Ten Upstate OL To Watch In 2023

Jed Blackwell July 29, 2023 @ 09:14 PM

At every level of football, success starts up front. The Upstate has plenty of players who are drawing attention at the OL position - big, physical, strong players who play with a nasty streak in the best sense of the word. Here's a look at 10 who will make a difference in 2023.   Harrison Bridges Chapman - Bridges has plenty of size at 6-4, 275, and he's a leader on both sides of the ball for Chapman, playing some DT in addition to his role on the OL. He uses his athleticism to shine in the run game, and as he emerges as a pass blocker he's expected to shift from the right side to the left.   Jake Buerk Gaffney - Buerk transferred in from New York last year, and had a successful first season for the Indians. Now the 6-3, 285-pounder is expected to be an anchor on Gaffney's offensive line, and will shift over to center.   [player_tooltip player_id='448975' first='Blake' last='Franks'] Greenville - Greenville's offensive line is scary good. They return all five starters, and the leader of the group is Franks. The South Carolina commit stands 6-5, weighs 315 pounds, and is an athletic monster at left tackle.   [player_tooltip player_id='809750' first='Landon' last='Greene'] Dorman - Greene is the lone returner from last year's fantastic group up front for Dorman, but he's more than capable of leading the way. At 6-2 and 320, Greene is often one of the biggest players on the field, and nearly always one of the most physical.   [player_tooltip player_id='1144047' first='Chase' last='Gregorek'] T.L. Hanna - Gregorek is a big (6-5, 290) tackle who's athletic enough to also be a lacrosse standout. His offers include one from Army, and his brand of physical play is integral to the Yellow Jackets' wing-based offensive attack.   [player_tooltip player_id='798324' first='Jack' last='Harris'] Powdersville - The Patriots' center, Harris is a good bet to head upfield as a lead blocker when Powdersville needs somebody at the point of attack. He's got a knack for getting to the second level and causing havoc, and this year he's expected to take on long-snapping duties.   Stephen O'Dell Broome - O'Dell is a rarity - an offensive lineman who can move sideline-to-sideline as well as he can upfield. He's a big body at 6-6 and 290 pounds, but he's anything but anchored to his position. He's athletic enough to play anywhere on the line, and is often a lead blocker in space for Broome's dynamic backfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='274871' first='Julius' last='Tate'] Greenville - You'll find Tate - all 6-3 and 315 pounds of him - right next to Franks on Greenville's line, and that's a scary proposition. He's another D1 guy, who recently decommitted from Northwestern due to a coaching change. He won't have to wait very long for more offers to pour in.   Jonathan Welsh Easley - Welsh is one of the best pass-blockers in the area, with a combination of size, speed, and footwork that's difficult to find. He's also a punishing run-blocker, particularly at the second level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1142430' first='Watson' last='Young'] Daniel - Young (pictured), a 6-3, 280-pound Appalachian State commit, is a two-time All-State player who's helped anchor Daniel's line for two years. He can play guard or center, and seems to take particular joy in knocking opponents off their feet. He had 18 pancake blocks a year ago.

At every level of football, success starts up front. The Upstate has plenty of players who are drawing attention at the OL position - big, physical, strong players who play with a nasty streak in the best sense of the word. Here's a look at 10 who will make a difference in 2023.