Interview: 3-Star 2022 OL Richard Myers is a Dominating Force Against Indiana Defenses
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
All successful football teams need that one offensive lineman the team can run behind to get the tough yards on third and short or on a goal line plunge. For Castle High School, that rare talent is at left guard in Richard Myers.
The Knights posted an 8-4 campaign in 2020 dominating their way up and down the field against 5A Indiana teams on the ground thanks to three-star 6-7, 290-pound, lineman Richard Myers. Beyond the height, size, and physical abilities, Myers is no slow-moving statue that pops up on the snap; he gets after it with a low pad level and finishes plays with style. His productivity in the trenches is bringing recruiting interest from teams like Penn State, Kent State, Miami-Ohio, and Indiana.
Myers’ dedication to the game and work in the classroom brought a rare and special honor, the Don Mattingly Youth Award. The award named after the much-celebrated MLB star player and manager, celebrates young people, their drive, work ethic, overcoming adversity, and doing all with a winning attitude.
In an RNG first-look interview, Myers covers ground on his growth in the trenches and offseason technique goals.
Interview
Richard, the Knights were running a pro-style set getting dirty in the trenches pounding the rock. Play after play, getting that opportunity to make roadkill of a defender, how did the season go for you?
As a team, we went to semifinals where we lost to No. 21 nationally ranked Cathedral. For me, it went really well. I started as a sophomore, and took leaps and bounds on my technique, strength, and on the mental part of the game during my junior season. I was reading defenses, reading linebackers and knowing what to do.
Did you track pancakes and/or knockdowns?
No. Too many to count.
If you had to guess, about how many per game were you getting on average?
Low end five to six, on the high end 10 to 13.
Your pad level for as tall as you are is pretty amazing, what were some of the other developed strengths to your game during the season at left guard?
Mainly working with my footwork. Most see me at 6-7, 290, and think he will be slow and he’s not good at moving his feet. I made sure I was exploding off the line and moving the guy in front of me. And I am good at working on my double teams. I was moving off guys, not just blocking one on one with one defender but picking up defenders as well. My footwork is another area that developed during my junior season.
Since the team did not pass as much as running the ball, this offseason what have you been working on with your pass-pro?
This offseason I am making sure that I am getting my hands positioned correctly, evading hands, and working on my footwork. It is really important for me to have that footwork. Strength is good, but if I am on the ground it doesn’t do anything for me.
How have you worked to develop your run blocking technique?
By making sure I am getting my hands on the numbers on the breast plate, driving past the whistle, with my footwork, and as you said, working on my pad level. I keep working on it. This offseason I am working on every part of my game.
What are some of the workouts you are doing in the weight room to add more power to your skillset?
Resistance band squats, jump squats, and e-centric exercises. I am working to get those tears while developing my fast twitch muscles. I am doing broad and vertical jumps to be even more explosive off the line.
How are you increasing your footspeed and agility?
By doing a lot of ladders, O-line drills, and slowing down making sure my feet are in position. I want to be low to the ground, chest up, moving my feet fast and being physical doing it. Ladders are important to what I do. Jump rope is very important.
Is it too soon to tell, are you adding any new responsibilities to your game during the 2021 schedule?
I don’t know yet. There are rumors. Our team normally only plays one way. I think I am staying at guard, but I can play guard or tackle as well as the other.
Have you been to any offseason camps yet or do you have any coming up?
I have been to one camp, that was mid-January; on Jan. 17. That was the Indiana Prep Winter Showcase.
How did that camp go for you?
I was Top 6. There were kids from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Illinois, there were a lot of people there. I got Top 6 out of all those guys. There are a few more camps coming up. There is one this Sunday, The Best of the Midwest and one in two weeks on the 28th, the Offensive Line/Defensive Line Showcase in Wisconsin.
Busy man. Are you playing any other sports for Castle this year?
I throw shot put and the discus. I stopped wrestling to focus on gaining weight.
Richard, thank you for your time today. Congratulations on placing Top 6 at the lineman camp and wishing you great success at all the future camps coming up.
Thank you, sir.
Photo credit: Myers family; Richard Myers