Inside the Huddle: Centers-Class of 2019

If there is one position that gets overlooked in recruiting it would be Center. They are the true quarterbacks of the offense. Most of the time they are asked to make the line calls during the game. This years group of Centers is led by Charles Turner. He is one of the more technically sound lineman we have seen since we starting covering high school recruiting over 15 years ago. Along with Turner you have 3 other guys fighting for the top spot: Smith, Murphy and Hinton. All of them have P5 offers and each should have a legit shot at having nice careers at the next level.

1.Charles Turner-IMG Academy-6’5-255:(Committed to LSU): His initial hand punch is quite impressive. He has so much power in his hands, Turner shocks the guy who is going against him. He is very nimble on his feet and moves well laterally. He is our number 1 center prospect.

2.Maurice Smith-Miami Central-6’2-290: If Maurice was over 6’4 we would be talking about one of the top center prospects in the entire nation. Here is a kid who competes. He goes to camps and will go against the very best in attendance. He is much underrated and the only thing holding him back is size. (Reported offers: App State, Boston College, Indiana, Jackson State, Marshall, Miss State, Texas State, Tulane and UAB)

3.Vincent Murphy-Saint Thomas Aquinas-6’4-280: (Committed to South Carolina): Murphy is very well coached. He has good technique and usually wins most of his one on one battles. He can play tackle, guard or center. He comes off the ball well and understands how to finish plays. He gets his hands on the opposition and his guy won’t make a play.

4.Dorian Hinton-Naples-6’2-300:Hinton plays in an offense that runs the football. You better come off the ball well and finish. He comes from a school that demands excellence from their lineman. He plays tackle but his future is at center or guard. He moves well laterally and has the strength to finish plays.

5.Dustyn Hall-Charlotte-6’3-275: Dustyn is another offensive lineman in this class who is asked to run block. He comes from a wing-t offense. You turn on his film and Dustyn looks for someone to block. He is a player who is going to do best in a phone booth. He is one of the better run blocking lineman in this class.

6.Lyle Hiers-Lake Wales-6’5-260:(Committed to App. State): He gives you a guy at Center/Guard with some size and length. He is well coached. Lyle is not the most athletic guy on the board but he will fight. He is very good with his hands.

7.Antonio Serrano-Saint Thomas Aquinas-6’2-290: Serrano started his career at Belen Jesuit. He is not the biggest lineman but the kid can flat out play. He has always been a good run blocker. He drives his guy off the ball. He plays guard but will most likely end up at center in college. He plays with a mean streak.

8.Aleek Saint-Aime-Lakeland-6’1-270: He is undersized guard who will most likely move to center in College. He plays with good leverage. You will see him stay low and fire off the ball. He is limited in what positions Aime can play at the next level.

9.Luis Cristobal-Cristobal-6’2-280:(Committed to Georgia State):Cristobal comes from a football family. Both his father and uncle both played the game. He plays with the same nastiness as his family members. He will fire off the ball and try and take your head off. He can run block very well.

10.Timothy Robinson-Pensacola Washington-6’3-300:Robinson tries and mauls the guy opposite him. He is a guy who is going to play best inside a phone booth. He is not a lineman who has great lateral movement. He as physicality and if you want to drive block that is where he will excel.

•Tyler Burnsed-Baker County-6’2-300:Tyler helped lead one of the best rushing attacked in NE Florida. He played tackle but that is not where we project him in college. He moves pretty well for a high school lineman. He fires off the ball and drives his guy backward. He lacks size and great length. (Reported offers: Committed to Troy State)

•Julian Hernandez- Saint Thomas-6’3-295 (Updated: 6/17/2018): Hernandez is going to be very well coached. He is a kid that can come off the ball and just plow his guy over. He is very physical at the point of attack. What we like is his ability to come off the ball and get to the 2nd level. He is very physical for someone his size. (Reported Offers: Pittsburgh, Columbia, FAU, Louisville, NIU, Southern Miss, Syracuse, FIU)

•Drew Peterson-New Smyrna Beach-6’2-290: Peterson plays guard but we project him as a center. He shows pretty good footwork for a lineman. You will see him come off his guy and get to the 2nd level. He plays with a mean streak. He will try and punish you on a run play. If he was bigger there would be more schools recruiting him. He carries over a 3.7 GPA.

•Zyire Willett-Wekiva-6’2-300: Willett is a kid who will get down the field and try and run his guy into the ground. He is an undersized lineman who will most likely have to play center in college. He can get after it on the football field.

•Tyler Milrod-American Heritage Plantation: Milrod is a prospect that will get his chance to shine this spring. We would like to see him come off the ball a little better. He also needs to improve his technique. Once he gets his hands on a guy, Milrod needs to learn to keep his feet moving and drive his guy backwards. (Reported offers: None)

•George Davis-Palm Bay-6’2-350:Davis is a wide bodied guard. He is not real tall but he takes up space. He is not real athletic. He is more or road grader. We would like to see to him come off the ball better. He is not going to excel as a pass blocker. While he plays tackle, we project him more as a center/guard. (Reported offers: None)

•Bryant Maddox-Jacksonville Raines-6’2-260:Maddox plays with a bit of a mean streak. He plays tackle but with his quick feet and size you move him inside and Maddox will excel. He moves well for a big guy and you ask him to pull Maddox can get out to a safety or linebacker in space.

•JD Crouch-Forest-6’3-290:Crouch comes from a part of the state that can be overlooked at times. He is Forest best offensive lineman. He will come out of his stance and pull very well. He will get out to the edge and just finish his guy off. Crouch plays with a bit of a mean streak.