Large and In Charge - 2025 Tackles

In today's environment of high-octane football and short attention spans it is easy to focus on athletic skill players and whichever one happens to be scoring touchdowns. Quarterbacks and wide receivers that put on a fireworks show every Friday night. Or on the flip side, the other-worldly athletic pass rushers and linebackers who run like bulked up sprinters.   Then, you have the grinders, the grunts, the big boys up front protecting the crown jewels - the all-important offensive line.   And, more specifically, in this report Prep Redzone will be doing a deep dive on offensive tackles. The twin pillars of protection that anchor the offense. The guys that are literally "large and in charge."   The prototype offensive tackle in this day and age is long, massive and can move like a dancer. They are tasked with containing the opposition's most terrifying edge rushers, blasting out gaping holes for backs to get into the secondary in a hurry and battling toe-to-toe in the trenches and at the point of attack.   In the 2025 rankings there are quite a few offensive tackles that meet the lofty criteria of a prototype offensive tackle. In this report, we will be looking at the creme de la creme of the Sunflower state. The guys that the likes of Alabama, USC, Michigan, KU, K-State and scores of others come knocking on a regular basis.   The man mountains in this report average over 6'6 tall and over 300 pounds...and are still growing.   Below are five of the best OT's the state has to offer:   [player_tooltip player_id='716598' first='Andrew' last='Babalola'], 6'6, 290, OL, Blue Valley Northwest is ranked #3. He is the top-ranked offensive lineman in the 2025 rankings and as expected is being hounded by the blue bloods of division one football. He has all the key attributes of a backside tackle who is capable of hitting the other team's best player in the mouth. A steamroller of a blocker in the run game, he routinely pancakes his opponent or drives them into the sideline benches. He is athletic, has a good initial step and moves well blocking on the second level. There are times when he telegraphs his intentions by leaning toward the pull prior to the snap or sitting on his heels when preparing to shift into pass pro. However, these are minor adjustments he is probably already in the process of correcting.   [player_tooltip player_id='352457' first='Julian' last='Marks'], 6'7, 285, OL/DL, St Thomas Aquinas is ranked #6. He is a superbly athletic tackle that is strong on both sides of the ball. Although he can play any position along the line of scrimmage, he will probably end up being a defensive tackle in college. He is a true four-star player and another who has a long list of the top division one programs beating down his door. A devastating hitter who fires off quick and gets to the ball in a hurry. He easily blows up most double teams using great quick-twitch body control, powerful hands that strike a blow, and a blinding fast spin move. He physically overwhelms defenders with his size and athleticism. He does stand up out of his stance on occasion and allows blockers to get into his pads but is so strong he is usually able to offset minor mechanical miscues.   [player_tooltip player_id='285568' first='Jacob' last='Hawks'], 6'8, 315, OL, Washburn Rural is ranked #12. The man mountain from Topeka is readily apparent in film review because of his sheer size and presence, but it doesn't take very long to see that he is more than just another big-boned body. He is a punishing bulldozer of blocker in the Washburn Rural run scheme. He moves well and is agile for his size and has good hands. He has the prototype size the division one programs are looking for and shows he is athletic as well. He is capable of locking in on defenders at the second level and driving them into the turf. He is a piledriver of a blocker and frequently delivers resounding pancake blocks. His pass pro mechanics, the initial outside step and maintaining balance and reach on fast edge rushers is still being fine tuned but all in all he is one not to miss this coming season.   [player_tooltip player_id='716599' first='Keiton' last='Jones'], 6'6, 310, OL, Field Kindley, is ranked #49. He is moving up the rankings demonstrating a combination of athleticism and grinder mentality. He dominates the line of scrimmage, caving in the defense on run plays and blasting open holes. He is athletic, agile and moves well working to the linebacker level and blocking in open space. He has efficient hands and upper body strength, which enables him to handle any kind of block, whether drive, zone, pull or pass pro. He is still a work in progress on perfecting his pass protection skill sets but only minor adjustments on step and balance are needed to become a standout edge protector. He is one flying under the radar a little that you don't want to miss.   [player_tooltip player_id='716775' first='Drayton' last='Knoll'], 6'6, 305, OL, Holcomb is ranked #78. A first-team all state player who is probably a little lower ranked than he should be. He has all the attributes of a big-time offensive lineman and should be able to step in and play at a high level following his senior season. A true mauler of a blocker, he delivers a blow and is quick and aggressive. He has outstanding feet, powerful hands and demonstrates first-rate mechanics. He has good bend and burst coming out of his stance and hits moving targets well for his size. He does telegraph his intentions on occasion leaning in his stance, but even if the opposition knows where he is going it usually doesn't make any difference. He won't be ranked this low very long.   In conclusion, this is an on-going series focusing on different aspects of line play. The objective is to get these grinders some attention and bring to the viewing public all the great things offensive and defensive linemen have to offer.

In today's environment of high-octane football and short attention spans it is easy to focus on athletic skill players and whichever one happens to be scoring touchdowns. Quarterbacks and wide receivers that put on a fireworks show every Friday night. Or on the flip side, the other-worldly athletic pass rushers and linebackers who run like bulked up sprinters.