Big Work = Big Future?
When it comes to breaking down a player's tape it's not the easiest thing in the world to breakdown an offensive lineman who is catching touchdown passes but that's exactly the challenge Bill Bedenbaugh faced in evaluating Princeton (N.J.) The Hun School offensive tackle offer, and now commitment, Logan Howland. And that's now the exact thing SoonerScoop.com needs to do in looking at Oklahoma's latest class of 2023 pledge.
SoonerScoop.com Recruiting Editor Josh McCuistion: It should come as no surprise that the first thing you see as you watch his tape is athleticism, in fact it's not hard to see why Howland got some solid attention as a tight end prospect prior to shifting his focus to the line. Early in the clip you can see him change direction, showing some good short area quickness for a tight end - something that translates to elite quickness and agility on the offensive line.
As he spent the year working at tight end there's no real chance to see him in the pass game but you can watch Howland work in the run game and see a guy that has good length and turns defenders naturally with that size, arm length, quick feet and the inherent leverage that the trio creates.
When someone makes a change of position like this one the question always persists - but how will the step up in physicality be handled? Howland moves his feet very well upon contact and can frequently be seen driving defenders down the field and occasionally finishing blocks on the ground. His physicality will need to pick up but he's definitely not a guy that is afraid to mix it up and, on tape, is often left one on one with defensive ends to the play side, speaking to the Hun's confidence in his ability to open running lanes.
In all, he's a guy with loads of talent but obviously there's a long way to go between where he is - the very beginning of playing offensive tackle - and being who he could become.
Player Comparison: Howland actually kind of reminds me of current Sooner offensive tackle Anton Harrison both in the potential upside as well as the development that lays ahead.