Top 5 linemen in Livingston County entering 2022 football season
Livingston Daily Press & Argus sports reporter Bill Khan will examine the top football players in Livingston County at various position groups entering the 2022 season.
The final installment in the series focuses on the top linemen.
1. Jack Storey
Brighton, offensive tackle, senior
Background: Storey is athletically gifted enough that he will play football and baseball at Hope College. He was a first-team all-county selection last year after making the second team as a sophomore. Playing all of last season with a high-ankle sprain, he still performed well enough to make all-region.
Coach Brian Lemons: “Jack provides us with a super big, athletic kid. So, we’re able to do some dynamic things offensively, because we have such an athletic offensive line. We’re really lucky to have the athleticism and size at the same time, because usually they don’t go together.”
2. Vincent Cox
Hartland, offensive tackle/center, senior
Background: Cox is a third-year starter who made first-team all-county last season. His versatility allowed him to play all five positions on the line last season. A heavyweight wrestler, Cox should provide a push in a run-heavy offense that features 1,000-yard rusher Joey Mattord.
Coach Brian Savage: “He’s pushing 300 pounds, but he moves well. He’s quick. He knows what’s going on. He knows the blocking schemes and he’s able to make some calls and help the other guys. He’s a student of the game. He loves football. He’s that true kid we can count on up front.”
3. Bobby Kanka
Howell, defensive end, sophomore
Background: Kanka will top this list the next two years, and quite possibly by the end of this season. He is being recruited by Power 5 programs, a rarity for a young player from Livingston County. Kanka was a second-team all-county selection as a freshman at Pinckney before transferring to Howell. He’s moving from defensive tackle to defensive end on defense and from guard to tight end on offense.
Coach Brian Lewis: “He’s a great athlete. We’re going to take advantage of that. We’re going to put him in a position to play in a little bit of space, catch some balls, win on the edge, do some things that we think will be an X-factor for us.”
4. Nolan Nelson
Howell, offensive guard, senior
Background: Nelson was a second-team all-county selection last season. Following in a long line of physical linemen at Howell, he helped pave the way for a running game that averaged 179 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry. He has received interest from Navy and Army, as well as some Division II and III programs.
Coach Brian Lewis: “Just a gritty kid, tough, physical. He’s a guy who sets a tone for us up front. He’s going to come and he’s going to hit you. We know he’s going to hit you. The other team knows he’s going to hit you. You better be ready for it, because he’s gonna bring it. He brings that toughness, that edge the offensive line needs to play with.”
5. Owen Sweeney
Pinckney, defensive tackle/offensive guard, senior
Background: Pinckney will lean heavily on Sweeney, a third-year varsity player who is one of only two returning starters on the team. Overshadowed by some talented senior linemen last season, Sweeney had 18 tackles in six games. He received honorable mention all-county. Sweeney is receiving interest from Division II and III schools.
Coach Jason Carpenter: “He’s really a lead-by-example guy. He has good energy, but he’s not a rah-rah guy. He works extremely hard. He’s trying to narrow down some colleges. They see what an excellent young man he is, well-spoken, and the guys follow him. They know Owen’s going to do the right things on and off the field. He’s a lot quicker than people imagine with a guy his size.”
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillKhan.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Top 5 linemen in Livingston County entering 2022 football season
