2025 Watch List Spotlight: OL (Pt. 3)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 Rankings were updated to 125 total players ranked in the class back in January but many more are on the Watch List. These Watch List players will eventually enter the rankings in the future and are names we will be watching closely next season. Here are some OL not currently in the rankings who you should keep an eye on in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1126404"],"_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":"Cabell Midland posted a young but talented offensive line in 2023 with a very promising future that should excite Knights' fans. 2025 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1126404' first='Matthew' last='Edwards'] is an undersized athlete for his position with limited junior tape but impressed on his available film. He's a talented three-sport athlete who also shines on the wrestling mat and thrower for the track u0026amp; field team and may choose one of those other sports to play in college. Edwards' play on the football field should be noted though even if he chooses another sport down the road and is talented in his own right even at a smaller size for his position. The 6'0 215 junior plays offensive line how you'd imagine a wrestler would play it as he proved to be a strong and physical player with apparent upper-body strength. Edwards also plays with proper leverage and can neutralize bigger defenders due to his development in the weight room and wrestling technique. Although only a two-game sample size from last season, I thought Edwards was dominant against a fellow physical team in Spring Valley where he earned a PRZ WV Big Man Standouts mention and showcased the level of physicality and dominance that he's capable of. Size hurts his ceiling as a football prospect, but talent and ability alone earned him a Top 30 OL ranking in the 2025 class, and he could finish inside that range with more film available after next season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["908160"],"_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":"Hurricane OL [player_tooltip player_id='908160' first='Braylon' last='Brown'] is a prospect that is primed for a breakout senior season for the Redskins after seeing some action as a junior. Hurricane will lose several key contributors on their offensive line from a season ago opening up an opportunity for Brown to solidify one of those spots in 2024. This will be a big off-season for his development as he continues to get bigger and adds strength to his 6'1 265 frame. From watching his available junior midseason highlight tape, you could see the potential Brown flashed in 2023 with the opportunities he got on. Brown has a good guard frame and size and should develop into a quality D2 or D3 college prospect as he fills out more. Physicality was also apparent throughout his tape with pancake and knockdown ability. Natural footwork and quickness could also be seen, and Brown has a solid athletic foundation to build on heading into his senior season. He's still raw as a prospect and athlete, but there are tools to work with there and could be a potential late bloomer who can work himself into a quality college prospect in his final year of high school. Brown has a chance to be one of our highest OL stock risers next season if he takes the next step in his development.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1126406"],"_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":"Lincoln guard [player_tooltip player_id='1126406' first='Christian' last='Skidmore'] was a steady player for the Cougars as a junior and returns as one of their leaders on the offensive line in 2024. A touch undersized at 5'11 280, but Skidmore is a mauler and a highly physical run blocker. He's the type of player who's going to play until the echo of the whistle and enjoys putting defenders on their backside. Skidmore is a tough matchup for interior defensive linemen due to his stature as he's able to get under you and allow his physical strength to do the rest. He showed violent hands and a strong punch on film that can plant a defender on initial contact alone. I'd love to see film of his pass pro next season for a better gauge of his full skillset, but Skidmore is your prototypical bulldozing run blocker that D2 and D3 programs should be watching during his senior season.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["908164"],"_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":"An under-the-radar Class A offensive lineman that I've liked for a while is River View's [player_tooltip player_id='908164' first='Travis' last='Bailey']. Bailey earned PRZ WV Second Team All-State honors in 2023 and returns as one of the more notable small school offensive linemen in the state. He did a nice job anchoring the Raiders' OL from his center spot as a junior and is a talented two-way player for them as he also sees time on the defensive line. As is the case for most small school teams in WV, River View is a heavy-run team so Bailey lacks pass-pro film but is a physical run blocker. I thought he moved well on tape and showed he was able to block down to the second level from his center spot. Bailey showcased quality upper body strength with good drive in his blocks. Although he may not face the stiffest of defensive linemen at the small school level, Bailey was dominant at times on film and blew defenders backward way beyond the line of scrimmage on some of his blocks. He's a lock for D3 offers and could play himself into some D2 looks if his measurements hold up.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1126422"],"_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":"Frankfort should boast one of the more talented Class AAA offensive lines in 2024 which includes guard [player_tooltip player_id='1126422' first='Daniel' last='Marley']. He's a strong but undersized offensive line prospect at 6'2 230 but has the frame to add the weight needed to play the position in college. Size is crucial for a position like OL, but putting that aside, I liked what I saw from Marley on film. He has the other traits that you're looking for in a guard prospect and has the ability and talent to play at the next level if he's able to put on the added size. Typical of Frankfort OL, Marley is a talented run blocker in their Wing-T system with good feet and plays with an edge. His quickness was apparent on film which is essential for how often he's tasked with pulling and trapping in that scheme. Marley's special teams play should also be noted and further speaks to his athleticism being able to block in space on kick return. If a college can put 50-60 pounds on him they could end up with a steal of a prospect, which I believe he's capable of doing or possibly even move to DL at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f385d496419"} /-->