’26 interior offensive lineman rated high on the list of Kentucky prospects
Bullitt East would like to rediscover the magic which led them to the 6A title in December of 2022. The Chargers have a bone fide star in Byron Hardesty (61-tackles, 20-TFLs, 15-sacks, two FRs in ’24) but most teams are built up front from the inside out. That means from the center out through the tackles. Teams have to be tough up the middle foremost because that is the most direct route to your QB, the A-gap. Bullitt East has their man in the middle in Garrett Courtney and he is ranked among the very best prospects in his graduating class. He also has a 3.3-GPA.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Mt. Washington, KY: It is really important to get the middle of an offensive front nailed down and by someone steady and reliable if not spectacular. We have seen some darn good centers through the years covering the KHSAA.
Hayes Preston from LCA, a year ago, was mighty good. He’s now at the Air Force Academy about to “blast off.”
Ethan Wolford from Belfry sticks out to us. Wolford was a multi-year starter at the University of Charleston (W.Va.) and may be playing a fifth year while getting his Master’s degree, or so we have been told.
William Long, from Hopkinsville/Breathitt High, was a three-year running, 1st Team All-Stater at the position and believed to be one of the best HS centers the KHSAA has ever seen. Long had a great career playing four years at Centre College, was last year’s Joe MacDaniel Award winner for excellence, and is now working for a big outfit in the Big Apple.
There is a trend set here, if you are the type to notice such. All of these prior centers played in college and are thriving either on or off the field presently.
There is absolutely no reason to expect any less from Garrett Courtney. Courtney is a 6’2,” 310-pounder who is ranked among the top ’26 prospects at his position group in his graduating class.
Courtney is ranked among the top ’26 prospects at his position group in his graduating class
Friday Night Fletch
Courtney has really fine length (6’7″ wingspan, 8.5″ hand size) and a really first rate mind (3.3 GPA). We have watched his Hudl highlights (above linked) and enjoyed what we saw.
Courtney has quick get-off and is moving as he is delivering the snap. His snap looks reliable and well placed. Courtney swings his hips around and seals inside or out well. In other words, we like his hips and feet.
We would like to see Courtney get down the field and block at the second, and even third level, this Fall. We feel colleges are waiting to see him run his feet through the whistle more in evaluating him and deciding whether or not to offer.
There are certain “aspects” of interior offensive line play schools are waiting to see. Courtney may already be a multi-level blocking threat, he just didn’t include any examples on his highlights. That is a skill schools will want to see and those highlights need to be in the first few “highlights.”
Kids get too consumed with “pancakes.” Pancakes are nice, but there are other skills your highlights need to exhibit outside of “I can knock down the guy immediately across from me.” Just saying…
Courtney is devastating at the point of attack and bowls over most defenders at the line of scrimmage. That said, Courtney also tends to kind of watch the action after demolishing “his guy.”
of Charleston (W.Va.)
This is called “motor.” We need to see more evidence of his having an active and “revved up” motor.
College programs want their centers to whip the first level threat and release down the field and engage second and third level guys. The point is colleges want their OL to block all the way down the “downfield zone” and through the whistle.
Courtney has three offers in the bag. We feel many more programs will “jump on board” when they see film of him being active through the whistle and blocking multiple levels.
Then again, what the heck to do we know?
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball and KPI Newspaper Group, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
If you enjoyed this article and wish to gain full-access to the site, then subscribe monthly to Kentucky Prep Gridiron by following the prompts!
© The information contained on this site is the copyrighted intellectual property of KPGFootball. Any unauthorized dissemination of this material without the author’s express written consent is strictly prohibited!
Leave a Reply