The reclassification to the class of 2029 will certainly help his recruiting. That being said, I think Kern would be receiving the recruiting attention he is getting right now whether he was a 2028 or a 2029. There has always been one caveat with his projection and potential: putting production on tape.

Kern passes the eye test. I hear nothing but good things about his grades and his work ethic in the weight room. This is the type of player my grandmother could scout, and of course I mean that as a positive. The only caveat has always been, “Let’s see it on tape.” Thankfully, he has been tagging me throughout his games this season. I thought this was a good time to finally dig deeper into what I’m seeing, especially with recent offers from NC State, UConn and Tulane.

Kern penned a first four game tape consisting of more than 200 seconds of quality reps at left tackle. One of my biggest questions surrounding his projection was his ability to get out of his stance, show us a kickback move and move fluidly and athletically. I think he is quickly answering several of those questions based on tape alone.

I particularly love his reps as a run blocker. Of course, I’m going to value pass protection over run blocking when evaluating a left tackle, but when identifying Kern’s movement skills early in this tape, what immediately catches my eye is his ability to get his backside into the correct hole, move his feet, move his hips and strike with his helmet inside the defender. In doing so, he paves the way for his teammates and ball carriers to read and react behind him. Low pad level, a ton of intent, moving with a purpose and playing with a sense of urgency. This is the Kern that I have been waiting to see.

Again, I’m going to value the pass protection reps more than the run blocking reps at left tackle, but seeing him shuffle while maintaining his balance and low pad level is a huge green flag. I also love seeing him play through the whistle. The best offensive linemen in the Northeast play through the whistle and play with a violent temperament. I’m starting to see flashes of that out of Kern. We want opposing defenses to dread lining up across from him.

Through the first month of the season, I can see that presence beginning to build. I’m happy to see the recruiting attention catching up. This is a Power Four offensive line prospect with the potential to leap back inside the top 20. We simply needed the recruiting to match the grade. He is already ranked within our Power Four threshold and sits just 10 to 15 spots outside of a certified Power Four grade. His early season tape is proving that he deserves a slight boost.

Class of 2028 offensive tackle Andrew Kern Andrew Kern 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL/DL Episcopal Academy | 2029 State PA from Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School possesses the type of frame that immediately attracts attention from college recruiters. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 268 pounds, Kern already has the size and length needed to excel at the tackle position. His film demonstrates strong movement skills and the ability to operate effectively in both the run and passing game. Kern shows good balance and body control while competing against quality competition. His physical tools allow him to create advantages at the point of attack and protect the edge. As he continues to add strength and refine his technique, his upside remains extremely high. The combination of size, athleticism, and developmental potential makes him one of the more intriguing young linemen in the state. Kern’s stock is clearly trending upward heading into the upcoming season.

Andrew Kern Andrew Kern 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL/DL Episcopal Academy | 2029 State PA played on Junior Varsity last year for St. Joe’s Prep. He showed a ton of potential as an offensive lineman. He has excellent fundamentals by having a good stance and start. He has good footwork and drives defenders off the ball well. He also does a good job in pass protection by moving his feet and staying in front of edge defenders. Kern is someone who has a ton of potential and should get on the field next year and play some Varsity football.

Andrew Kern Andrew Kern 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL/DL Episcopal Academy | 2029 State PA is an unblockable player at defensive line. He does a great job of getting off the ball and sometimes it looks like he knows the snap count he gets off the ball so quickly. Then when he engages with offensive linemen he has the strength and athleticism to give offensive linemen a difficult time when they try to block him. He has a motor that never stops. Kern is a talented defensive lineman in the 2028 class.