Linemen Lab Showcase Standouts Vol. 3
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T3 Performance center in Avon, Ohio welcomed some of the top offensive and defensive linemen in the state to showcase the very best in a two hour long adrenaline-fueled practice in front of scouts and media on May 6. Under…
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Continue ReadingT3 Performance center in Avon, Ohio welcomed some of the top offensive and defensive linemen in the state to showcase the very best in a two hour long adrenaline-fueled practice in front of scouts and media on May 6. Under the banners that represents NFL talent to Division III players that have refined their craft at the Linemen Lab with Dale Rodick, players put their best foot forward to further their exposure in front of scouts from Pitt, Rutgers and Toledo to name a few.
Zyon Newson
Zyon Newson
Zyon Newson brings a lot of upper body strength to his game as a pass rusher with a lot of upside. As an interior defensive lineman, Newson executed some quality moves in pass pro to beat offensive linemen. Showing some deceptive quickness when pulling off spin moves, Newson looked like a seasoned defender to get them done. His hand checks are powerful to get a move started to open up a lineman towards one side. Keeping his strength in his chest and above make him hard to contain when he dips his body towards the side he has opened up. He showed good instinct to quickly spot a defender leaning and make quick work of them. Newson keeps an active mind when participating in one-on-one drills to not tip his next move and has an arsenal to choose from. He has been very active this offseason to get his name out there and able to show scouts a lot with what he has already learned. Newson makes playing in the middle fun to watch and is on a trajectory to be a college athlete.
Baylor Wilkin
Baylor Wilkin
Baylor Wilkin showed he was one of the best technical linemen at the showcase with lockdown form. He processed his mental checklist to get into position rapidly before squaring up his man. He easily deflected simple hand checks to slow down opponents while maintaining good form. Wilkin kept his head up while reading his man and getting his hands on him to prepare for the next move. Once a defender starts his move, Wilkin was impressive at staying squared to his man with natural movement. Showing lateral quickness, he was able to move along with a defender to keep a clean pocket. Wilkin even had some one-on-one matchups end in a hurry if he got full extension on his arms on his 6-foot-5 frame. While this was my first time seeing Wilkin on film or in person, I was left with a positive impression as a Division I player in the making. With a lot of big names around him, Wilkin quietly had one of the best showcases of anyone in attendance.
Owen Madden Owen Madden 6’3″ | 250 lbs | DL St Johns Jesuit | 2024 OH is a lean defensive linemen who can turn on his power or speed to beat his man. His performance at the Linemen Lab was a standout for his variety of moves when working in pass pro. He showed good body control when changing direction and shifting his weight from side to side. When he caught a player off balance, he put his good footwork to use to complete moves past his opponent. He challenged offensive linemen with bullrush strength to find success as well by getting below pad height and driving. His feet are constantly moving making him a hard defender to outright beat. Madden has all the tools to be a stud at the next level and this offseason has made an even bigger case for his work so far. Getting better each day this offseason, Madden is a player coaches can rely on to bring it on every snap.
Highlights
Ben Midea Ben Midea 6’3″ | 290 lbs | OL Medina Buckeye | 2024 State OH was impactful and explosive during his time at the showcase. The senior to be put his strong arms on display as one of the best at the event at getting full extension for control. He engaged his feet immediately out of his stance to not give ground. Midea’s footwork never quit and gave him an advantage in the pass pro. Once he got hands on his man his intensity took over to overwhelm pass rushers. Midea is a skilled linemen who plays each down at 110 percent. His time in the Linemen Lab has made him an even quicker player who already is loaded with strength. He was able to defuse opponents’ moves with good lateral movement thanks to quick, powerful steps while maintaining leverage. Midea is a real deal college prospect in the Division I range.
Braylon Riase
Braylon Riase
One of the quickest defenders all day was Braylon Riase. His explosive tendencies were often too much for offensive linemen to handle. Riase gains an advantage quickly with quick twitch ability off the line to avoid getting hands on him. He does a good job reading his opponent’s body and planting his foot in the ground against their weakness before exploding past. His hand deflections are quick and precise to take away an offensive lineman’s ability to slow him down. If his first move doesn’t land, he does have a nice spin move to catch an opponent leaning. Even if he is forced out wide he has the speed and quickness to correct course towards the backfield in pass pro. With an open lane towards the backfield, Raise stays low and keeps his form off his beaten man. Riase has a lot of time to grow his game still, but he has already shown a solid base for being a disruptive pass rusher.
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