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Published Oct 7, 2022
Five thoughts on 2023 offensive linemen
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Adam Gorney  •  Rivals.com
National Recruiting Director
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@adamgorney

High school seasons are halfway done or more, so this is a good time to take a look at some things happening across the country. Today, Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney gives five thoughts on the 2023 offensive linemen.

THIS SERIES: Five thoughts on the 2023 QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs


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1. PROCTOR HIGHLIGHTS ARE GREAT

I’ve loved what I’ve seen from Kadyn Proctor early in his senior season – mean, tough, knocking people around, searching for people to block and doing an excellent job in run and pass protection.

The No. 1 offensive tackle and five-star prospect, who is committed to Iowa, has proven his ranking. While he’s not competing against elite competition, he’s making every poor kid feel it on Friday night. All-star performance will play a huge role for all offensive linemen as they see the highest-end defensive linemen but Proctor has been very good so far this season.

The Pleasant Hill (Iowa) Southeast Polk standout reminds me of an even bigger Tristan Wirfs.

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2. DEBATE COMING AT NO. 2

There are two other five-star offensive tackles in the 2023 class in Samson Okunola from Braintree (Mass.) Thayer Academy and Francis Mauigoa, a Miami commit who’s now at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy. There will be a heated debate about which one should be ranked as the second-best offensive tackle in the class.

Okunlola has the edge right now but Mauigoa is also a phenomenal talent and this really could come down to evaluations at the all-star events. It’s also absolutely not out of the question that someone else could emerge through the remainder of their senior year and into the all-star games, which are going to be so crucial to figure out where these linemen should be placed.

Okunlola is a technician and moves his feet so well but Mauigoa wins with brute force and toughness. It really depends what you prefer when ranking these standouts.

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3. IS THERE ANOTHER FIVE-STAR OT?

Oklahoma commit Cayden Green has been outstanding at numerous events against elite competition. Ohio State pledge Luke Montgomery is a high-end athlete playing offensive tackle and many of those type of players pan out in the NFL. Wilkin Formby is a mountain of a man who is going to Alabama where fantastic offensive tackles are grown.

There are a lot of names to consider for a five-star ranking over the next couple rankings cycles and then there are always players who emerge at the all-star events who could get in the discussion, too.

Below, we discuss some of those names.

CLASS OF 2023: OFFENSIVE TACKLE RANKINGS

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4. PLAYERS WHO COULD MOVE UP

Notre Dame commit Charles Jagusah has not done any national events and he doesn’t play the best competition, but the Rock Island (Ill.) Alleman standout could be someone who clearly becomes a top-five offensive tackle in this class.

Another to watch is Monroe (La.) Neville’s Zalance Heard, who is committed to LSU and had some solid showings this offseason. He’s stayed in the shadows, though, when it comes to national events and so seeing him against the best of the best has been tough.

Other names that could really make a jump before the final 2023 rankings: Georgia commit Monroe Freeling, Penn State pledge Jven Williams, Wisconsin commit Chris Terek and USC pledge Elijah Paige.

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5. THIS GUARD CLASS IS DEEP AND GOOD

Five-star Texas A&M commit TJ Shanahan Jr. leads the way and is the lone five-star at offensive guard, but this group has a lot of talent and goes pretty deep.

Shanahan and fellow A&M commit Chase Bisontis should be a formidable duo in College Station. Penn State is getting a great one in Alex Birchmeier and then down the line there are others who are really impressive, including Alabama pledge Ryqueze McElderry and uncommitted DJ Chester.

I fear after Texas commit Connor Stroh, just a complete mountain of a man, is too low at No. 19 in the position rankings.

CLASS OF 2023: OFFENSIVE GUARD RANKINGS

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