The Southeasts top OL

Junior To Watch: Leon Hart

School: Columbia (S.C.) Spring Valley

Position: Offensive Tackle

Size and speed: Hart is 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds. He runs the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds.

Honors: Preseason all-state for 2003, High School Sports all-state for 2002, all region, Spring Valley’s MVP of the offensive line.

Statistics: Graded out at 91 percent with 48 pancakes.

Favorite schools: Leon does not have any favorites at this time but has mentioned South Carolina, Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland, Vanderbilt among others.

Skinny: Leon Hart is one of the most sought-after offensive linemen in the country this year. Hart is also a terrific student with a 3.4 Grade Point Average. Hart attended junior combines in San Antonio this past fall and finished first in three out of six categories -- vertical jump, broad jump, and 40-yard dash.

Hart is extremely athletic according to his head coach Jimmy Noonan.

“His athleticism is phenomenal, whoever gets film on him offers him.” said Noonan.

Hart is a true team player and plans to play on both offense and defense to help his team to a state title. Hart had 43 tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, and caused two fumbles on defense as a junior and registered 48 pancake blocks on offense. Hart is receiving all his offers for his play on the offensive line. He has offers so far from South Carolina, Clemson, Vanderbilt, and Maryland. Hart is also starting to receive letters from Colorado and other programs.

Hart attended South Carolina’s junior day this past weekend and enjoyed it.

“I like the enviroment and the coaching staff. I felt like they were really getting to know me,” he said. “Coach (Skip) Holtz is recruiting me and he’s a good person. He’s the one that offered me. I feel comfortable around him. He is not pressuring to me.”

Despite his interest in the Gamecocks, Hart is wide open and just beginning the recruiting process.

Hart plans to attend summer camps at South Carolina, Clemson, and Furman.