Trench Warfare: Linemen that will Dominate in 2023

Offensive and Defensive linemen are the glue to every team. Without them, success on either side of the ball will be minimal. Let's take a look at some players that will shine in 2023.   Noah Schneider (OL) 6'3” 290 lbs ‘24   East Central   Noah Schneider is a bully. He is a strong, physical offensive lineman that LOVES putting defensive players on the ground. He primarily plays tackle, but he has played guard which may be his more natural position. Noah is powerful at the point of attack and does a great job of running his feet on contact. Solid blocker in space and at the second level. His physicality is also on display in pass protection and he is always looking for work. If any part of his game needs improvement, it would be pass protection. College camps and combines this offseason should help him with his pass protection skills.   Josh Thoman (OL) 6'3” 270 lbs ‘24   Brownsburg   Another offensive lineman that plays with a nasty demeanor is Brownsburg's, Josh Thoman. He has a solid frame that translates well to the college game and still has room to grow. Josh is an offensive lineman that punishes defenders in the run and protects his quarterback with ease. Thoman plays with decent pad level but tends to get too tall. He does well at the point of attack and consistently drives his feet. Josh moves well and flashes this athleticism with his downfield blocking and pass protection. Josh has raw talent that any college coach would love to coach.   [player_tooltip player_id='560133' first='Brock' last='Brownfield'] (DL) 6'3” 235 lbs ‘26   New Palestine   [player_tooltip player_id='560133' first='Brock' last='Brownfield'] will be another huge name to come out of New Palestine. It's not often you see a freshman playing varsity football or play as well as Brock did in 2022. Brock has loads of raw talent and plays with an outstanding motor. He is a sound run defender, especially against the option, which is no easy task. He has a good feel for pass rush and is one pass rush move away from being a scary sight off the edge. His overall hand usage and pad level need some work, but that has more to do with his age than his skill. He is still growing into his body and learning the finer details of the position.   [player_tooltip player_id='217889' first='Ransom' last='McDermott'] (OL) 6'7” 305 lbs ‘24   Noblesville   Ransom is already a big name in the state of Indiana and for good reason too. He is a long athlete with exceptional bend and feet for a player his size. Second-level blocks are not an issue for him and he is solid on down blocks and double teams. He works his tracks well and would thrive in a zone-heavy offense in college. He is a solid pass protector, but still a little raw in this area. Ransom tends to stop his feet and let his size take over when pass blocking. But, given how little Nobleville throws the ball, this is expected. Overall, [player_tooltip player_id='217889' first='Ransom' last='McDermott'] is a gem and is the kind of player every college coach wants on their roster.   [player_tooltip player_id='542029' first='Ashton' last='Pesetski'] (DE) 6'2" 220 lbs '24   FW Carroll   Ashton had 84 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks this season. He can and will make plays in the backfield and at the line of scrimmage. He plays with good extension and has a nose for the ball. At 6'2" and 220 lbs, he is not the most physically imposing defensive lineman, but he does not let this hinder his performance. He matches a quick first step with surprising power when rushing the passer and playing the run. It's not often that the leading tackler for a team is a defensive lineman and by a good margin of 25 tackles. Expect Ashton to create more noise going into his senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='486419' first='Jackson' last='Sarjent'] (DL) 6'1” 240 lbs ‘25   Brownsburg   One of the more explosive defensive linemen you are going to see still has two years of high school left. [player_tooltip player_id='486419' first='Jackson' last='Sarjent'] gets upfield and creates problems for opposing offenses with ease. He has a great motor and runs to the ball with bad intentions. Jackson has a good feel for pass rush and can push the pocket on solo rushes and when running games. He has a nasty disengage on run blocks. Not the biggest player at the moment but he has time to add at least 10 or 15 more pounds. Jackson will be a fun player to watch over his next two seasons.   Mason Keifer (DL) 6'3” 240 lbs '25   Brownsburg   Another lineman from Brownsburg to keep an eye on is Mason Keifer. He has similar traits to his teammate [player_tooltip player_id='486419' first='Jackson' last='Sarjent']. He penetrates well, has a good feel for pass rush, and is a stout run defender. Of the two, Mason is a little more polished with his technique. He uses his hands well but has some room for improvement. Has some inconsistencies with his pad level but he's a strong kid that rarely gets knocked off the ball. Mason has a solid frame and can play almost every position on the defensive line. Mason will be a player to watch going into 2023.

Offensive and Defensive linemen are the glue to every team. Without them, success on either side of the ball will be minimal. Let's take a look at some players that will shine in 2023.