10/6/2016 football Edit

Rivals.com Five-Star Club: Best five-star offensive linemen

Adam Friedman • Rivals.com

National Recruiting Analyst

Adam Friedman joined Rivals.com as the East Coast Recruiting Analyst in 2012 and covers D1 CFB recruits from SC to Maine & out to PA & WV. Media requests- RivalsFriedman@gmail.com

It doesn’t matter how good a team’s quarterback, wide receivers or running backs are if the offensive line can't block. There have been some exceptional offensive linemen that were rated five-stars coming out of high school and are now important players on NFL teams. Here are the top five five-star offensive linemen in the Rivals.com era.

Why he’s No. 1: It would be easy to name all of Smith’s honors and awards from the high school level and while at USC but it’s his career in the NFL that sets him apart from the other linemen on this list. The No. 9 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Smith is considered one of the top two or three offensive tackles in the NFL and has been to three-straight Pro Bowls. In 2014, Smith was named to the All-Pro team and was second-team All-Pro in 2013 and 2015.

Back when we met him: Smith was a tall, lean offensive tackle that almost looked like a tight end. The freaky thing was he was as athletic as many tight ends and had exceptional footwork. Smith clearly added a lot of strength and used that great athleticism and mobility to turn into a devastating offensive lineman.

Why he’s No. 2: Smith landed a multitude of awards and honors while at Alabama. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team, All-SEC team and All-American in consecutive years and capped off his career with an Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top offensive lineman. The Bengals drafted Smith No. 6 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft and he has since had an up and down career. He is currently playing for the Minnesota Vikings.

Back when we met him: While Tyron Smith had a massive, lean frame as a high school prospect, Andre Smith was shorter, slower and not very lean. Certainly his measureables weren’t bad but thankfully the film told a different story. Smith destroyed players on film, blocking them out of the frame or driving them into the ground.

Why he’s No. 3: Monroe was dominant at every level of football. At Virginia, he was a standout almost immediately once D’Brickashaw Ferguson left for the NFL. Monroe helped Al Groh and the Cavaliers post nine wins and a Gator Bowl appearance in 2007 before heading to the NFL in 2009. The Jaguars took him at No. 8 overall in the NFL Draft and he had a stellar career with Jacksonville and Baltimore before retiring earlier this year.

Back when we met him: When he got to the NFL, Monroe really bulked up but he wasn’t like that in high school. He was a little overweight but was one of the most physical prospects we’ve come across. Monroe routinely drove opposing linemen into the ground and impressed against elite competition.

Why he’s No. 4: Boone was a big part of one of the most successful stretches of Ohio State football, winning four Big Ten championships. He was named to the All-Big Ten second team in 2007 but went undrafted in 2009 amid questions about his life off the field. The San Francisco 49ers signed Boone as an undrafted free agent and he became a starter in 2012. From that point on, Boone has been considered one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL.

Back when we met him: Offensive line coaches always look for players with a nasty attitude. Boone had plenty of nastiness in high school. He was a huge, physical lineman that was a very good knee-bender for being such a tall player. Boone always did a great job of extending his arms when blocking.

Why he’s No. 5: They don’t make many offensive linemen that look like Adams. He had a very good career at Ohio State during a tumultuous time. Adams was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2010 and a second-team selection in 2011 before being drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. His NFL career started off well but he missed the 2015 season with a back injury and is now a back-up with the Chicago Bears.

Back when we met him: Adams is one of the top five most physically impressive offensive tackles to come around in the Rivals.com era. People were stunned when they saw how big and athletic he was at practices for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. That size and impressive footwork has certainly taken Adams far.