forums

OL Talent in SoFL?

QuattroCane said:
This will probably not be very popular, but let’s be honest very rarely do really talented kids play on the OL. They get relegated there because they’re not quite good enough for the DL obviously some of them grow into the position, but typically especially in South Florida you get a lot of overly fat kids who can’t do much else.
Click to expand...
This.
 
Advertisement
Real estate and cost of living prices have pushed out the traditional communities that generate this type of football talent from SoFla.
 
BRockCane98 said:
Popular? I don't know why it wouldn't be. It's just a fact though. Most HS coaches put their best big bodies on the Dline because that's where they should be playing. True in south Florida and just about everywhere else.

If I had to guess there are quite a few lower ranked DT's from south Florida HS's who could be turned into excellent Guards and in some cases Tackles similar to what Mario and Mariobal did with Anez Cooper. If a kids getting offers from smaller schools, G5's and less prominent P4's, as a mid/low 3 star DT he probably isn't high on a position change and Miami's staff isn't big on gambling that the switch will work when they have other kids who already play Oline willing to come. Maybe it would be an easier sell now that they can point to it working out so well with Cooper who was a 3+ year starter and will be drafted.
Click to expand...
100% but a lot of these kids aren't bought into the idea of playing OL.
It's not "cool" enough.
Same reason why we have a hard time producing TE's down here.
They rather play DE or be a big WR with a limited route tree. 🤷🏻‍♂️

It's wild, and we have A LOT of people down here giving them bad advice. I'm literally having this issue RIGHT NOW.

Just in the last month alone I've met a 6'4" 200lb WR with no offers who should be a defensive edge player, a plus-sized DB with no offers who should be moved to LB and a big a$s WR with no twitch who should be playing LB or Safety.

These kids wanna play the position that catches footballs and has a pretty stance. They don't wanna go to school. 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
90scane said:
In the last 4 classes, only one 4 star and I’d almost call him a bust. Only Dade/broward/west palm

2026-2023 : 0
2022
247sports.com

Julian Armella, St. Thomas Aquinas , Offensive Tackle

2021: Transferred back into Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas where he is starting at left tackle for the Raiders. 2020: Played at Miami (Fla.)...
247sports.com 247sports.com

2021

2020
Click to expand...
As someone who's coached against both, he's much better than Armella.

Armella was very grabby and over aggressive to the point of foregoing his technique. He played OL like he'd been watching too many cliche football movies.
 
Coach Macho said:
100% but a lot of these kids aren't bought into the idea of playing OL.
It's not "cool" enough.
Same reason why we have a hard time producing TE's down here.
They rather play DE or be a big WR with a limited route tree. 🤷🏻‍♂️

It's wild, and we have A LOT of people down here giving them bad advice. I'm literally having this issue RIGHT NOW.

Just in the last month alone I've met a 6'4" 200lb WR with no offers who should be a defensive edge player, a plus-sized DB with no offers who should be moved to LB and a big a$s WR with no twitch who should be playing LB or Safety.

These kids wanna play the position that catches footballs and has a pretty stance. They don't wanna go to school. 🤷🏻‍♂️
Click to expand...
I'm sure the fact that Florida coaches at public schools make virtually nothing doesn't help. At the school I work at most of our varsity Olineman are kids that initially wanted to play D-line but got switched during their freshman or in a few cases sophomore year.

Never heard of any trouble convincing kids to play edge with one notable exception. Kid started at WR as a freshman and it took the coaches till spring of that school year to convince him that his future was as an edge rusher. He'll be a high 1st round pick in '27 or '28.
 
BRockCane98 said:
Didn't know that. Kinda sucks. Projection stands. He looks great in those highlights vs Mater Dei.
Click to expand...
Archdiocese schools don’t allow it down here as well as some of the prep private schools like American Heritage. Chaminade’s didn’t allow it before but now some of their players are home schooled kids that get to do it like Jojo and JJ did
 
Back
Top