Event Recap: Trenchlab Gauntlet Offensive Linemen

<p>Now that the dust has settled and I have had time to condense my notes, here are some to the things I saw from the participants attending <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachAlstonk">Coach Keith Alston's</a> inaugural Trenchlab Gauntlet. This article features the crop, where I will be releasing my top performers, tops plays, and the top 4 finalists.</p>   <p>Incase you missed any of our event coverage from this event, our event coverage series the Trenchlab Gauntlet is below.</p>   <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/04/event-preview-trenchlab-gauntlet-interesting-ol-prospects-to-see/">Event Preview: O-line</a></p>   <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/04/event-preview-trenchlab-gauntlet-interesting-dl-prospects-to-see/">Event Preview: D-Line</a></p>   <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/04/immediate-reaction-inaugural-trenchlab-gauntlet-2024/">Immediate Reaction to Event</a></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jersey Prospects</h2>   <p>Riverside's [player_tooltip player_id='1227833' first='Chase' last='Perry'] was in attendance. What I took away from his performance is that he ought to trust and have more confidence in his feet. There were several really strong instances where he kick stepped with speed, balance, and urgency. I think he gave the competition a bit too much credit early on, respecting their speed rush. When they took the inside lane he looked to get their hand on their hip and drive them across the frame. Perry is more than capable to succeed in this setting..... [player_tooltip player_id='910865' first='Slayton' last='D'Amico'] of St. Augustine Prep has tons of potential as a 2027 graduate. Akin to his upside, patience is a virtue when it comes to pass setting. A few times he shot his arms out ahead of the defensive linemen threatening his space, causing him to lunge just a bit. However, D'Amico showed an uncanny ability to recover. In rep he took the defender crossed his face with a strong hard rip. Unfettered, D'Amico got his hand on the slanter's hip and drove him past and outside the pocket...... Cracking a few eggs to make an omelet or two was Egg Harbor Township's [player_tooltip player_id='1262457' first='Sam' last='Cicchino']. Cicchino has a very good body for offensive line and sets with his hands nice and low. I want to see him continue to work and refit his hands, making sure they stay on the interior of the defender's chest...... Williamstown's [player_tooltip player_id='1262451' first='Eric' last='Straub'] was a prospect who commands respect and is not afraid to get in your grill if you test him. Another big, strong frame, Straub felt slighted by one of matchups in a particular rep because he stared him down if I recall correct. He proceeded to challenge that matchup to two additional reps in a mini best-of-three series...... Joining Straub was Williamstown teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1262459' first='Kareem' last='Prunty']. Prunty resembled more of an athlete than a lineman in my mind as he moved well and had an athletic frame. He continued to work, grind, fight, and claw during every rep he took. I can perhaps see him transitioning to tight end on offense at some point in his career..... [player_tooltip player_id='1262458' first='Roger' last='Chapdelaine'] was a prospect who impressed me with his patience and balance. The Bordentown Regional interior lineman was getting progressively fired up each rep he took and won - so much so to the point he was calling out individual matchups that he wanted, winning two in a row against a certain defender he wanted a piece of. He kept his feet active and balanced to do most of his winning. This stood out when a defender tried to hit the snatch on him and Chapdelaine remained unmoved and upright..... Last but not least was [player_tooltip player_id='1262498' first='Luca' last='Schiano'] from St. Joseph's of Hammonton. A bit on the shorter side, comparatively speaking, for this particular event, Schiano is a a tough bulldog-type center. He bullied anyone smaller than him, landing on them as a reminder that he owns them. He kept his chest in front and parallel with his opponents for the most part. Schiano also showed that he can ride his opponent upfield, but should be reminded to not let himself get out leveraged when doing so as a spin move will let the interior rusher set back to the pocket. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pennsylvania Prospects</h2>   <p>Hailing from Conestoga was [player_tooltip player_id='1155990' first='Justin' last='Schwartz'], who had a big, tall, and strong frame to him. Schwartz did a nice job using his body to stay in front of people throughout the midday session. He got his hands on people to ensure he felt their every move as he looked to be a human shield for the quarterback. Schwartz, especially if he ends up playing offensive tackle, would be best served to keep the same distance between his feet and not "step" when working. In doing so, an inside path directly to the quarterback can be created..... Closing out today's evaluation was the young buck, [player_tooltip player_id='816319' first='Cooper' last='Ebeling'] from Episcopal. Admittedly, it took the 2027 prospect a little while to get into the swing of things; however, once he did, he did a masterful job of competing and winning more reps. Certainly having a good body for the position helps, but he began to swap and fight opponents' hands down. One rep that stood out to me is the completely pinned & planted a spinner who got caught trying to beat Ebeling inside with speed. As time goes on I expect Ebeling to be able to get chest-to-chest with his matchup, sit upright in his set, and stay in front of everyone.</p>

Now that the dust has settled and I have had time to condense my notes, here are some to the things I saw from the participants attending Coach Keith Alston's inaugural Trenchlab Gauntlet. This article features the crop, where I will be releasing my top performers, tops plays, and the top 4 finalists.