Sandy Creek’s Andrew Hollen has been playing strong-physical football to start the season. The 6’3.5″ 265 lbs. blocker is an aggressive lineman who gets out of his stance and looks to maul his opponent.
During Week 2, Hollen was steamrolling the McIntosh defensive line with big pancakes, so much so that he was named to our Bully Squad highlight video. Another 24 hours later, and Hollen was voted the top blocker for Week 2.
What a whirlwind the start of the season has been for Hollen. He has adjusted to the varsity lineup and is quickly making an impact, impressively, since he was playing 8-man football the year prior.
“It’s going well. I have been blessed to have parents who make the sacrifices that allow me to be homeschooled and play for Sandy Creek. The extra time I have because of this has helped me with the transition from 8-man to 3A 11-man ball. I have great coaches and teammates at Creek that have welcomed me in like family and invested in me, and I’ve been blessed to train with Coach Kevin McAlmont, working on my technique with my extra downtime,” Hollen said.
Hollen has managed his time well and utilized trainers like McAlmont, who, throughout the years, has developed many of the top OL coming out of the state. The sophomore spoke on fine-tuning his technique and becoming more physical, which assisted his transition to GHSA football.
“I’ve really focused on improving my run and pass pro techniques and mechanics. I also feel like I’ve increased my physicality on the field and increased my strength in the weight room,” he said.
One advantage Hollen believes separates him is the ability to play across the line of scrimmage. Whenever called upon, the sophomore can slide over and make a difference.
“I can play any position on the line. I had to do this for our Spring game this year. Our center got hurt, and I was asked to step in, move from tackle, and start at center the day before the game.”
Hollen also boasts a 4.0 GPA and is dedicated to being a supportive teammate, all while being a terror on the field, enabling his backfield teammates to shine.
“I want to move other men against their will while opening lanes for my running backs like Amari Latimer and Omari Jackson, and providing time for my QB Caleb Hill to do his thing.”
Hollen predicates his game after legendary OL Trent Williams, doing so by giving his all and putting in effort on each play. On the recruiting front, Hollen toured several programs during the offseason while also competing at summer camps.
“I attended practices at GA State and UGA this spring. I attended a handful of camps this past summer – UGA, Auburn, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Shorter, and GT. I was grouped with the upperclassmen and JUCO guys at a couple of camps and held my own as an underclassman. This has helped me start to get my name out there, meeting coaches, and start learning the process.”
That summer recruitment momentum has already presented opportunities for this fall. In fact, he already has one set for this upcoming weekend.
“I will be attending the UGA vs Marshall game this weekend. I am also looking to attend games at East Tennessee State University, Shorter, the Georgia State vs Georgia Southern game in Statesboro, and a game at GT this fall,” he said.
That’s a busy schedule for a sophomore prospect, but as mentioned earlier, Hollen’s time management is mature beyond his years. No doubt, his recruitment will be one to watch in the months and years to follow, so be sure to follow @RecruitGeorgia on Twitter/X to hear the latest on the sophomore and athletes across the state of Georgia.
