OL/DL Prospects Ready To Breakout This Fall

The 100+ degree August heat has descended on much of the Sunflower State and just in time to test the ballers getting ready for the 2026 season.   The heat is just one of many challenges the players will have to deal with this pre-season, but it is definitely not something to take for granted even if you are rolling into practice in your best shape.   Hydrate every chance you get.   In this report we are taking a look at four seniors and a sophomore who have prepared for playing in the heat with busy summers training outside and hitting camps.   So, without further adieu, let's see what these guys have been up to getting ready:     [player_tooltip player_id='2075596' first='Jacob' last='Cannezzaro']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jacob-cannezzaro/"></a> , 5'10, 220, OL/DL, Blue Valley, '29, first out of the gate is the only sophomore in this report and one who caught my eye as he was transitioning to the varsity game as a freshman. On offense he can line up at either guard or center and is looking to play some nose guard on the other side of the ball. With his strong frame and quick feet he can pull and trap or lead backs on the perimeter. He is a bruising blocker in the run game as well as active working the second level. In pass pro he has a good position step to lock on and can also slide off and pick up blitzing LBs. This off-season he has been working with trainer DJ Lynn of Bluhawk, and staying busy on the camp circuit, hitting the Top Gun camp as well as William Jewell and Wichita Trinity to name a few. All the work is paying off as he is bigger, faster and stronger than last year. This guy is going to surprise some people this fall.     [player_tooltip player_id='1343607' first='Tyler' last='Brown'], 6'5, 275, DL/OL, Oxford, '27, up first for the seniors is a guy coming off an All-State season a year ago and followed up with a strong off-season. With next-level size, speed and athleticism, he is a multi-positional player on both sides of the ball. This year he will help out on the interior offensive front but is athletic enough to move out to tight end if needed to take advantage of his large catch radius and 4.85 speed at 275 pounds. Wherever he lined up on offense he made things happen, delivering 25+ pancake blocks last fall as well as catching three passes for 82 yards and a TD. On defense he can be moved up and down the line as a three or five technique and is coming off a year when he was a force in the box, piling up 70 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks and three forced fumbles. This guy has all the tools and word is getting out. I am looking for him to have a big fall, with offers flowing in soon after.     [player_tooltip player_id='1275244' first='Kai' last='Lowry']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kai-lowery/"></a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kai-lowery/"></a> , 6'1, 245, DE/TE, Shawnee Mission NW, '27, the next senior up is a baller who looks to be another seek-and-destroy defensive lineman produced by SMNW Coach Cook. Last fall he showed glimpses of great things to come and took advantage of his opportunities on defense with 22 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and caused a fumble in seven games. He comes off the edge as a DE with lower-body power and quick lateral movement who can fight off blockers with one arm and make the tackle with the other, all while shutting down the perimeter on his side. On offense he is a piledriving blocker from his TE position who can also slip out and make the contested grab over the middle if needed. He has been hitting it hard in the Cougars off-season training program, recently achieving PRs in bench press (340) and squat (550). With a year of experience and a productive off-season this guy is going to rip it up this fall.     [player_tooltip player_id='2265952' first='Cooper' last='Brown'], 6'2, 285, DT, Mulvane, '27, it has been a busy off-season for this trench warrior who has been fine-tuning technique and mechanics as well as working on speed and quickness with his teammates. He has also been spending time in the weight room, establishing new PRs (335 bench; 500 deadlift). This spring and summer he was on the road showcasing his game at a number of camps, including the Sharp Prospect camp in Wichita in May, K-State Big Man and Oklahoma State camps in June and then Pitt State in both June and July. The camping trips have been beneficial as he received feedback and input from a wide range of coaches which he incorporated into his game. With good size and strength he can split double teams or choke off gaps and plays snap to whistle. He also moves well for his size and shows good agility going laterally or tracking in pursuit. This guy is ready to take his game to the next level this fall.     [player_tooltip player_id='2058132' first='Parker' last='Pinks']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/parker-pinks/"></a> , 6'4, 285, C/OL, Salina Central, '27, and last but certainly not least is a guy who caught my eye last year when I was scouting [player_tooltip player_id='557340' first='Warrick' last='VanBlaricon'] during the Mustang's exciting run to win the 5A State Championship. He flew under the radar last fall playing with not one but two all-state linemen, but he ended up being a key member of an offense that established school records as one of the most powerful offensive units in the state. He is versatile enough to play anywhere along the line of scrimmage as a guard or tackle in the Mustang's scheme, but has really stepped up as an anchor in the middle at center where he uses his lower-body strength and physicality to blow open holes in the run game. He also has good reach and agility sealing off the interior in pass pro and when he locks on typically buries the defender in the turf. This guy is going to dominate in the trenches this fall.   In conclusion, get out and see these guys in action this fall – you will not be disappointed.   And, as usual…   Keep grindin'

The 100+ degree August heat has descended on much of the Sunflower State and just in time to test the ballers getting ready for the 2026 season.