Noah Knapp picks Army
Ezekiel Volk is a key component of the Crabbers’ offensive line
by Brandon Mitchell, recruit757
Hampton High School is in the midst of a transition. The Crabbers lost a great deal of key players who held leadership roles for Coach Mike Smith. Jovonn Quillen, Jr. is out; as well as Demetrious Strickland, Linwood Johnson, Andrew Crosby, and a lot of other seniors as the team progresses toward the 2016 season.
One group of men that have remained almost unchanged for the Crabbers is the offensive line. The offensive line for the Crabbers returns many of its key players from last season. Ezekiel Volk (SR OT 6-3 278), Jalen Powell (SR C 6-3 265), and Jordan Forte (SR OG 5-8 270) are among the core for the Crabber offensive line and were all present at the Mike Tomlin Camp this past Saturday. With a new quarterback in D.J. Nunn (SR QB 6-1 187), protection will be imperative for the rising seniors.
Volk’s presence at the HRYF All-Star Football camp a few weeks ago made a statement.
“Honestly, I had a few friends who dragged me out here today so I can get a good workout going. I’m really trying to have as much fun out here with the boys as I can possibly have. It was very important that I come out here today. The guys that are here with me today are the guys I’ll be protecting on the field. Jalen (Powell) is my center, (Jordan) Forte is my guard, and I’m the tackle. My quarterback (D.J. Nunn) is here and I think we’ll do just fine this year. We protected Bubba (Jovonn Quillen, Jr.) last year and that’s what we’re going to do this year,” stated Volk.
Volk is a man that took advantage of the resources that were presented to him when he made his way out to the Mike Tomlin Camp. On the verge of a breakout season, this was predestined for Volk when he started playing football at the age of six. The rising senior played football for the next four years before he took a break. Volk got back into playing football when he was a sophomore at Hampton and made an immediate impact.
Volk started most of the games he suited up for his sophomore season before having a minor setback that caused him to miss a few starts. Volk came back his junior season but Coach Mike Smith began switching his offensive linemen out at a much higher rate than the previous season. The Hampton product has been gearing up to play multiple positions on the line and on both sides of the ball this season. This will definitely make him a better-rounded recruiting target.
“I think I did pretty well today but I need to use my hands a lot better than I’ve been using them. I’ve been doing a lot of work from the tackle position this off season. I can pretty much play everything on the line even though guard is my natural position. I’ve been playing guard since my sophomore year because I love knocking people out. I plan on trying to get in better shape so I can be able to play on the defensive line also. I have to start making up now for all the camps I didn’t get the chance to go to this off season,” said Volk.
Volk has been getting minimal interest this off season, but that hasn’t motivated him to work harder any less. The University of Virginia was showing the rising senior interest prior to the end of last season but nothing truly materialized. Volk currently hold a 4.19 GPA so he’s looking into programs that are going to challenge him academically as well as physically. With the summer winding down it’s only a matter of time until Volk and the Crabbers get to pad level.
– Brandon Mitchell
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