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Centennial High OL, Stanford Commit Ben Lowther Unplugged

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You won’t find many high school offensive linemen bigger, smarter and more unique than Peoria Centennial’s Ben Lowther.

“Zone Read” sat down with the 6-foot-7, 335-pound Stanford commit to discuss a myriad of topics as he prepares for his senior season with the Coyotes.

OK, right off the bat…I need you to unpack this for me. You listen to Alice in Chains before games? I mean, I’m 51 years old. That music is in my genre, certainly not yours, Ben. “(laughing) I got it from my dad, really. We would go hunting and whole time going up there, he’d play Alice in Chains. He’d play Pearl Jam. It’s always been a thing for me.

“I play a lot of it for my dad. He’ll text me before games to give me motivation. So, I’ll listen to that music and think of him. It really gets me wired.”

Do you listen to 90’s alternative rock consistently, or is it just before games when you’re trying to get hyped? “No, I listen to it pretty consistently. I listen to Creed a lot, too. Creed is more of out of football-type music but definitely in football it’s more hard core.”

Would any of your teammates even know about these 90’s alt-rock bands if they knew that’s what you pre-gamed to? “Probably not (laughing).”

How would you describe yourself as a player to someone who has never seen you play before? “Consistent. I try to be the best I can be all the time, even if I’m tired, I try to be the best I can be. 

“I’m explosive. I think my movement really complements my length, too. The power aspect, I’m still growing. I think I’ve gotten a lot better since my sophomore year and into my junior year. If you threw on my freshman tape, my sophomore tape, and my junior tape, you’d see huge jumps.”

You certainly have the size and length to play tackle, which you will at Stanford, but I was told you’re versatile enough, even with your dimensions, to slide inside to guard if needed. Would you feel comfortable doing that if that situation ever arose in a game? “Yep. In practice I’ve taken reps (at guard). I’ve even taken reps in practice at center before. Obviously, I’m kinda long to be a center, but I can snap, I can play guard. There’s really not anything I haven’t played so far. 

“I’m more comfortable at tackle I would say, but I can play anything.”

What was it like practicing against (former Centennial star, now Alabama linebacker) Noah Carter when he was here and you were just getting your feet wet as a young underclassman? “That was really fun. It really showed me that there was gaps in the game. Like, there are people who are really dedicated and really good.

“It showed me if you want to play in college and go to the NFL, you have to work your tail off the whole time. I remember seeing him and he was just crazy (with his training). It got me more dedicated into my own personal time to work to become a better football player.”

Your older brother, Thomas, was also an offensive lineman here at Centennial. Two-part question here: how much did you watch him playing for a blue blood program here at Cen10, and secondly, how much do you two talk ball now that you’re a Coyote? “So, growing up, he played and tackle, but started at guard his senior year. Every Friday night I’d watch him. We’d watch practices, too. My mom and I would go to the gas station, grab a Gatorade, and head over.

“I grew up around (him playing at Centennial). My first year playing tackle football was my freshman year. I actually grew up playing baseball.”

What led to that shift? Was it seeing your brother play? “Honestly, it was being able to hit people (laughing). When you play first base, you catch the ball. You throw the ball. You probably don’t have the best arm on the team but you can catch a baseball.

“But, honestly, it’s such a beautiful transition to go from baseball to football because, ‘I can just whoop in football. I can just maul people.’ In baseball, you’re just catching a ball. It’s way different.”

Guessing you also had a huge strike at the plate? “Yep. Everything was a strike!”

How was the transition last season going from head coach Richard Taylor to head coach Andrew Taylor? “(Richard) Taylor, it was a very structured program and it was the same way for a long time. Bringing in (Andrew) Taylor, he’s smart. He knows new techniques. He knows different lifting processes, too. 

“We’re getting a lot stronger from what I’ve noticed. Everything is more polished. We have practice plans. We have full Google docs that has everything we’re doing in it. It’s newer. There’s more technology. It’s a lot more organized.”

I know your dad is an engineer. Is that the path you’d one day like to pursue after your football career ends? “Yes. He’s a mechanical engineer. I’m hoping to get into either mechanical or aerospace. I’m a big rocket guy. Probably national defense or something like that. To do something in anti-weapons systems – that would be my dream. 

“He’s been a big role model for me. I’ve always gotten into it. He and I always bond over interstellar. Space is really interesting to me. I grew up on Star Wars. I had lightsabers all over my room and everything, and I also grew up on Legos, too. So, space and building stuff. It’s engineering (laughing).”

What is your current GPA? “3.92.”

What did you focus on most last spring and over the summer to improve your game heading into your senior season? “I’m always focused technique forward. I’ve always focused on technique for everything. I like parts of the process so, I’m always looking to perfect every part of the process. 

“In pass protection, improving your get off can get you in a better (blocking) position faster and it will stump the d-lineman because he won’t know where to move. If he makes a move, you can already re-set. You can step back and react. It’s beautiful. It’s like an art form. It’s amazing.”

 

 





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