Behind the Rankings: 2024 Offensive Linemen

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">The 2022 high school football season is in full swing and we have released our initial player rankings for the state of Kentucky. Now that I have covered the class of 2023, I will now turn my attention to the top incoming junior prospects in Kentucky. Over the next few weeks, I will do positional breakdowns and discuss how our rankings came to be. After covering the skill players, I will now wrap up the offensive side of the ball by breaking down the top offensive lineman in the class of 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_632bc3b984548","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["313670"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='313670' first='Hayes' last='Johnson'] is not only the best offensive lineman in this class but he is one of the top players as we have him as the second overall player in the class of 2024. Johnson is a dominant force at right tackle for Taylor County and their run game thrives when running behind him. He explodes out of his stance and drives through contact, moving his man down the field. Johnson is a very physical blocker, knocking defensive linemen off balance with his initial punch and finishing his blocks through the whistle. His size and strength will also allow him to move inside to guard if asked to at the next level, and has played some occasional snaps at guard this season. Hayes currently holds offers from Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Baylor, Purdue, Louisville, Michigan State, Cincinnati, and Tennessee, and I expect that list to continue to grow as he is a true Power 5 talent.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["408048"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='408048' first='Demeco' last='Kennedy'] is another offensive lineman in the top five overall rankings as he sits right behind Johnson at third. After spending some time at guard, Kennedy has moved to the left tackle spot this season and has thrived. In the run game, he is a mauler, exploding out of his stance and driving his man out of the picture. He also does a great job of getting to the second level and picking up blocks in open space. In the passing game, he has the strength to toss opposing pass rushers to the side with ease but also shows solid footwork and the ability to protect his inside gap. Kennedy looks like the next offensive lineman from Frederick Douglass destined for a Power 5 school as he holds offers from Miami (OH), Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri State, Kentucky, Louisville, Illinois, Marshall, Toledo, Western Michigan, Ball State, and Ole Miss, and I fully expect that list to continue to grow.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["419796"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Our final offensive lineman that cracks the top 10 overall rankings is [player_tooltip player_id='419796' first='Jak' last='Lindsey'] coming in at ninth. Lindsey is a big body at left tackle, measuring in at 6'5u0022, 280 pounds. In pass protection, he has solid footwork for his size, protects the inside gap, and does a good job of mirroring opposing pass rushers. He also does a great job of continuing to work in his pass sets to make sure he keeps his man away from the quarterback. Lindsey is physically dominant in the run game, showing the ability to down block and simply drive his opponent out of the picture. He also does a great job of getting to the second level and picking up blocks in open space. Lindsey currently holds offers from Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, and Miami (OH), and I expect that list to expand as he has been receiving a ton of interest from Division I programs.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["419795"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='419795' first='Franklin' last='West'] is a dominant offensive lineman that has been a huge part of the success for Corbin's football team. While he has gotten some reps at center as well, West mainly lines up at left tackle. He is a mauler in the run game, driving his man off the line of scrimmage and finishing his blocks through the whistle. West also does a great job of defeating his original assignment and getting through them up to the next level to block a second defender. In pass protection, West has impressive footwork and does a great job of winning the hand fight with his opponent, defeating any type of counter moves. Franklin currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Miami (OH) , and I expect more to come as he has been receiving quite a bit of college interest and I believe he has the talent to play at the Division I level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["419793"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Rounding out our top five offensive linemen in the class of 2024 is Simon Kenton offensive tackle, [player_tooltip player_id='419793' first='Aba' last='Selm']. Selm is a massive left tackle, measuring in at 6'4u0022, 295 pounds. He creates a ton of movement in the run game, running his feet through contact and driving his man down the field. Selm also has shown the ability to pull from the tackle spot and destroy anything in his path as a lead blocker. In pass protection, Selm does a great job of getting back in his pass sets quickly and mirroring opposing pass rushers. Aba currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Kentucky, and I expect more to come as his recruitment has been heating up lately and he is a true Power 5 level talent at tackle.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">Best of the Rest (Players included in Top 125):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">6. [player_tooltip player_id='381928' first='Garrison' last='McKinney']| 6'2", 280 lbs.| Lexington Christian Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">7. [player_tooltip player_id='381903' first='Tomago' last='Daniels Jr'].| 6'5", 305 lbs.| Paducah Tilghman High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">8. [player_tooltip player_id='419797' first='Zuri' last='Madison']| 6'5", 280 lbs.| Frederick Douglass High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">9. [player_tooltip player_id='381934' first='Aiden' last='Howard']| 6'5", 250 lbs.| Madison Central High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">10. [player_tooltip player_id='381904' first='Melvin' last='Puckett']| 6'3", 295 lbs.| Paducah Tilghman High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">11. [player_tooltip player_id='381908' first='Brody' last='Phelps']| 6'3", 295 lbs.| McCracken County High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">12. [player_tooltip player_id='313664' first='Wyatt' last='Buffington']| 6'3", 270 lbs.| Murray High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">13. [player_tooltip player_id='313676' first='Joe' last='Schlarman']| 6'2", 245 lbs.| Lexington Catholic High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">14. [player_tooltip player_id='381907' first='Gage' last='Cunningham']| 6'1", 285 lbs.| McCracken County High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">15. [player_tooltip player_id='313653' first='Andrew' last='Roberts']| 6'2", 285 lbs.| North Laurel High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">16. [player_tooltip player_id='419799' first='Gabe' last='Claybrook']| 6'4", 245 lbs.| North Laurel High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">17. [player_tooltip player_id='381901' first='Evan' last='Johnson']| 6'0", 255 lbs.| Highlands High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">18. [player_tooltip player_id='419794' first='Gary' last='McCauley']| 6'3", 240 lbs.| Bryan Station High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->