Trait Ranking Series: Offensive Linemen Part I

The TRS wraps up the offensive side of the football with the trenches, and a class that includes an early Power 5 signee, and another top prospect that is being heavily recruited by some prominent NFL offensive line factories. Overall this is a class that stays true to the brand of football Kansans enjoy, with a plethora of physical blockers that play the game in a foul mood. In part I of the series, we will look at the most accomplished athletes, as well as the prospects that bring the nastiest demeanor. Tune in next week for the top run, and pass blockers. <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">ATHLETICISM</td> <td style="width: 25%;">DEMEANOR</td> <td style="width: 25%;">RUN BLOCKING</td> <td style="width: 25%;">PASS BLOCKING</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Upper Body</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Finishing</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Footwork</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Footwork</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Lower Body</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Physicality</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Hands</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Hands</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Agility</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Attitude</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Leverage</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Leverage</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Flexibility</td> <td style="width: 25%;"></td> <td style="width: 25%;">2nd Level</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Instincts</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   Best Athlete [player_tooltip player_id="35665" first="Joe" last="Otting"] – Hayden Catholic High School, 6’4 270 Prep Redzone’s 5th overall ranked 2023 prospect, an argument could be made that Otting is not only the best prospect in the state of Kansas, but the first team all-state forward might just be pound for pound the best all-around athlete in the state. Otting’s ease of movement for a 270-pound kid is simply staggering. He pulls and climbs with a rapid and smooth stride, with agility and control that allow him to gain angles on blocks most offensive linemen wouldn’t even dream attempting. With his power forward feet, he is difficult for smaller defenders you’d expect to be much quicker to maneuver around, so when he has a defender in his crosshairs, he’ll land the block, more often than not, with a pin-point accurate fit. Otting also has excellent bend and an explosive lower body, allowing for instant hip explosion upon initial contact, as he can drop his pads in a blink and deliver a violent initial blow. It is also important to note that the quickness and overwhelming power with which Otting initiates contact goes a long way into mitigating his relative lack of reach. This is a common characteristic for linemen the University of Iowa has sent to the NFL, and at the risk of implying a bold projection, Iowa is actively recruiting him. [player_tooltip player_id="87681" first="Camden" last="Beebe"] – Piper High School, 6’4 300 The fact that Beebe, an early P5 signee at Kansas State, is second to anyone on this list is a testament to how good the top of the 2023 class is. Beebe shows highly impressive ease of movement and agility for a 300-pound prospect, which is also evident when you watch him chase down the line of scrimmage and rip down ball carriers when he plays defense. As such, he also shows very good hip fluidity and body control when asked to adjust to a moving target in the open field. Beebe is a capable knee bender and flashes the ability to roll his hips with some pop, especially when initiating contact in the open field and on pulls. He does rely a little more on raw upper body explosion and ability to contort when engaged when he’s blocking one on one in the run game, but he does posses the lower flexibility to anchor and be a people mover in the run game when his hand fits are accurate. [player_tooltip player_id="87681" first="Camden" last="Beebe"] is a high-end, smooth moving offensive line prospect with scary agility for his size and has a chance to be the next Beebe brother to make a big impact at K-State. [player_tooltip player_id="127699" first="Calvin" last="Clements"] – Lawrence Free State High School, 6’7 275 Clements is an absolute towering specimen at left tackle on one of, if not the best offensive line in the state. His agility and smooth stride in the open field drop hints of a former tight end, as he can change direction impressively for his size, and eats up ground very efficiently when asked to climb. Where Clements really stands out in terms of athleticism is upper body explosion. He uses his tremendous reach to quickly latch on to his opponent, at which point he shows the ability launch them out of the rep with authority. Even more impressive is the fact that he can do this without his lower body being set, which allows him to win right off the snap, both in the run game and in pass pro. If Clements can improve his core strength and add some muscle to his lower body, he should have a monster senior year, and in a competitive league teeming with high end prospects, earn himself some serious attention from college recruiters. Nastiest Demeanor [player_tooltip player_id="35665" first="Joe" last="Otting"] – Hayden Catholic High School, 6’4 270 Otting is the ultimate finisher as a blocker, and even though the eyeball test won’t yield an intimidating figure, that outlook will change dramatically once the rep starts. Otting is simply relentless from the instant the ball is snapped and plays like he takes personal offense to the idea of his assignment having a chance to make a play. When Otting is latched on, he doesn’t stop driving his legs until his opponent is flat on the ground, with his entire body weight soon to follow once they’re down. Otting also takes full advantage of his explosion and agility, rarely missing an opportunity to decleat an opponent when he has an opposing defender in his sights. [player_tooltip player_id="35650" first="Jacob" last="Lamb"] – Wichita Northwest High School, 6’3 225 It’s not exactly a surprise to find a prospect from a school that has produced high end running backs for fun in recent years on this list. Lamb is in attack mode for the entirety of his reps, showing a rabid appetite for physically overwhelming his assignment, and making sure his jersey gets a steady diet of turf. The aspect of this that should endear him to offensive line coaches at the next level is that you’ll get the same high level of tenacity all the way through the whistle no matter where the ball is. [player_tooltip player_id="254418" first="Terrance" last="Saunders II"] – Blue Valley West High School, 6’4 275 Saunders is not only a highly physical offensive line prospect that doesn’t let up from whistle to whistle, but he flashes an element of personal vendetta against his assignments during the course of a game, getting in their face, and taking the whistle under advisement in the same vein hockey players do when they’re tangled up after the whistle. This is a tone setter at left tackle that will not pass up an opportunity to send a message to opposing defenders, and he has the power and tenacity to send it with some venom