Trench Talk Thursdays- OL/DL on the Rise

We're starting yet another series to get us through the long offseason!   Today, we're marking up our very first Trench Talk Thursday! We are heading to the line of scrimmage and watching some of the talented prospects across the state that are on the rise.   With these guys' talents, we're going to be hearing a lot from them this upcoming fall. As always, be sure to check out some of their film below!    [player_tooltip player_id='1680275' first='John' last='Semaj Green'] is a hybrid defender who produced a ton at EDGE for Mary G. Montgomery last fall.   "Green is a talented LB who can line up and produce on and off the line of scrimmage. He plays with a ton of speed, power, and pursuit at 6'2 220 that make him a challenge to block every single snap.   I'm really impressed with Green's run defense. He's so quick to overwhelm OL and make his way into the backfield, constantly creating stops of loss. Everyone needs to watch out for him going forward."   I was really blown away by how well Green played last season. Only a sophomore, he already possesses a ton of next-level traits in his game. I won't be surprised if we see a lot more collegiate attention head Green's way soon- he's a talented defender that a lot of people will have circled this upcoming season.      [player_tooltip player_id='1624930' first='Christian' last='Harris'] is a talented EDGE/DE from Hoover who took his game to another level this past year.   "At 6'2 235, Harris has great size and presents a lot of problems for opposing offensive lines as a pass rusher. Harris is quick off the snap, plays with a ton of speed and power, and can quickly make his way into the backfield to generate pressure and hurry the QB.   I'm really impressed with how Harris uses his leverage to beat offensive linemen. He gets low and generates a ton of power to dominate the OL across from him and get into the backfield. Harris also affects the passing game by breaking up passes at the line of scrimmage- he does a great job using his hands to bat down balls and is an overall threat on passing downs that has to be accounted for."   I, for the life of me, cannot understand why Harris is as slept on as he is. He's shown up and balled out each year of his career, whether it be at Hoover or Tuscaloosa Academy. I think he'll have a HUGE senior season this fall. We all need to keep watch.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xjT8bigYko </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1896573' first='Nic' last='Hendrix'] is an impressive OG from Spain Park who's consistently gotten better year after year.   "Hendrix is an athletic lineman whose best work is done on the move. He explodes off the snap and is seriously mobile at his size, pulling across the line of scrimmage to provide huge blocks/openings for his RBs to capitalise on. Hendrix is so reliable in the run game. He consistently creates so much space at the LOS and beyond; it's impressive to watch.   Hendrix is also reliable in pass protection, holding off interior pressure to give his QB plenty of time to make decisions with the ball. All around, he's a well-rounded OG with a huge senior year ahead of him next fall. We all need to keep watch."   I really think Hendrix could pick up more collegiate interest soon. He's such a well-rounded and productive lineman, and those are a tough breed to find at the next level. I'm excited to see what he can do moving forward, I think great things are ahead for him this fall.      [player_tooltip player_id='1665748' first='Christian' last='Bennett'] is a standout OT from Clay Chalkville who broke out and found a ton of success in the trenches last season.   "Bennett is already an incredibly reliable LT for Clay Chalkville- he opens up a ton of opportunities for his teammates in the run game and provides great pass protection upfront for his QB.   At 6'3 250, Bennett already has the size and athleticism to dominate at the position. He's incredibly strong, plays with great bend and leverage, and has the power and quickness to fight off a wide variety of defensive linemen in the trenches."   As a sophomore, Bennett stood out, competed with some of the state's best, most talented defensive fronts, and still found success. I think he could end up seeing a lot more high-level programs reach out to him with offers soon. He's a beast on the left side of the line who will only keep getting better. Make sure you check out some of his tape below:      [player_tooltip player_id='1587234' first='Isaac' last='Harris'] is another talented lineman from Spain Park who caught his stride this past season.   "Harris is a physical force in the trenches who explodes off the line and opens up huge opportunities in the run game. I'm really impressed with how he plays through the whistle- he'll drive defenders several yards back and into the dirt every chance he gets.   Harris is just as good in pass protection. He's quick on his feet and has the size and strength to consistently win matchups against pass rushers, providing a clean pocket and plenty of time for his QB."   I'm high on Harris and his skillset. I think he's shown a ton of fantastic things on film through his first two years, and when you look at his size and potential, it makes you really excited for what's to come. I won't be surprised if we're looking at Harris as one of the top OL in his class towards the end of this year. He's a seriously talented player.

We're starting yet another series to get us through the long offseason!