F.I.S.T. Football Academy: OL/DL Standouts
I’m confident that the Illinois athletes who play the offense and defensive lineman positions are in good hands as long as F.I.S.T. Football Academy is around. I got a chance to attend a F.I.S.T. Football workout for the first time…
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Continue ReadingI’m confident that the Illinois athletes who play the offense and defensive lineman positions are in good hands as long as F.I.S.T. Football Academy is around.
I got a chance to attend a F.I.S.T. Football workout for the first time this past weekend and I was blown away by how talented these big boys were.
So without further ado, let’s get to know 10 of the standout OL/DL who were in attendance at this past week’s workout.
Connor Murphy Connor Murphy 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Glenbard South | 2022 State IL | Glenbard N. ’22
Murphy possesses the versatility to line up anywhere on the d-line and has the frame and athleticism to play outside backer at the next level. He’s best served as an edge defender as he’s a tactician in the trenches that knows how to use both skill and power to get to the QB.
Carmine Bastone Carmine Bastone 6'2" | 270 lbs | DL Saint Charles North | 2021 IL | SCN ’21
Bastone is one of the most talented pass rushers in Illinois’ C/O ’21. The Cornell commit is explosive off the line and is relentless in the pursuit of his target. He can beat you with sheer power or with his fundamentally sound technique. His combination of athleticism and brute strength is reminiscent of JJ Watt.
Patrick Grange | Naperville C. ’21
Grange’s athleticism makes him a perfect fit as an outside backer in a 3-4 scheme. His speed coming off the edge will put a lot of pressure on anyone who has to block him, and he should be able to hold his own in the trenches with an already solid frame with plenty of room to grow. A coach is going to get the best of both worlds with Grange because just as competent of a pass rusher he is, he’s also more than capable of dropping back in coverage, which adds value to any defense.
Kaleb White | Fremd ’22
It’s kind of hard to label White under any one position. Honestly, you just have to put him on the field and let him go! His fast twitches are off the chart, and the speed he possesses coming off the edge is a thing of beauty. White is definitely a player to keep an eye on and could be considered one of the more slept on players in the C/O ’22.
JayJay Marlowe | Willowbrook ’21
JayJay has the frame to play the one or three technique. His movements are fluid with no wasted motion, and he possesses a great swim move and good burst to beat blockers when he’s one-on-one.
Connor Hare | Bartlett ’22
I got a chance to see Connor a few months ago at the Cream City Combine, and he was just as impressive then as he was this past week at the Fist Football workout. His excellent mobility and sure-footed movements were on display as he won the majority of his one-on-one matchups.
Tyson Beck | HF ’23
Beck works exceptionally well with his hands and has a mean punch that will only get meaner as he develops over the years. Possesses the size and strength to overpower defenders, but after watching him this past week, he’s just as effective when he uses his skill and technique to gain the advantage against his matchup.
Valen Erickson Valen Erickson 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL St. Rita | 2022 State IL | St. Rita ’22
Valen Erickson Valen Erickson 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL St. Rita | 2022 State IL is built different at 6’6″ 315lbs. He’s massive in size, has good length, above-average footwork, and is deceptively athletic, which allows him to stay in front of pass rushers consistently. He looks cool, calm, and collected in the trenches, but don’t let that fool you because Val definitely plays with a mean streak that was evident when it was time for one-on-ones. Currently holds an offer from Purdue.
Zachary Barlev | Plainfield E. ’21
The Illinois commit is a phenomenal athlete on the offensive line. Has top-tier mobility and strength along with a broad base to drive-block defenders backward when he gets locked on.
Demarcus Caston | Brother Rice ’23
Demarcus, aka “The Mayor” is your prototypical nose tackle. His size alone enables him to eat up blockers for his teammates, and he definitely can’t be blocked by one person. His upside is tremendous and I think he’s a hidden gem in Illinois’ loaded C/O ’23.