SEKY Offensive Linemen Poised to Breakout in 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite the prevalence of today's spread offenses and more balanced run/pass ratios, a common coaching adage remains that November weather here in southeastern Kentucky usually ensure that playoff teams will face at least a couple cold, wet and perhaps even muddy contest settings. As a result, even those squads with exceptionally talented rosters of passers and receivers tend to cultivate dependable running games if they ever want to aspire to regional and state titles. So not surprisingly, many of the region's most successful small-school programs consistently produce quite a number of skilled, dependable offensive linemen with considerable next-level potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Zach Bowen","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Williamsburg","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Bowen is a thick, powerfully built offensive guard very effective at generating movement/push on first-level defenders, whether single blocking or executing inside zone schemes. Likewise, his efficient footwork enables him to trap block effectively, and he proves very adept at targeting defenders and positioning himself relative to the point of attack in all facets of the run game. 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His quick, intelligent footwork provides him effective ball-side positioning whether run or pass blocking, and he exhibits the desire and athleticism to get out/in front of the football on perimeter screens—and cover up second-or-third level defenders when he gets there.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='494109' first='Hunter' last='Clem']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Harlan Independent","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"While I have yet to personally meet this rising junior, on film he epitomizes the reason that I so much enjoy scouring many of the smaller schools and more remote programs for Kentucky's diamonds in the rough. And for numerous reasons, Clem is a real gem—a big, strong and aggressive two-way player with a very high developmental ceiling! Adept footwork and hip flexibility enable him to fit and cover up first-level defenders whether they align directly over him or shade to either side. And beyond his sheer size (and 77-inch wingspan), one of the first traits to impress is his consistent tenacity and desire to play through the whistle.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Brayden Dunn","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Bell County","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Dunn is the latest in a long tradition of large, wide, and nasty maulers that have characterized Bell County's smashmouth running game for decades now. As evidenced by his team's tendency to run behind him when the plays count most, he simply engulfs and overpowers first-level defenders, but he also displays the quick first step and inside release needed to cleanly cut off second-level pursuit and run backside levels, often turning average play gains into game-breakers. And while his Bobcats have traditionally limited their passing game to play-actions, screens and intermediate routes, in Dunn's limited drop-back passing repetitions, he displays the footwork and understanding of hand placement to ensure effective protection.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Landon Fields","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Hazard","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"A rising junior, this two-way starter already exhibits the strength and explosiveness to match physicality against older, larger and more experienced competition. A consistently well-positioned first step enables Fields to get his second foot in the ground prior to initial contact with defenders, and when sometimes giving up 50-75 pounds in his matchups, that second foot is key. In maturing as a run blocker, he will continue to improve his active feet and leg drive after initial contact, and he already displays the ability to run effective angles when trapping or pulling/wrapping to second level pursuit. Moreover, his consistent inside pass set, active feet and targeted hand placement make him quite effective in pass protection, whether blocking a shaded defender or one aligned directly over him.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63d42307edcdc"} /--> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->