What do I need to do to be a D-1 Offensive or Defensive lineman?

[JJReed55]

Hi my name is JJ Reed my sophomore season has just ended last night. i attended Conner high school in Hebron, Ky in the 5A division. I am 100% dedicated to playing the game of football at the next level and beyond. I am in need of help on where i need to be by the time i am a senior and how i should be trying to get to these levels. I played the last part of my freshman year on varsity which included mainly only special teams minutes. This year i spent all my time on the offensive side of the ball. i played every position on the line multiple times throughout the season. There was no main position for me. My offensive line coach insists that if i play at the next level i will be playing center. I enjoy all positions though. I have had some shoulder problems late in the season and that has prohibited me to do a lot of upper-body lifting. i have had the privilege of playing with multiple division one athletes within my program but no lineman. I am looking for ways to help upgrade my stats and my overall playing ability. and what it takes to play at the division one level as a lineman.

Stats:
Height: 6'1 and growing
Weight: 235
Bench Press max: 225
Squat max: 305
Deadlift: 365
40 time: 5.15 taken before the season

Thank you for any help
God Bless!

[DCSpartan]

Endline Training has a good year round football training program on this forum. Suggest you find it and check it out.

[sowilson]

To be recruited for D1 you'll need to be at least 6'3" measured in your sock's, for O-line preferably 6'5". If your shorter you will not be recruited unless you are a completely dominating stud, and unfortunately you probably aren't otherwise I would have heard of you. Get your shoulder fixed, see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports. Check local professional football, hockey, and baseball teams, or D1 college team doctors and see one of them. If you've messed up your labrum it's 5-8 months to recover from surgery so start now so you're ready come next fall. As for strength training look at the 3rd version of Westside for Skinny Bastards - pretty decent program for HS kids in football. Besides that, good SAQ training, sign up for your track team, and consider boxing.

[amar654]

To be recruited for D1 you'll need to be at least 6'3" measured in your sock's, for O-line preferably 6'5". If your shorter you will not be recruited unless you are a completely dominating stud, and unfortunately you probably aren't otherwise I would have heard of you. Get your shoulder fixed, see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports. Check local professional football, hockey, and baseball teams, or D1 college team doctors and see one of them. If you've messed up your labrum it's 5-8 months to recover from surgery so start now so you're ready come next fall. As for strength training look at the 3rd version of Westside for Skinny Bastards - pretty decent program for HS kids in football. Besides that, good SAQ training, sign up for your track team, and consider boxing.

This exactly. Hate to say it but height really does matter in D1 level ball, especially O-line. No problem in playing D2, and some D1-AA programs MIGHT let you play for them, but it is improbable for the o-line. I like the boxing idea that sowilson had. I did MMA and it really helped my hand skills, more so on the d-line though. But imo boxing would have been better. Maybe if you get faster you can try out the fullback position or atleast get a few reps there, I was a fullback but it was the same as being a lineman in my schools program, I was basically a lead blocker. The only reason I was fullback was because of my superior speed at that time, I was a o-lineman 3 years in a row on varsity before that. Good luck man, and remember; their is nothing wrong with D2 or D3 schools.

[mrick40]

Good advice from amar......unfortunatly size matters for D1 lineman. To be recrutited D1 you'll need to be t least 6'4 and probably near 280 ish........D lineman could be a little shorter and lighter.

Again, nothing wrong with playing D2, D3 or NAIA.

Or after your senior year, if you get no offers , try and lose some fat and work on your footwork and see about walking on a D1 as a LB.

[lussyishak]

I think this advice gained to me.

[wikimaster2070]

6'1 is tall enough to make it at D1 imma tell you a secret coaches LOVE SPEED so starting hitting the track and cones and ladders like crazy

[amar654]

6'1 is tall enough to make it at D1 imma tell you a secret coaches LOVE SPEED so starting hitting the track and cones and ladders like crazy

What D1 offensive linemen are you looking at?

[Motorola1]

Dont give up the dream of D1 just yet because of height. I grew 4" Junior / Senior year

[DREAMChayser]

LOL you absolutely do NOT need to be 6'3 to be a D1 lineman. 6'1 is good enough.

[amar654]

LOL you absolutely do NOT need to be 6'3 to be a D1 lineman. 6'1 is good enough.

Look at D1 programs and then look at the size that they are. The smaller positions tend to averge 6'1 (running backs and such). Linemen tend to be at average 6'4 280+. Keep in mind most d line players at that level on averege are 6'3, and the ends are ussually taller than tackles. Simply put colleges would rather recruit 6'4+ linemen, after all they are putting money into these players.