A Step Ahead: Jim Stefani's Underclassmen Football Recruiting Blog

Class of 2008: Some Elite Offensive Linemen

Vinston Painter OL/DL 6'5 315 5.10 Norfolk Maury Virginia

It’s a great year for offensive linemen and Vinston (correct spelling) ranks with the very best……..Considered by many to be the top offensive lineman at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine in San Antonio………..First Team AAA All-Stater and First Team Orlando Sentinel All-Southern highlight his many junior honors…….Had 22 pancake blocks on offense and 23 tackles on defense as a junior……….. Tremendous combination of strength and quickness… Great build, decent height and effective both as a pass blocker and run blocker…....As a sophomore he had the following combine numbers: 40-yard dash: 5.56 seconds, Shuttle: 4.87, Bench press: 22 reps, Vertical leap: 21.2"……..Reportedly had over 40 offers by January 2007!.......Destined for greatness


J.B. Shugarts OL/DL 6'6 285 5.60 Klein Texas

Shugarts is one of the nation’s elite offensive linemen…..He was very impressive at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine in San Antonio, where his father was a coach for the OL drills……..An exceptional athlete. He has nice height and really quick feet and agility for a big man, but needs to improve his strength….…Plays basketball……….His team mostly runs the ball so he is still a bit raw when it comes to pass blocking, but he has the frame and athleticism to excel as LT. As a run blocker he has a very strong surge and is an exceptional finisher…… Impressed onlookers during 2006 camping stops at Texas, Texas A&M, Michigan, Ohio State, and Florida…………He was named First Team All-District as a sophomore OT, but only Second Team All-District as a junior TE since he missed all or part of 3 of 6 district games due to a Staph Infection......His school has recently sent offensive linemen to Michigan and Notre Dame, but J.B will be the best of the bunch…..Wants to attend a college with a stable head coaching situation and a chance to win a national title……..As of January 2007 he had over 15 offers.


Tyron Smith OL 6'4 255 5.10 Moreno Valley Rancho Verde California

Many feel that Tyron is the top lineman on the west coast and possibly the nation……Exploded onto the recruiting radar for schools from coast-to-coast after winning Stanford Nike Camp MVP honors as a sophomore (the only sophomore in the nation to do so whiule outplaying such junior studs as Ryan Miller, Martin Coleman and Javario Burks)……Great frame, this lean-looking athlete could easily add another forty pounds without losing his quickness…..Has the long arms needed for pass protection and the quick feet (5.1 combine forty on a soggy surface) that enable him to pull at guard………Put up a decent 21 bench reps and had a 29-inch vertical as a sophomore…..His toughness and physical play on the field are what separate him from the combine Tarzans……Just needs to refine his technique…….Plays both ways in high school (also DE) but most like him as a LT in college………..His coach claims he’s a better prospect than former USC star Thomas Herring, who he coached at Fremont…………..By January 2007 he already had a handful of impressive offers…..Sky’s the limit for this athletic lineman

Mike Adams OL 6'5 294 5.20 Dublin Coffman Ohio

After a down year for OLs in Ohio in the Class of 2007, Adams leads a very strong Class of 2008 crop and is among the best linemen in the nation………..Some feel he ranks right up there with Korey Stringer and just a shade below Orlando Pace when compared to the top OLs to recently emerge from Ohio...........First Team Ohio News Network All-State selection (tend to focus on college potential), but the traditional media only gave him honorable mention all-area recognition as a junior….Very tall, so he has a very high ceiling both literally and figuratively………Has the lean frame to easily add another 30-40 pounds……….Still growing into his body, so his best football is definitely ahead of him………Still relatively raw when compared to other national elite linemen, but his ceiling is as high as any………Impressed at the 2007 U.S. Army Combine and 2006 Ohio State camp.…..Projects as a LT…..2.9 GPA…..His school regularly produces D-1 talent over the years (think Brady Quinn)……Received early offers from Ohio State and Michigan in 2006………..One of the nation’s very best


Alonzo "A.J." Harmon OL/DL 6'4 308 5.87 Louisville Jefferson County Georgia

Alonzo is a two-way lineman who has the potential to excel at either side of the ball at the next level......College coaches really like him on both sides of the ball............Consensus First Team Class AA All-Stater as a junior and also listed by numerous publications as among the nation’s elite junior prospects…… Regitered 47 tackles and caused 12 fumbles as a junior…...Second Team All-Area selection by the Augusta Chronicle as a junior…..Burst onto the recruiting scene as a freshman at the Athens Nike camp, when he ran a 5.69 forty, 5.31 shuttle and had 16 reps in the bench…..Excellent athlete, also plays basketball. Very quick feet for a big man. Also has a fine work ethic…..Looked exceptional at 2006 Georgia summer camp…..Wants to play either OT or DT in college…..Really jumps out on film. Very quick and explosive at DE. Also shows exceptional power. Run blocks with power and authority, showing great finishing ability. Surprisingly agile and adept pass blocker…..By the end of 2006 he already had at least six offers, from such programs as Florida, Georgia, Auburn and Clemson……One of the nation’s elite linemen

posted by Jim Stefani @ 6:09 PM