High-school Success = Quick and fast.

 

College, everyone's fast. Size is a must.

 

Highschool (around here anyway) is speed. Speed wins.

 

Most schools just will not entertain a non-optimum sized lineman at the D1 level. They have their template and know they can get guys with the speed to fit it.

Maybe its just because I was raised on it, but at the high school level I think the man blocking scheme (utilizes speed/quickness) is far superior to the zone blocking scheme (big/strength). Obviously, the scheme you run relies on your personnel, but I would take a man blocking scheme with the right personnel over a zone blocking scheme with the right personal any day.

Watch the 1st play in this highlight.

 

Newport Central Catholic High School vs. Shelby Valley - Maleek Lawrence highlights

 

Love watching that kid play!

 

With that said, this is the perfect example of quickness over simply size. Shelby Valley is huge and slow.

 

On the contrast, this highlight package shows a solid study in size vs. quickness...when the size has some quickness of it's own

 

Belfry High School vs. Newport Central - Jordan Scott highlights

 

You will see 4 plays..two of which Lawrence is completely blown out of the play, one he uses his quickness to make a play, and the other I would call a neutral play where the linemen cuts Lawrence and both are taken out of the play.

I watched the highlands and Woodford game and highlands speed frustrated the Woodford size all game long so I say speed

At the high school level you need a balance as stated above. I will take a fast, strong lineman. A lineman can't block until he gets to the point of attack. If he never gets to the point of attack, he is not much use.