Category rankings: Offensive line
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The Rivals.com recruiting experts have broken down countless hours of film and racked up plenty of frequent flyer miles to see the top prospects compete at events across the country. In the process of evaluating overall talent, several prospects gained notice for their mastery of specific skills.
We've selected the best of the best in each category for every position and ranked them. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barry Every breaks down the offensive line.
Coming Next: Linebackers
BEST RUN BLOCKER
5. Xavier Su'a Filo, Provo (Utah Timpview)
Su'a Filo in action at Army combineClick Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-4/285
THE BUZZ: A mean customer who doesn't mind the nastiness of run blocking.
Martinez highlightsClick 4. John Martinez, Salt Lake City Cottonwood Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-4/265
THE BUZZ: Have you seen this guy pull on film? All I can say is, "Wow!"
Alajajian highlightsClick 3. Nick Alajajian, Naples (Fla.) High Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-4/280
THE BUZZ: Has the toughness to maul opponents play after play. He also plays with a nasty disposition.
Philipp highlightsClick 2. Michael Philipp, San Bernardino (Calif.) Arroyo Valley Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-3/320
THE BUZZ: A massive guard who can drive a d-lineman into submission with his powerful lower body.
Moses highlightsClick 1. Morgan Moses, Richmond (Va.) Meadowbrook Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-7/347
THE BUZZ: So big and dominant, he looks as if he is playing against little kids.
OTHERS: Chris Burnette, LaGrange (Ga.) Troup (Georgia commitment); Kevin Graf, Agoura (Calif.) High (USC commitment); Corey Linsley, Youngstown (Ohio) Boardman (Ohio State commitment); Mason Walters, Wolfforth (Texas) Frenship (Texas commitment); Peter White, Washington (D.C.) St. John's College High.
BEST PASS BLOCKER
5. Austin Long, Memphis Briarcrest Christian
Long highlightsClick Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Georgia
PARTICULARS: 6-5/268
THE BUZZ: Has the athleticism and body to play all three positions along the line.
Watt highlightsClick 4. Chris Watt, Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard West Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-3/280
THE BUZZ: A super-athletic guard who moves laterally like a ballroom dancer.
Philipp highlightsClick 3. Michael Philipp, San Bernardino (Calif.) Arroyo Valley Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-3/320
THE BUZZ: Looked so athletic at the Los Angeles Nike Camp that he could play offensive tackle in a pinch.
Barrent highlightsClick 2. David Barrent, West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Iowa
PARTICULARS: 6-8/290
THE BUZZ: Another tall lineman with a huge wingspan and good feet.
Porter highlightsClick 1. Garrett Porter, Odessa (Texas) Permian Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Texas
PARTICULARS: 6-6/308
THE BUZZ: He's tall and has long arms, the two biggest attributes that make someone a great pass blocker.
OTHERS: Jack Harris, Parker (Colo.) Chaparral; Paden Kelley, Austin (Texas) Lake Travis (Texas commitment); John Martinez, Salt Lake City Cottonwood; Xavier Su'a Filo, Provo (Utah) Timpview; Brandon Webb, Owasso (Okla.) High (Oklahoma State commitment).
STRONGEST
Moses highlightsClick 5. Morgan Moses, Richmond (Va.) Meadowbrook Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-7/347
THE BUZZ: Already big enough and strong enough to compete at the Division I-A level.
Jay highlightsClick 4. J.K. Jay, Greenville (S.C.) Christ Church Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Clemson
PARTICULARS: 6-6/275
THE BUZZ: One of the biggest and thickest human beings I have seen in person.
Lee highlightsClick 3. Dallas Lee, Buford (Ga.) High Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Georgia
PARTICULARS: 6-4/290
THE BUZZ: Two-way star for perennial power has the ability and size to play on either side of the ball.
Lewis highlightsClick 2. Patrick Lewis, LaPlace (La.) East St. John Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-2/293
THE BUZZ: A barrel-chested interior lineman who gave standout DT Chris Davenport all he could handle in Baton Rouge.
White highlightsClick 1. Peter White, Washington (D.C.) St. John's College High Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-4/340
THE BUZZ: Was just downright powerful at the Chapel Hill Nike camp, and he looks like a real mauler on film.
OTHERS: Kevin Graf, Agoura (Calif.) High (USC commitment); Michael Philipp, San Bernardino (Calif.) Arroyo Valley; Eric Shrive, Scranton (Pa.) West Scranton (Penn State commitment); Mason Walters, Wolfforth (Texas) Frenship (Texas commitment); Jared Wheeler, Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage.
MOST AGILE
Bullard highlightsClick 5. Alex Bullard, Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Notre Dame
PARTICULARS: 6-3/275
THE BUZZ: May be one of the most underrated lineman in the country. He uses his feet to keep him in great position against the pass rush.
Nixon highlightsClick 4. Xavier Nixon, Fayetteville (N.C.) Jack Britt Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-6/263
THE BUZZ: He can pull from the tackle position, which takes great lateral movement.
Treadwell highlightsClick 3. Blake Treadwell, East Lansing (Mich.) High Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Michigan State
PARTICULARS: 6-2/270
THE BUZZ: Another two-way star who didn't need a highlight film because every play on his game tape was impressive.
Martinez highlightsClick 2. John Martinez, Salt Lake City Cottonwood Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-4/265
THE BUZZ: He has one of the most impressive videos and has the best knee bend I have seen this year.
Linsley highlightsClick 1. Corey Linsley, Youngstown (Ohio) Boardman Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Ohio State
PARTICULARS: 6-4/285
THE BUZZ: Watching him pull and block downfield on tape was like watching a skill-position player run downfield.
OTHERS: Chris Burnette, LaGrange (Ga.) Troup (Georgia commitment); Jack Harris, Parker (Colo.) Chaparral; Austin Long, Memphis Briarwood Christian (Georgia commitment); Xavier Su'a Filo, Provo (Utah) Timpview; Chris Watt, Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard West.
BEST ATHLETE
Williams highlightsClick 5. Brennan Williams, West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-5/255
THE BUZZ: Plays a little bit of everything, from defensive line to any position along the offensive line.
Martin highlightsClick 4. Zach Martin, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-5/270
THE BUZZ: On film, did a great job of blocking downfield and keeping his feet.
Alajajian highlightsClick 3. Nick Alajajian, Naples (Fla.) High Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-4/280
THE BUZZ: Another lineman who has the feet and strength to potentially play any of the line positions.
Faulk highlightsClick 2. Chris Faulk, Slidell (La.) Northshore Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: LSU
PARTICULARS: 6-6/280
THE BUZZ: Offensive linemen seldom take home the top SPARQ rating, as he did in New Orleans in December.
Longo highlightsClick 1. Sam Longo, Bellbrook (Ohio) High Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-5/270
THE BUZZ: A prospect who has the athleticism to play all three positions at the next level.
OTHERS: David Barrent, West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley (Iowa commitment); Alex Bullard, Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy (Notre Dame commitment); Corey Linsley, Youngstown (Ohio) Boardman (Ohio State commitment), Michael Philipp, San Bernardino (Calif.) Arroyo Valley; Michael Schofield, Orland Park (Ill.) Sandburg (Michigan commitment).
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