2025 Season Film Review Notes: Top C/O 2028 OL"

As a regional scout for Prep Redzone New England, I've had the opportunity to track some of the region's most promising young talents, and few have shown as much rapid progression as these Class of 2028 offensive lineman.    [player_tooltip player_id='378937' first='Joshua' last='Moore'] is no longer just a “big kid with potential.” He is quickly becoming one of the most improved and physically dominant young offensive linemen in New England. What stands out most when you watch Moore from his freshman tape to what he is showing right now is the tangible, measurable growth in every category that matters for the next level. He has gotten bigger, stronger, and more physical across the board. The frame that already looked college-ready a year ago now carries noticeably more functional mass, and it shows up immediately on film. The biggest jump has been in his first-step quickness. Moore is firing off the ball with better timing and explosion than he did even six months ago. That initial surge allows him to consistently win the line-of-scrimmage battle on both run and pass sets.   You now have a kid who is routinely driving defenders backward and creating displacement at the point of attack. Effort is never an issue. Moore looks to finish every single block. Whether it is a drive block in the run game or a reach block climbing to the second level, he plays through the whistle with violent hands and a nasty demeanor. Lower-body strength is a key focus. While his upper body and core have filled out beautifully, adding more functional strength in his hips and quads will help him anchor against bull rushes and maintain leverage when the pad level battle intensifies. Hand placement remains a work in progress. He is strong enough to win with raw power right now, but cleaner, more consistent inside hand placement will let him sustain blocks longer against quicker defensive linemen. The good news? Moore is only a sophomore and already possesses the frame, athleticism, and finish that many 2028 offensive linemen across the country are still chasing. With continued work in the weight room on those two technical points, his ceiling is extremely high.        The New England big man entered the year with the frame every offensive line coach dreams about—long arms, broad shoulders, and the kind of natural power that shows up on film. What separates Sims from the pack in the recruiting cycle is the dramatic, measurable improvement he has shown from last season to this one. The kid didn't just get stronger—he got sharper, and the tape proves it. Last season Sims was a “project” with upside. This year he's a technician. His feet are noticeably quicker—the kind of sudden change-of-direction ability that lets him mirror edge rushers and slide laterally without lunging. Paired with a faster first step, Sims now fires off the ball with violence and explodes into contact instead of waiting for it. Hand placement and independent hands have taken a massive jump. No more grabbing and hoping. He's delivering precise, punch-and-replace strikes with both hands working on their own—inside hand controlling the chest, outside hand riding the shoulder pad. His posture and base are night-and-day better. You used to see him high-waisted and off-balance after the first two steps. Now he plays with a flat back, bent knees, and a rock-solid foundation. The improved base gives him the leverage to anchor against bull rushes and the stability to recover when he gets caught off-guard.   Sims has always had the size to move people, but this year his vision has caught up to his power. He diagnoses front structures quickly, climbs to the second level with urgency, and consistently gets to linebackers in a hurry. Whether it's a down block, a reach block, or pulling on counter, he's arriving with bad intentions and finishing through the whistle. If there's one area where the growth is most obvious, it's pass protection. Last season Sims was raw—long but leaky, susceptible to speed off the edge and inside counters. This season? Much improved. He's using that quicker first step and independent hands to set a hard edge, then rides rushers past the quarterback with controlled, patient feet. His posture stays low through contact, and the improved base keeps him from getting walked back into the pocket. Pass-pro reps that used to end in pressure now end in pancakes or stalemates. [player_tooltip player_id='1741980' first='Oliver' last='Sims'] is a name you're going to hear a lot more of.      After transferring from Jersey Shore High School in Pennsylvania ahead of his sophomore season, Bloom has transformed into a dominant force in the trenches, demonstrating significant year-over-year improvements that make him a must-watch prospect for NCAA programs scouting the Northeast. Entering high school at around 330 pounds, Bloom has reshaped his body without sacrificing mass. He's added lean muscle while enhancing his overall conditioning, allowing him to maintain intensity through four quarters. One of the most noticeable jumps has been in Bloom's footwork and agility. As a freshman, he could be heavy-footed at times, struggling to mirror quicker defenders. Now, he's noticeably lighter on his feet, with improved lateral quickness that shines in run blocking schemes. This mobility allows him to pull effectively to the edge or climb to the second level, making him versatile across guard and tackle positions.   Technique has been a focal point of Bloom's growth. His stance is now more balanced and explosive, with a quicker initial punch off the snap. It's a subtle but game-changing adjustment that has reduced penalties and increased his effectiveness in both run and pass sets. Bloom's hand usage has gone from adequate to elite for his age. He's developed independent hands that strike with precision and power, keeping defenders at bay without overcommitting. This was a weak spot in his freshman tape, where he occasionally relied on body positioning over active hands. Now, his punch is violent and consistent, allowing him to control engagements and redirect rushers effectively. Perhaps the most impressive leap is in pass pro, where Bloom has become a veritable wall. As a freshman, he was vulnerable to speed rushes and inside counters, but his sophomore film shows a prospect who anchors deeply, mirrors movements fluidly, and uses his length to stonewall edge threats. With quick feet and strong hands, he's rarely beaten clean, providing his quarterbacks with clean pockets. This improvement alone has elevated his profile        What stands out most in his physical progression is the improved explosiveness off the snap. Early in his career, Mahoney's first step was serviceable but lacked the burst to win leverage immediately. Through targeted training—likely incorporating plyometrics and speed drills—he's shaved precious tenths off his get-off, making him a nightmare for edge rushers. In recent games, I've seen him fire out low and fast, consistently beating opponents to the punch and creating running lanes that weren't there before. Beyond the measurables, Mahoney's technical growth has been the cornerstone of his ascent. As a underclassman, his hand placement was inconsistent—often too wide or high, allowing savvy defenders to shed blocks and disrupt plays. He's clearly put in the reps to address this, now striking with precision inside the frame, using his long arms to control and redirect.   Aggression has been another key area of development. Early tape showed a more passive approach, where Mahoney would engage but sometimes hesitate to finish. Now, he's playing with a mean streak that's contagious for his unit—driving legs through contact and burying defenders into the turf. This mindset shift has led to more finished blocks, turning potential stalemates into dominant wins. In pass protection, he's holding his ground longer against bull rushes, and in the run game, he's sealing edges with authority. Mahoney represents a high-upside investment. His frame has room for more good weight, and his technical strides suggest he'll adapt quickly to college schemes—whether it's zone blocking or man-gap power. [player_tooltip player_id='889367' first='Tommy' last='Mahoney'] isn't just getting better—he's evolving into the kind of lineman who anchors championships.      Boniface possesses the prototypical frame for a tackle or guard at the next level, but it's his steady improvements in technique and athleticism that suggest he's far from a finished product—yet brimming with upside. Boniface showed flashes of dominance but was often hampered by inconsistent footwork and a narrow base that left him vulnerable to quicker edge rushers. Fast forward to this year, and the strides in his lower body mechanics are evident. His feet have become noticeably quicker and more disciplined, allowing him to mirror defenders with greater efficiency. This ties directly into a faster kick step, which has transformed his pass sets from labored to fluid. In pass protection—a phase where he already showed promise as a junior—Boniface has elevated his game to a level where he can anchor against bull rushes and redirect speed rushers without losing balance. That said, Boniface's hands remain a work in progress, though even here we've seen incremental gains. Previously, his punch timing was sluggish, often leading to defenders initiating contact and dictating the engagement.   This year, while the speed of his hands hasn't caught up entirely, his placement has improved markedly—he's landing inside the frame more consistently, using his length to control and steer opponents. This adjustment has paid dividends in sustaining blocks longer, particularly in zone schemes where maintaining leverage is key. On the flip side, the run game continues to be an area where Boniface struggles to fully impose his will. He generates initial movement off the snap thanks to his size and improved base, but finishing blocks remains inconsistent. Too often, he fails to drive through contact or seal the edge, allowing linebackers to scrape and make plays. This isn't uncommon for young linemen with his build, who sometimes rely on sheer mass rather than refined pad level and hip explosion. Overall, Boniface's improvement from last year to this one is a testament to his dedication and the coaching he's received. He's not the polished, ready-to-start prospect that some blue-chip recruits are, but his growth curve points toward a player who could develop into a multi-year starter      Budd already possessed the frame that screams "NFL upside"—that rare combination of height and mass that allows him to engulf defenders at the point of attack. He showed flashes of nastiness in his play style, consistently looking to finish blocks with authority, driving opponents into the ground or pancaking them when the opportunity arose. That finisher's mentality hasn't wavered; if anything, it's become more refined as he's learned to channel it without drawing penalties. But like many young linemen of his stature, Budd's game was held back by inconsistencies in his fundamentals. His foot speed was adequate but not explosive, often leaving him a step slow in pass protection or when climbing to the second level in run schemes. His base— that critical foundation of balance and leverage—was narrow at times, making him vulnerable to bull rushes or quick counters from edge rushers.   Equally impressive is the upgrade to his base. Budd's stance is wider and more stable, providing a lower center of gravity despite his towering frame. This adjustment has paid dividends in both pass pro and the run game, where he's now generating better leverage to displace defensive tackles or seal off linebackers. As a result, he's getting to the edge faster on outside zone plays and ascending to the second level with purpose—opening up lanes for his backs that simply weren't there before. Of course, no prospect is perfect, and Budd still has room to grow. Hand placement remains an area of struggle; he occasionally shoots his hands too wide or too high, allowing savvy defenders to slip inside or redirect his momentum. Refining this technique—perhaps through more targeted coaching on punch timing and inside-out aiming points—could unlock even more dominance.

As a regional scout for Prep Redzone New England, I've had the opportunity to track some of the region's most promising young talents, and few have shown as much rapid progression as these Class of 2028 offensive lineman.