The offense gets a ton of love–but that love is normally reserved for the “skill” guys such as the quarterbacks, running backs, receivers–heck, even tight ends and fullbacks get that love before the “unsung heroes” get any recognition. Maybe it’s because they’re the LEAST likely player on the field to score points, but ask around and you’ll find out who the MOST important person is: the center.

It’s been well-documented that the “big-uglies” up front making it to the elite levels of the sport may be “ugly”–but they aren’t lacking for intelligence. The Alpha of that o-line in terms of importance and intelligence is the center. They’re the guys that have to recognize the play before it happens making the adjustments and responsible for getting his guards and tackles on the same page. They are the ones that get the entire rhythm of the play started on its appropriate beat starting with the snap.

The East Lake Eagles went through some growing pains during the season, but they still found themselves in their customary postseason position. East Lake’s ability to produce talent on the offensive side of the ball–especially in the trenches–with players like Michigan’s Mason Cole and soon-to-be Duke Blue Devil OL Julian Santos make things easier for the other studs at the skill-spots.

That trend seems to be continuing with 6-foot-1, 325-pound Spencer Schmuckie anchoring what’s going to be an extremely young line, but an offensive unit that will have three bonafide weapons in Xavier Jackson, Bryce Miller and Tupac Blanch. The offense last season averaged 31 points per game while posting four-40+ point contests along the way. When you watch Schmuckie on film, the junior is what we call–“a problem-solver”–when it comes to clearing a passing lane for his QB or assisting his fellow trench-mates with their block. And when he places hands on said defenders, they are relocated quickly since Schmuckie’s strength is obvious on film and in-person.

So with all of that youth around him, it’s got to be nice for Head Coach Bob Hudson and his staff to know that they’ve got their big-ugly-with-brains making the right calls and making sure their offensive rhythm is always in-sync.