Eagles return experienced offensive line for 2024

by Michael Smith
 
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The 2023 season may have been the best offensive season in the history of the Grain Valley football program.
 
The Eagles were led by Simone Award finalist Ty Williams, who had a school record of 2,485 yards. The team totaled 5,364 yards and put up a gaudy 41.6 points per game a season ago. That offense was supported by a strong offensive line led by Stylz Blackmon, who was a Class 5 first-team, all-state selection.
 
It will be a tall task for Grain Valley to repeat that same success on offense in 2024, especially since three starters on the offensive line, including Blackmon, Blake Robinson and Luke Andorfer have graduated.
 
However, the Eagles will bring back some experience upfront as they will have four players who received varsity playing time and started at least one game each.
 
Senior Korbyn Goodwin will be the leader of the offensive line as he will slide over from guard to the center position, replacing Robinson. The 5-foot-11, 240-pound lineman missed some games last year due to an injury but will be ready to be the anchor of this unit going into the regular season.
 
Head coach David Allie said Goodwin excelled as a pulling guard in 2023 and he brings good footwork and athletic ability to the center position and will be able to be used on pulls when opposing defenses have an even number of defensive lineman up front.
 
Allie added Goodwin is a good fit at center because of his knowledge of the offense.
 
“He’s also very physical,” Allie said. “He’s not afraid to hit you. He knows where everyone needs to be on a play and how they fit in and he can redirect the protections.”
 
Grain Valley junior tackle Chase Kitsmiller echoed his coach’s sentiments.
 
“Korbyn is very physical and aggressive. He sets the tone for everyone else,” Kitsmiller said.
 
Kitsmiller will be another important piece of the offensive line as he returns as a tackle. He began 2023 as a backup before he was put in as a starter following injuries to Logan Bennett and Goodwin.
 
He is long at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds and his wing span will allow him to use his hands to get to his blocks quickly.
 
“He can pull a little bit but he thrives more as a down blocker,” Allie said of Kitsmiller. “He has those long arms so he can reach people. He’s been progressing all summer to be that full time starter that we need him to be.”
 
Junior Titus Jennings, like Kitsmiller, also filled in as a starter following some injuries to the Eagles’ offensive linemen. He moved from tight end to a guard last season and filled in nicely for the team. He is someone Allie may look to use to play on offense and defense.
 
Junior Logan Bennett, like Goodwin, missed some time in 2023 due to injuries after beginning the year as a starter. He will play at guard for Grain Valley and is one of the bigger players on the team at 6-foot-1 and 220-pounds. He brings a good combination of power and speed to the guard position.
 
“I feel like I am pretty powerful on power blocks,” Bennett said.
 
Added Allie on Bennett: “He can get on defenders quickly. He can work angles. He’s strong enough to go one-on-one with a defender straight ahead, too.”
 
Grain Valley still has a vacancy at left tackle and those competing for that spot include junior Will Page and sophomores Taelin Schatzer and Will Chrisman.
 
Senior tight end Eli Monrian will aid the offensive line to block opposing defenders. He’s a three-year starter and has good size at the position at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds. Last season, he formed a strong one-two combo at the position with Peyton Woodrome. He has 17 catches for 159 yards and one touchdown.
 
“He can go up and high point catches in the air,” Allie said. “He’s been very valuable keeping defense offenses honest.”
 
In two tight end sets, junior Landon Mariott will join Monrian. Marriott has mostly been used as a blocker at the junior varsity level but is also someone who can catch passes when needed.
 
This year’s version of the Eagles offensive line will be similar to those in recent years. Grain Valley typically hasn’t had a lot of size up front. It usually doesn’t have players at the position that fit a typical mold of an offensive lineman, such as someone who is 6-foot or taller and weighs 280 or more pounds.
 
But that hasn’t stopped the Eagles from being successful on offense as the players up front surprised some opponents in the past despite the lack of size.
 
“We don’t have a traditional offensive line,” Allie said. “We have kids who are smart and aggressive and are athletic, can move and get angle. That huge size is not there, but you can’t complain because those guys get the job done.”
 
Bennett said he’s confident the 2024 version of the offensive line has what it takes to have similar success as the units the Eagles’ have had during their run of five consecutive district championships since 2019.
 
“We know how to play,” he said. “We don’t match up in size with some other teams, but we still have power. We can match anyone in physicality.”

Grain Valley junior Logan Bennett, left, and Chase Kitsmiller will be two of four offensive lineman returning with experience starting for the varsity football team. Photo credit: Michael Smith