Commit Fit: Offensive linemen
Sometimes it’s not always the highest-rated prospects that fit the best with the school of their choice. In this series we call Commit Fit, Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell picks five players at each position he thinks fit seamlessly into the schemes at the schools they’ve chosen. Today we look at the offensive line.
RELATED: Commit Fit: QB | RB | WR | TE
A massive, agile and aggressive left tackle prospect heading to Alabama? How could this not be a fit? Leatherwood might start inside or at right tackle but eventually he should be a dominant left tackle who fits exactly what Alabama likes to do on offense. Mainly, he has to be a road grader and an elite pass protector and Leatherwood has that potential.
What do you call a guy who can be plugged in right away at guard and then eventually move to center and make all the line calls for you as a potential four-year starter? You call him a perfect fit and that’s what Michigan is getting in Ruiz.
Smith goes into a situation where he will play early and could work his way inside out and land at tackle or simply take the right or even left tackle spot for his own right away. The Vols promoted from within and made Larry Scott the offensive coordinator and that means the scheme of the offense won’t change much. And that means they will want to establish the run with John Kelly and play SEC football by wearing down opponents. That wasn’t possible with the offensive line group last year, but with Smith stepping into a great situation, he could have a huge impact.
Georgia needs immediate help along the offensive line and Wilson is physically ready to play from the start. Immediate playing time is what every offensive lineman wants and Wilson will see it in Athens either inside or outside if he can handle the speed of college football.
Stanford loves to run the football and Little’s strength right now is his ability to overpower opponents in the run game. Yes, he has excellent pass protection skills as well and those will improve and there are few programs that produce elite offensive tackles, at least in recent years, than Stanford. The offense prepares you for the NFL.
