5 Offensive Linemen You Need To Know In 2022

Offensive line might be the most unglamorous position in football. Yet, many high school and college coaches will tell you OL is the most important – and complex - position in football. It’s very difficult to win consistently unless you have a solid offensive line to protect the quarterback and open up rushing lanes for the running backs. Nonetheless, fans and the media tend to focus on the offensive skill positions because they’re the guys with the ball in their hands. Recognizing the vital importance of the position, here are 5 New Mexico offensive linemen you need to know for the upcoming season (alphabetical order): <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="269517" first="Khalif" last="Arenas"], Centennial</strong>: Will Centennial have the best offensive line in the state this fall? If they do, Arenas will be a major reason why. He’s a bulldozer with a 6-foot-1, 290-pound frame. He didn’t allow a single sack in 2021. Perfect for the guard spot. He’s certainly one of the top interior offensive linemen in the state. Drawing early interest from Western New Mexico and Waldorf (Iowa) University. Actually , we like him the best because his favorite meal is green enchiladas and rice. Can’t beat that. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138046" first="Brennan" last="Garcia"], Lovington</strong>: You knew Garcia was ready for Lovington to repeat as Class 4A champions when two months after the Wildcats beat Ruidoso for the title, he showed up at the West Texas Showcase and performed well against his Texas counterparts. He plays both sides of the line for the Wildcats, earning First-Team All-State honors at DT and First-Team All-District honors at OL. But if the 260-pound Garcia wants to play at the next level, it will likely be on the O-Line. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="270023" first="Izaiah" last="Gonzalez"], Centennial</strong>: Gonzalez and [player_tooltip player_id="269517" first="Khalif" last="Arenas"] (see above) give Centennial one of the best pair of O-Linemen in the state. He’s got the perfect frame (6-3, 290 pounds) to play offensive tackle at the next level. New Mexico, New Mexico State, Eastern New Mexico, Western New Mexico and Waldorf have expressed early interest. He was named Second-team All-State in 2021. Along with Arenas, he’s got his sights set on the First-Team and leading the Hawks on a deep run in the Class 6A playoffs in 2022. <strong>Ben Linfoot, Cleveland</strong>: Based on his off-season work, Linfoot has suddenly become one of the most intriguing offensive linemen in the state. Undoubtedly, he’s one of the strongest. Still a sophomore, the 2024 prospect recently set a new school record for OL/DL in the squat by lifting 525 pounds. He also benches 300 pounds. His amazing strength for a player his age (his Twitter profile says he’s still just 16 years old) should boost his chances of earning a starting job along the Storm’s interior O-Line this fall. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="270015" first="Isaac" last="Molina"], La Cueva</strong>: A three-sport star for La Cueva (Football, Wrestling, Track &amp; Field), Molina impressed analysts at the recent HAP Lineman Camp in Denver, Co. and looks ready for a sensational senior season, one that could set him up to play at the next level. Here’s what Prep Redzone Colorado scout Ryan Wesley said about Molina: “He is a technically sound player with reasonable body control and great strength as an offensive and defensive lineman. He has quick feet and does a great job of staying in front of his opponent while maintaining a broad base.” Right now, Molina is flying under the radar but if he maintains the level of performance he displayed in Denver, college coaches will come calling. https://twitter.com/ArenasKhalif/status/1508860526482247680 https://twitter.com/lvtwildcatsfb/status/1495523252525056007 https://twitter.com/IzaiahGonzale12/status/1508129268085104642 https://twitter.com/ben_linfoot/status/1516091448252325895 https://twitter.com/Imolina1027/status/1508685175458312193 &nbsp;