Spring Profile: Bryce Goodner

McMinn County Tackle Bryce Goodner talks about his experience at the NPA Leverage Lineman Camp and his recruitment.

Late February and early March are when college programs start to really set their boards for the upcoming recruiting class. That means that this is the time of year when coaches are looking hard at prospects they have kept an eye on through several years of high school, deciding where they sit as priorities on their boards, now for the 2021 class. This is the time of year that various skill camps, 7 on 7 leagues, and Junior Day visits help to see which players are emerging on the scene, and which coaches are viewing them as a priority. It is also the time that many players move from being relatively unknown, to making their presence felt on a much larger stage. It seems that such an emergence is exactly what is happening for McMinn County (Athens, TN) offensive tackle Bryce Goodner.

Goodner is a junior for the Cherokees, preparing for his senior season and the recruiting process that will decide where he will be playing his college ball. While he plays tackle for McMinn County, Goodner is 6’3” and right at 300 pounds, putting him more in line with the build of an interior offensive lineman at the next level. According to Goodner, that assessment is just fine with him. In fact, he agrees with it, “I feel like I am a better fit on the inside at the next level. I agree with he coaches, but I’ll play wherever they want me to. I’m a big guy, but I am fast enough to pull and go hit a few people.” That mauler mentality should serve Goodner well at the next level. He isn’t just a big body, he is enormously strong, fast for his size, and has the kind of mean streak between the whistles that is prized for interior lineman. Goodner spoke a little about the strengths in his game, “What I bring to the table at the next level is a guy that is seriously strong. I can come in and be a guy that just overpowers the guy in front of me. I enjoy using my strength, and I love the challenge of hitting and blocking guys. Getting to hit multiple guys on a play and getting to wear them down over a game.” The strength that Goodner is talking about isn’t a hollow boast, it shows up in the weight room, where he squats 645 pounds, on film, and in person, when he showed his skills at the NPA Leverage Lineman Challenge in Gatlinburg, TN as part of the Rocky Top 7 on 7 Classic.

Going through drills in Gatlinburg, Goodner quickly stood out even in warmups with his straight-line speed and quick feet for his size. Throughout the group sessions, Goodner showed natural ability and flashed his athleticism. He then did solid work in the head-to-head sessions of the camp as he went against other talented defensive lineman, getting reps at tackle and guard. At the conclusion of the camp, Goodner expressed the same sentiments that he echoed in our interview. “Man, we may throw the ball three, four times a game. That’s just how our team is. I want to get better in pass protection, so I have to get reps. I know that my technique needs work, but I go to these camps to get better. I’ve gotten 14 to 16 reps so far, and I feel like I get better after each one. I get in trouble when I lean forward, that’s a bad habit of mine, and when I lean, I can get beat. But when my technique is good and I use what they’ve showed me, I win. I feel like when my technique is good that I can hold up against anyone.” In those quotes, Goodner gave an ideal scouting report. He is immensely strong and a gift, punishing, nasty run blocker that should excel on the interior of an offensive line. As a pass protector, he is very raw and inexperienced. He is, however, willing to learn and wants to work to improve that portion of his game. He quickly processed the new techniques he was given and put them to use in one-on-ones, which brings in one of the other important facets of Goodner’s game.

This is a highly, highly intelligent young man. When discussing his offer list one sentence that stood out was, “About half of the Ivy League schools have offered, so we are going to try to take a trip to the northeast and visit several of them.” Not impressed? When pressed for what he wanted to study and then pursue as a career, Goodner replied, “I’m still figuring it out, but I want to work some way in the field of Nuclear Engineering.” Goodner is an intelligent young man with an equally high football IQ. As an interior lineman prospect, that means being strongly considered at center. Goodner said that he would be excited to learn to snap and take on the challenges that come with being a center, namely, making the calls for the offensive line. The combination of size, strength, intelligence, attitude, and ability to integrate new techniques quickly has led to Goodner getting well-deserved looks from colleges.

“The school I hear from the most right now is Toledo. Their coach sent me two edits just the other day talking about, ‘Leave your legacy,’ and I think it is really cool to have someone want me that much.” When asked about schools that have started recruiting him lately, Goodner said,

“I’ve been hearing from Wake Forest and Purdue more lately, and just recently Tennessee has started calling.” Goodner stated that, “Coach Niedermeyer has been talking with me some from Tennessee. Honestly, when he first told me who he was, I nearly fell out of my chair. I’ll be going to Tennessee for a visit for one of their spring practices, and I really hope that I get the chance to put on that orange jersey and get my picture made in it. That’s the best part of these visits.” Goodner is also setting up visits to several of the Ivy League schools, Toledo, and visited UT Chattanooga over the weekend. He mentioned that he and his family were still setting up their visit schedule, but there were some ACC teams he wanted to see as well.

Goodner would be a project type lineman for the Vols if he were to end up in Knoxville, or wherever he goes for that matter. However, he is an exceptionally bright player, with a good attitude, that wants to get better, able to quickly assimilate new techniques into his arsenal. Goodner has been told by coaches that they feel they can correct everything lacking in his game, and he agrees. His size, speed, exceptional strength, and nasty disposition in the trenches cannot be taught. The fact that he is such a bright player means that coaches have a student on the field that is eager to learn and use the technique, which is one of the only things lacking in his game. How much Goodner rises up boards remains to be seen, but he has all the tools of a Power Five lineman. He seems a strong candidate to rise up boards and accumulate offers as the process goes on for the 2021 cycle.