In the trenches - Part I

Football games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage. Sure, quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers get all the highlights, but none will be effective without the guys up front. Today, we highlight some teams that return at least three of their starting linemen who have made our rankings. These five teams already have a solid foundation for success in 2024.   Cambridge-Isanti   [player_tooltip player_id='1109890' first='Deke' last='Scott'], [player_tooltip player_id='362282' first='Brady' last='Andersen'], [player_tooltip player_id='953276' first='Sully' last='Weibel']   Scott is an absolute load at right tackle. His size and strong lower half allow him to swallow up smaller defenders. His solid feet, for his size, enable him to get to the second level and lead on sweeps. On the left side, Anderson is almost a carbon copy of Scott, except he is even more athletic. He dominates smaller defenders in the running game – often blowing guys five yards off the line. His speed separates the Bluejackets' big man from most prep offensive linemen. He is downfield so quickly you would swear he was fifty pounds lighter. On the inside, Weibel is one of the most physical pulling guards in the state. His footwork coming out of his stance on a trap block gets him out of the blocks quickly – he is equally effective pulling to the left and the right – and hits defenders with bad intentions.   Maple Grove   [player_tooltip player_id='743255' first='Dylan' last='South'], [player_tooltip player_id='551332' first='Carson' last='Lund'], [player_tooltip player_id='362276' first='Michael' last='Wagner']   Starting on the inside, Lund might be one of the top guards in the state. His combination of speed and power sets him apart from not only other interior offensive linemen but also the defensive players he blocks. His speed to the second level and ability to pull stand out, as do his power and aggressiveness when he makes contact with the guys he is blocking. On the outside, Wagner is one of the more athletic tackles you will come across. He is not going to overwhelm with his size, but his footwork and technique more than makeup for what might be considered an undersized frame – a frame that is perfect for adding some good weight this offseason. I could not find video of South, but, like Wagner, he has an ideal frame where he can put on some good weight and become a force on the Crimson's offensive line.   Buffalo   [player_tooltip player_id='348778' first='Kallen' last='Prell'], [player_tooltip player_id='945904' first='Mason' last='Borski'], [player_tooltip player_id='918768' first='Ryan' last='Babatz']   Prell is the ultimate swing offensive lineman. He can start for you at any spot but center, and I wouldn't be surprised if he could do that in a pinch. Prell has excellent feet and hips. I was immediately impressed with his ability to get his body immediately between the defender and the hole. That is half the battle, and after getting in position, he has the strength to move his man off the line. Babatz is an athletic offensive tackle who is just as comfortable at the line of scrimmage as he is blocking downfield. His quickness and speed shouldn't deceive you – he has the strength to put defenders on the ground, too.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure>   Kennedy   [player_tooltip player_id='924346' first='Jayveon' last='Kelly'], [player_tooltip player_id='743312' first='William' last='Storm'], [player_tooltip player_id='743257' first='Eli' last='McDaniel']   Left tackle Kelly has great size, but how he uses his size impresses. He has nimble feet and is not just a straight-ahead road grader. He has solid footwork and has good pass sets. He reacts quickly when defenders try to use misdirection on a pass rush. Like Kelly, Storm is another athletic offensive lineman. His quickness off the ball and ability to get to the second level are solid. He operates well in space and does a great job in the open field, staying with smaller defenders. McDaniel hasn't received a ton of playing time, but he is another athletic big man for the Eagles offense.   Holy Angels   [player_tooltip player_id='402072' first='Dalton' last='DeBoer'], [player_tooltip player_id='592223' first='John' last='Mccartan'], [player_tooltip player_id='945921' first='Macalister' last='Nolen']   At right tackle, DeBoer was already a physical force as a sophomore starter. He has the power to overwhelm smaller defenders, and his speed is solid for an athlete his size. What separates DeBoer is his lateral movement and footwork. Another sophomore, McCartan, anchors the middle of the Stars' offensive line. McCartan is a brute in the middle of the field. He comes off the line with low hips, and his straight-ahead run blocking is already solid. His strength is impressive for a sophomore – how much of a problem he will be with another year in the weight room will be fun to watch. Unlike his linemates on this list, Nolen – while still solid with straight-line run blocking, is the most agile and athletic of the three linemen. The junior is excellent coming across the formation on a trap block or leading a sweep.   Lakeville South   [player_tooltip player_id='945343' first='Kaden' last='Bonds'], [player_tooltip player_id='348732' first='Mitchell' last='Kelvie'], [player_tooltip player_id='591985' first='Brody' last='Bauer'], [player_tooltip player_id='924222' first='Henry' last='Hauge']   Starting with Bonds, there isn't much to nit-pick with the Cougars' left tackle. He has the size to overwhelm defenders when blocking straight ahead, but he is agile enough to be an effective pulling tackle, whether it be leading a running back around the corner or cutting up the hole to lead block on a trap. Kelvie is the proto-typical pulling guard. He is quick out of his stance with excellent lateral quickness. His naturally low center of gravity allows him to get under the pads of his opponents without losing much speed and momentum. Because of that natural leverage, his momentum when pulling gets defenders moving backward. Bauer is a mountain of a man at tackle. He is the last guy a linebacker or defensive back wants to see at the next level with a head of steam. He keeps his feet moving during the duration of blocks – usually resulting in the defender moving, too – backward. Hauge is technically a tight end. He can make plays in the passing game, but with as complete a blocker as he is, we are making him an honorary lineman. His straight-line blocking is solid, but where he excels is out in space or when pass blocking, where he can use his athletic ability.

Football games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage. Sure, quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers get all the highlights, but none will be effective without the guys up front. Today, we highlight some teams that return at least three of their starting linemen who have made our rankings. These five teams already have a solid foundation for success in 2024.