Film Don't Lie | Joey Tanona
A major building block for Notre Dame’s 2021 recruiting class was Indiana offensive lineman Blake Fisher. It seems fitting that the 2022 class is going to have a similar foundational piece after gaining a commitment from another local mauler, Joey Tanona.
Tanona is one of the top prospects in the Midwest and an important pickup for the Irish. There’s still work to be done in the current cycle, but this is a good start for Jeff Quinn and the staff for the next one.
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 280
Projected Position: Offensive tackle or guard
ISD Grade: 92 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 91.6 (4-star)
What he does best:
Right away I love to see a player who has shock in his hands. He can rock a defender back with violence and when he fits, he finishes. That’s what you want to see, especially when you consider the competition he is facing isn’t exactly elite.
Tanona is a good athlete for his size. He moves well to the second level, shows he is capable of reaching edge defenders with ease, and looks good as a puller.
He does a nice job of bending and playing with leverage as a run blocker, especially for a guy coming out of a two point stance. Seeing that knee bend and seeing he isn’t heavy-footed are obviously important for someone who may play tackle at the next level.
He’s an easy mover in pass pro and again you see that shock in his hands with a solid punch that stuffs the end when he tries an inside move.
What he needs to improve:
Tanona can get a little high in his pass set and I could see some bull rushers getting underneath his pads. He shows a good ability to bend with his knees in other areas so I don’t think it’s a flexibility issue.
I did see a couple of false steps on his film and he has to do a better job of consistently finishing through with his hips when reach blocking.
What’s his ceiling?
He’s someone who could play tackle or guard for the Irish and I think he can be an effective player at either spot. With two years left of high school, he has plenty of time for physical development, but already appears to have the frame to get into the 320 range eventually.
I think his ceiling may be higher at guard, but we’ll see how things turn out for him over the next couple of years. I see a player who should be able to compete physically fairly early in his college career and get in the mix to be a multi-year starter.