EKY Linemen Ready to Elevate in 2023

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our continuing look at top returning offensive and defensive linemen in Kentucky enables this opportunity to highlight and promote five more of the front line competitors trending toward outstanding performances and outcomes when we finally kick of the 2023 season in August.When lining up with one or both hands on the ground only inches away from one or more opponents, footwork, leverage and finishing plays characterize the more exceptional OL and DL prospects and these athletes demonstrate impressive levels of mastery in these fundamental skills. High school fans who appreciate technically sound, polished and aggressive line play (and players) will want to see these performers when the opportunity arises:</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":"Bennett Ball","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Morgan County","_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":"A versatile and increasingly skilled defender with the ability to play essentially anywhere from tackle-to-tackle, Ball enlists a four-point stance and possesses the technical skills to play from either an even/heads up alignment on an offensive lineman or assume gap responsibility from an odd/shaded technique. In particular, from an odd (1-or-3 technique), his consistent pad level and vertical take-off make him especially adept at stalemating base-blocks and double-teams. His tight/inside hand placement on single blockersu002du002dcoupled with decent/developing separation and escape skillsu002du002dhelp ensure that he rarely stays blocked or covered up for long. In 9 games last fall, he collected 30 solo tackles, 12 assists, and also competed on the offensive side as an interior linemanu002du002dprimarily at guard. His above-average hip flexibility and balanced/active footwork provide him a strong foundation to develop/flourish offensively, too.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Lincoln Griffith","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Knott County Central","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Griffith is a thick, physically built offensive and defensive lineman who proved himself a technically sound, versatile blocker who can play multiple positions across the offensive front , as well as a consistent, active defensive lineman with the ability to occupy and defeat both base blocks and double teams. His consistently sound inside first step and hip level offensively make him an effective drive blocker versus first-level gap defenders and enable him to maintain blocks to-and-through the second level of defenses. Defensively, typically playing a 0-technique nose guard or shaded to either side of the center, he contributed 29 solo tackles and 12 assist in 8 total games, proving himself an active and disruptive interior presence with a strong vertical take-off and evolving/improving separation skills. With two high school seasons remaining, he possesses quite a high developmental ceiling.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["502752"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"There has been some increasing buzz around the possibilities for the Bobcat program this upcoming season, and certainly some of that optimism results from Miller's emergence as one of Kentucky's top offensive linemen. With the athleticism and fundamentals needed to play center effectively, he demonstrates the initial step, wide base and hand placement to also play that position at the next level, but given his hip flexibility, mobility and first step, he also projects well as an offensive guard, so versatility is a strong point. At 280 pounds, he possesses the push to excel in short-yardage/goal line situations and he consistently maintains/finishes blocks through the whistle with active, disciplined footwork.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["653480"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"A long, athletic and flexible athlete with the skills and framework to play left tackle at a high level, Parker impresses with his consistent, polished footwork, his ability to maintain a balanced, powerful fundamental posture and an energy level that results in persistent, accelerating finishes to many of his blocks. In the run game, his inside step and power angles enable him to generate push on first-level defenders and/or continue to second-level without losing those same attributes that enable him to fit/finish on subsequent levels. In particular, his targeted blow delivery and separation make him especially effective versus loose edge defenders/pass rushers. His drop angle and positioning on rushers at their paths' intersection make him very resistant to counter-moves.","_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":"Brayden Standifer","_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":"6'0u0022","_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":"Magoffin County","_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 two-way starter for the Hornets as a sophomore, Standifer exhibits the quickness, high motor and athleticism to develop into one of the region's top front line competitors over the next two seasons. As a left tackle offensively, his technical prowess remains a work in progress, but he possesses the quick feet and physical attributes to develop with added experience and repetitions. Defensively, his impact proves more consistent, and he clearly exhibits a nose for the football and the hip/ankle flexibility to both evade and/or lean into first-level pressure. Collecting 18 solo tackles, 47 assists, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble and another fumble recovery, he clearly displays the potential to disrupt offenses from any first-level alignmentu002du002dand the ability to play with his hand on the ground or from an upright stance.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-642c7c4bf10aa"} /-->