5 OL that you should know about! – Pt. 2
In this article:
When it comes to building a successful football team, the offensive line is often considered the backbone of the offense. The performance of the offensive line can significantly impact the success of the running game, pass protection, and overall offensive…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWhen it comes to building a successful football team, the offensive line is often considered the backbone of the offense. The performance of the offensive line can significantly impact the success of the running game, pass protection, and overall offensive efficiency. As such, identifying and evaluating key offensive linemen is crucial for any team’s scouting efforts. In this scouting report, we will introduce and analyze some of the most prominent offensive linemen in the game today, highlighting their strengths and overall impact on the field.
Hugh Bodiford Hugh Bodiford 6'3" | 330 lbs | OL Auburn | 2025 State AL
Hugh Bodiford Hugh Bodiford 6'3" | 330 lbs | OL Auburn | 2025 State AL
Bodiford does what you’d hope a man of his size would do, leveraging his length and power to frustrate pass rushers, particularly when they’re trying to go through him with a bull rush. He fires his hands into his opponents’ chests and locks his arms out to keep them subdued. He shows an understanding of angles and how to cut off edge rushers even when he can’t match their speed. In the ground game, Bodiford blocks with immense power and always finishes with a flourish; his tape is littered with pancakes. He will lift up smaller defenders at the second level and slam them down when given the opportunity. He’s a powehouse as a down blocker, and if you’re a defender, it’s usually better just trying to get around him than trying to take him head-on.
Joellenbeck is an easy mover with good length. He uses a strong punch to stun opponents and stop them in their tracks. When he is accurate with his punch and locks his arms out, he can be very effective. He keeps his feet under him and remains balanced throughout the play, staying square to the defender while using active hands to maintain or regain control. He can regather his feet and set an anchor when initially driven off his spot. He looks to finish with vigor. He shows nice footwork, reaching and sealing off the backside of zone plays. His quickness shows up when he’s positioning himself to wall a defender off on the play side. He grapples with his hands while pivoting to stay positioned. He can get out into space and cover ground as a move blocker.
Martin uses his size and width to his advantage, making it tough for defenders to run by him. He snaps out of his stance with a wide, balanced base and moves with lively feet. He mirrors expertly on the inside, striking with both hands while keeping himself square to the defender and in control of the rep. He latches on with vise-grip hands, getting inside and under opponents’ pads to stack them and keep them from generating any momentum. He doesn’t panic if he missteps or misses a punch, resetting his hands to regain control. He’s quick laterally for a man of his size, and he gets to his spot as a puller in a blink. He provides good push in short-yardage situations, getting low to uproot defenders.
Dowland plays from a low, balanced base and blocks with excellent leverage. He shows quickness going from snap to block, shooting his hands up and into opponents while chopping his feet to stay square. He gets his hands inside and stacks defenders, lifting them up and off-balance to control the leverage. He is aware of stunts in his area, helping his cohort with a block before peeling off to meet blitzers or pass rushers in the hole. He shows good lateral quickness, reaching and sealing off zone blocks and working his feet to position himself quickly while staying balanced and engaged in the block. He drops a heavy anchor, and once he latches on to a defender, he doesn’t let go. His footwork and movement skills make him a great fit for a zone system.
Brandon Fears
Brandon Fears
Fears plays with incredible intensity and physicality. He brings light feet and sudden movement skills, showing the ability to mirror expertly in pass protection or get out in space and block on the move. He boasts balanced footwork and a strong punch, latching on to opponents to control the rep. He locks out his inside arm to keep opponents off his frame and grapples with his free hand, punching and resetting his hands when they’re knocked away. He throws his weight around in the run game, creating movement at the point of attack while firing his feet like pistons to push opponents off their spots. He moves into the second level easily and can target in space, adjusting well on the move to lock horns with defenders and seal them out of the play.