Joel Hale is a busy young high school football player. He will graduate in 2011 and already has landed offers from Indiana, Purdue and Cincinnati. He travelled to visit Kentucky over the weekend of January 30th and before the end of this summer, will be ready to make a commitment to play big time college football.
The 6' 5" 295 lb defensive lineman begins his day at 6:00 a.m. and many times doesn't make it home until 8:00 p.m. Work ethic is not a problem for Joel Hale. In fact, Head Football Coach Eric Moore wishes he had more players like Hale and Joel Cox (2010, who headed to West Point to play football). They are involved in Center Grove's "Kid's Power Club." The power club is run three nights a week and is basically a "strength and speed readiness" class for 1st through 6th graders. I asked Joel (Hale) if he had the patience to mentor the young people. He laughed and said surprisingly, "We get a lot accomplished."
His school day ends at 2:50 p.m. and then it is off to strength and conditioning. He has verified impressive numbers and strength is not a problem area. Joel has a solid 365 pound bench press, a 405 pound back squat and a power clean of 308. These are excellent numbers for a junior player in high school. Anyone who follows Center grove sports knows that track season is spring football for Center Grove High School and Joel is one of the throwers for Coach Eric Moore, who is also the head track coach.
Coach Moore told the Indiana Gridiron Digest that Joel is "Everything we preach about character and toughness." But what he appreciates about Joel the most is, "he never takes a play off." Joel's recent trip to San Antonio allowed him to measure himself with the country's best. "We have some good players in our football conference, but there is always a question of how do we stack up against the best in the country?" Joel?s combine numbers were comparable and his strength numbers were national class. But it was the drills, and after an initial ?feeling out? process, he believed there were a couple of bright spots. "Coaches felt that my technique was superb and I demonstrated my overall strength and quickness at the position. I left San Antonio more confident," Haled openly confessed.
Lance Scheib (Football University) who was a part of the evaluation process said people were impressed with his size and strength.. and he passed the eye test! Joel graded high in one essential area - his ability to change directions. "I ran an extremely fast shuttle time for my height and size.? He credits that to his workouts in the "Tough Room." The "Tough Room" workouts take place in an empty elementary school building. They are isolated and involve indoor sleds, wrestling mats and padded rooms according to stories coming out of Center Grove. Completely supervised, the workouts stress the players physically and mentally according to Hale. They have "Tough Room" days Tuesday and Thursday and credit the workouts with developing his lateral movement.
We are one month into 2010 and Joel Hale has 3 offers. He will have more over the course of the next few months. He is not the only Center Grove football player who has college aspirations, but right now he is the one who has the offers. I have proclaimed 2010 the year of the lineman in Indiana. There are some pretty solid big men who are leading the way. Joel Hale will be one of Indiana high school football?s top recruits because of multiple factors. He should be on everyone's Indiana college short list.
Tim Adams
tadams@gridirondigest
