Interview: 2022 Tennessee OL Ben Caviness Gearing up for Camp Season
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Life on the gridiron works hand-in-hand from one position to another. If a team has a great running back, the offensive linemen are going to get extra game reps with their run blocking. If the offensive linemen are doing a great job, that running back is going to get extra carries and yards making the game look easy. At Christian Brothers in Memphis, the 2020 season (7-4) was a symbiotic relationship between 2,000-yard rusher Dallan Hayden and his offensive line. Hayden was able to tear apart Division II-AAA West defenses thanks in large part to the play of guard Ben Caviness and his fellow linemen. The 6-4, 275-pound, road grader was putting defensive linemen on roller skates if not planting them in the ground play after play. The action in the trenches has brought an offer from Eastern Kentucky for the Class of 2022 recruit with interest now rising.
In an RNG stylized Q&A interview, Caviness stopped by the Lab to talk action in the Tennessee trenches.
Interview
Ben, with Dallan Hayden in the backfield the Purple Wave were a ground and pound team throughout the 2020 season. Knowing every game would be a physical one in the trenches, how did you prepare week to week for a given game?
It was all in practice really, all the reps and mentally preparing. In the weight room too getting stronger.
Your run game had to improve a lot during your junior season with all the reps. Tell us a little bit about what all you were doing from down blocking and pulling and how those skills took steps forward.
For down blocking I felt like I had good movement of defensive linemen. I had the angles, was getting low on their hips, and using leverage. With pulling, I was getting deep and looking around seeing the linebacker that I was supposed to get. I felt that I was always faster off the ball than the defenders, and stronger than most of them and more explosive.
When you got to pass protect, how did you see that part of your game improve?
I felt like at the beginning of the year I was turning my shoulders. By the end of the season I was keeping my shoulders straight and keeping the defender on the inside. My steps were better a lot better too.
Going into the weight room, what lifts have you been doing to increase your power this offseason?
I have been doing a lot of squats, bench, power clean, and pushups.
Have you maxed out this offseason?
Yes, on power clean I got 285 and for bench I got 285, but I think I could have gone higher.
What have you been working on with your blocking fundamentals?
I have been going on the field with my friends going through blocking schemes and working on my get off. I have also been working on my kick steps, my ability to look at the defender and the move he is doing, and getting better at blocking the different moves like the swim and spin.
Where all might we see you on the field during the 2021 season?
After talking to my coach, I am staying at guard and I might play some defense this year too.
With camps getting going, have you been to any yet and/or have any you may go to this spring?
None yet this offseason but on the 24th I am going to a camp in Nashville. On May 22, I am going to one in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I know I am going to another couple of camps in Tennessee this summer.
Are you looking at going to any college camps?
Yes. On June 3, I am going to a Mercer camp and there is a Harding University camp on July 10th that I am going to. I will add a couple more this summer.
Which programs are showing interest this offseason?
Harding University, Mercer, Lyon College, Findlay, and Maryville.
Which program has offered you?
Eastern Kentucky.
Nice. Are there any programs you’d like to go visit this summer?
Yes, I want to visit Memphis, my hometown school, Eastern Kentucky and Mercer. There are some others that have not been planned out yet that I’d like to go visit.
Ben, thank you for your time today. Wishing you success at all of the upcoming camps.
Thank you, sir.
Photo credit: Caviness family; Ben Caviness