Scouting Report: 2024 C Jake Guarnera

Scouting Report: 2024 C Jake Guarnera


April 28, 2023
Jake Guarnera (image via Ponte Vedra Recorder)

Name: Jake Guarnera
High school: Ponte Vedra Beach (FL) Ponte Vedra
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 290 lbs.
Position: Center
Class: 2024
Offers: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Boston College, Coastal Carolina, Duke, East Carolina, Florida, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, Tennessee, Troy, UCF, USF, Virginia, Wake Forest, Wisconsin
Commitment: Uncommitted

Notes: ESPN 3-star, #16 OG, #65 in FL . . . On3 3-star, #30 IOL, #61 in FL . . . Rivals 3-star, #18 OG, #74 in FL . . . 247 Sports 3-star, #25 IOL, #54 in FL . . . Father Jim Guarnera played defensive line at Rutgers

Hit the jump for more.

Stats: 35 pancakes . . . 0 sacks allowed

Strengths: Active feet . . . Does a great job of driving feet through contact . . . Shows advanced hand fighting technique . . . Has low center of gravity . . . Has ability to take short, choppy, controlled steps . . . Likes to get dirty and aggressive in the trenches . . . Aggressive finisher who puts people on the ground

Weaknesses: Plays left tackle in high school and will need to adjust to playing interior line position in college (guard or center) . . . Sometimes gets overextended and off balance . . . Occasionally gets too high and narrow with his feet . . . Pass protection footwork at left tackle needs work . . . Sometimes too passive in pass pro

Overall: Guarnera is a good interior line prospect. He’s playing out of position at left tackle in high school, but he’s probably Ponte Vedra’s best lineman, so it makes sense they would put him there. He will just have to make a chance in college, which I think everyone is expecting. I don’t love Guarnera’s pulling technique from the tackle position, but it’s consistent, so I have to believe it’s the way he’s being coached. For the most part, he seems like a well coached, technical player (his dad played at Rutgers) who’s a little limited athletically.

Projection: Eventual Power 5 starter. I think Guarnera will eventually be a solid starter once he gets into a college weight room and puts on the best weight possible. It may take a few years for him to add the necessary strength.

Reminds me of: Mark Bihl. Bihl started 21 games for Michigan and played from 2002-2006. He was listed at 6’5″ and just under 300 pounds. Bihl was a solid player for the Wolverines after being a 3-star recruit.

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