride! &nbsp; Caleb Ciccone- (Tartan High School) 5’9 190lbs. C/o 2023 Grit players are willing to do anything their team needs to help be successful.  Caleb fits into this category no doubt with his versatility.  Linebacker, fullback, second line on kick return, up-back on the punt team he plugs into a variety of positions.  He is a willing blocker, good with the ball in his hands and he can catch the ball in the flat.  As un-sexy as running a 3 yard flat route might seem being able to adjust to bad balls, catching that flat and gaining positive yards consistently is a drive sustaining, game winning mode of operation.  Looking forward to seeing how his roll might expand as a senior but hopefully he doesn’t lose the grit of doing the dirty work. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="112150" first="Tyler" last="Walden"]- (Eden Prairie High School) 6’2 210lbs. C/o 2023. @Tyler_Walden_ Tyler does a lot with the football so I had to wait until about the halfway point of a long impressive film to start really seeing some of the work he does in the blocking game.  He does probably some of his best work in space on outside runs where he has patience and a feel for blocking force players with leverage.  He does a nice job leading with his punch and will run his feet and finish as well.  When the ball is targeted to him he excels in EP’s trap game showing patience and burst as he finds the guard, he is also a smooth hands catcher who does most of his damage in the play action game in the flats.  This is a big kid with nice contact balance that can fill many roles for a very good football team.