Florida OL a versatile talent

The ability to play each position on the offensive line and long-snapping skills could make Tampa (Fla.) Jefferson’s Blake Varino an attractive prospect in the Sunshine State for 2005.

Varino (6-3, 270, 5.0) has bulked up considerably since this time a year ago, and his coach feels like he’ll be receiving a considerable amount of recruiting attention this season.

“Blake is a real valuable kid to have on the offensive line,” Jefferson coach Mike Simmonds said. “He can play all five spots, and with the scholarship limits colleges have today, coaches need guys who are versatile. He gives you that.

“But he’s really good at center. We run a spread offense, and he’s very good with his shotgun snaps and dropping back into pass protection. He’s got real good feet. He can pull and trap, do a lot of different things. He’s also a wrestler, so he’s got good hands and overall agility. He’s got a lot of the intangibles that coaches look for.”

Varino blends good physical tools (300 bench, 400 squat) with intelligence (3.4 GPA).

“He’s a good one to have at center because he’s so smart and has good football knowledge,” Simmonds said. “He can make all the calls and checks you need on your line.”