Next Man Up: KY Offensive Linemen to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we are deep into the off-season for the 2023 high school football season, I wanted to start a new series on some players to watch in the state of Kentucky at each position. For this series, I want to focus on some “Next Man Up” prospects. These players include young players that have begun to make a name for themselves, players coming into a bigger role this season, and key players coming off injuries. After already covering the skill players, I will wrap up the offensive side of the ball with some intriguing offensive linemen in the state of Kentucky to keep an eye on heading into the 2023 high school football season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["381934"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cpu003eWith [player_tooltip player_id='386122' first='Malachi' last='Wood'] headed off to college, [player_tooltip player_id='381934' first='Aiden' last='Howard'] will now be the focus of the Madison Central offensive line. Howard is a big, physical offensive tackle that has been very impressive so far in his high school career. He mainly lined up at right tackle this past season and was dominant as a run blocker. Howard explodes out of his stance and does a great job of running his feet through contact to drive his man down the field. He finishes his blocks through the whistle, resulting in several pancake blocks. In pass protection, Howard has shown impressive footwork with the ability to mirror opposing pass rushers off the edge. He also does a great job of keeping a strong base and not allowing for much penetration into the pocket. Aiden currently holds offers from Southeast Missouri State and Murray State, and I expect more to come his way going into his senior year as he is a Division I caliber offensive tackle.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["727126"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cpu003e[player_tooltip player_id='727126' first='Hayes' last='Preston'] is a young offensive lineman to keep an eye on this season. Hayes started at left tackle last year as a sophomore for a high-powered LCA offense. He is very impressive in pass protection, showing great footwork and the ability to mirror pass rushers off the edge. Preston also does a great job of winning inside position with his hands and defeating counter moves. In the run game, Preston has shown the ability to create movement off the line of scrimmage, driving his man several yards down the field. He also does a job of getting up to the second level and picking up blocks in open space. Preston doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a name to watch that has the potential to become a highly sought after offensive lineman.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["735992"],"_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":"u003cpu003e[player_tooltip player_id='735992' first='Brooks' last='Kerwin'] is another intriguing incoming junior offensive lineman on the LCA offensive line. He lines up at left guard and is very impressive as a run blocker. Kerwin is a true mauler in the run game, exploding out of his stance and driving his man down the field. He truly finishes his blocks through the whistle, resulting in several pancake blocks. Kerwin has also shown the ability to pull and pick up blocks in open space, destroying anything in his path as a lead blocker. While Brooks doesn't currently hold any offers, he is a player to watch over the next few seasons that has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["331762"],"_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":"u003cpu003eAnother incoming junior offensive lineman to keep an eye on this season is [player_tooltip player_id='331762' first='Samuel' last='Garrison'] from Woodford County. Garrison is a physical offensive tackle that is truly dominant in the run game. He does a great job of exploding out of his stance and running his feet through contact to drive his man down the field. Garrison also does a great job of getting out into the open field on long runs and destroying anything in his path. He has also proven to be a reliable pass blocker, showing impressive footwork and the ability to mirror opposing pass rushers off the edge. Samuel doesn't currently hold any offers but should definitely be a player to keep an eye on over the next couple seasons.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["735993"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cpu003eFrederick Douglass has been a pipeline for Division I offensive linemen in the past few years and [player_tooltip player_id='735993' first='Jackson' last='Dialls'] looks to be one of the next to continue the tradition. Dialls hasn't had some of the early varsity reps due to other very talented offensive linemen on his team but he is a prospect that can't be ignored. Measuring in at 6'6u0022, 270 pounds, Dialls is a big, athletic offensive tackle that has very impressive footwork which will be crucial in his development as a pass blocker. He has also been throwing around impressive weight in the weight room this off-season, showing natural strength with a ton of room for growth. Jackson has already picked up his first offer from Miami (OH) and I expect more to come his way as his role in the Broncos' offense continues to grow.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Ethan Spencer","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Meade County","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"u003cpu003eEthan Spencer is another offensive lineman in the 2025 class that has caught my attention. Spencer lines up at right tackle for Meade County and is a physical mauler in the run game. He explodes out of his stance, driving his man down the field and finishing his blocks with a ton of physicality. Spencer is also very reliable in pass protection. He has impressive footwork which he uses to get back into his pass sets quickly to mirror pass rushers off the edge. Spencer also does a good job of keeping a strong base and not allowing for much penetration into the pocket as a pass blocker. Ethan doesn't currently hold any offers but should definitely be a name to watch over the next couple seasons.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["224739"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"u003cpu003e[player_tooltip player_id='224739' first='Bo' last='Wolford'] is an offensive lineman that caught my attention quickly as a freshman this past season. Wolford is the starting right tackle for Belfry and helps anchor their dominant run game. He is a physical force as a run blocker, exploding out of his stance and driving his man down the field with ease. Wolford finishes his blocks with a ton of physicality, resulting in several pancake blocks. Bo also does a great job of getting up to the second level and destroying anything in his path in the open field. While Wolford hasn't received any offers yet, I expect some to come his way soon as he has the potential to become the next Division I offensive lineman to come out of Belfry.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["773246"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='773246' first='Wyatt' last='Simons'] is another incoming sophomore that has caught my attention early in his high school career. While he has shown the ability to produce on both sides of the ball, I really like what I've seen from Simons on offense. He lines up at guard and is very impressive as a run blocker. Simons is a true mauler in the run game, exploding out of his stance and driving his man down the field. He finishes his blocks with a ton of physicality, resulting in a lot of pancake blocks on film. Simons is also a reliable pass blocker, showing quick footwork along with the ability to protect his inside gap and not allow for much penetration into the pocket. Wyatt doesn't currently hold any offers but he will be a player to watch as he continues to grow as a player.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6450782e0316d"} /-->