Film Review: Baylor OL Commitment Justin DeLeon
With the Bears utilizing an offense that features a good mix of run and pass, the Baylor offense needs to recruit offensive lineman that are athletic and mobile. The first public commitment of the 2023 Baylor recruiting class fits that profile quite well.
Justin DeLeon
Size: 6’4”, 290-pounds
Position: OT/OG
High School: Kingsville (Texas) H.M. King
Recruitment
Unusual for today’s recruiting world, DeLeon made a commitment to Baylor the same day he saw that offer come his way. That day was July 3, 2021, which is before his junior season even began. Since the offer and subsequent Baylor commitment, DeLeon has been seeing more schools come after him.
SMU, Texas Tech, and TCU have offered since, and programs like Ohio State, Colorado and Oklahoma continue to recruit him among others.
Frame
DeLeon’s build looks like a center or guard, from afar. He’s really powerful from his upper legs and into his trunk. The broad chest and thick arms lend to the fact that this is a player that’s further along physically than most high school lineman. While not a massive 330-pound player, DeLeon’s frame is also in better shape than many offensive lineman that weigh more.
Athleticism
Hitting power is tremendous, which comes in large part from DeLeon’s burst off the line of scrimmage. In space, shows the quickness to block linebackers and safeties. Really good balance after contact and runs his feet through the whistle. Quickly continues to the second level to find linebackers after establishing a double team with good bend and quickness from his lower half.
Versatility
DeLeon plays tackle and guard at his high school. Could he also play center? He’s a really good athlete so that should be considered an option for the future as well.
Pass Protection
This is an area that he’s definitely better than the vast majority of high school players. Excellent patience, does not lunge and get out over his toes, consistently lands his hands onto the chest plate of the defensive lineman, and he shuffles inside or outside as needed to mirror the pass rusher. Despite not being a really long-armed player, DeLeon can definitely play tackle at the FBS level.
Best Attribute
Consistency. Technique for an offensive lineman is always reinforced with each practice, and watching DeLeon’s footwork, especially for a man his size, shows that he’s been drilled on the finer points of how to handle a variety of defensive lineman and linebackers. This is especially true
Area to Improve
Sometimes DeLeon will play with a high pad level. It’s not a concerning trait, but one that DeLeon can certainly improve. With his natural strength, and not to mention excellent punch when initiating contact, if he stays low it’s almost impossible for an opposing player to push him back.
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