Lineman Watchlist (Part 1)

<p>The engine driving many offenses and the tempo-setters for the defense often go unnoticed unless their assignments are missed. However, in this thankless position, let's shine some light on the talented linemen throughout the state.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='364854' first='Cody' last='Taylor'] | Greenwood | C/O 2026</h2>   <p>One of the top offensive lineman recruits from the 2026 class, [player_tooltip player_id='364854' first='Cody' last='Taylor'] is well on his way to securing a spot at a Power 4 school. Taylor (6'3", 290 lbs) boasts seamless footwork in the pull game, showcasing great turning speed and force. His foundational skills allow him to meet defenders in the hole with great success, maintaining proper engagement to keep them centered.</p>   <p>Taylor's strength is particularly impressive, evident in his initial punch in pass protection, often catching attacking defenders by surprise. In both pass and run blocking, Taylor's footwork and dedication to his craft are outstanding, making him as fluid as any other lineman you'll find.</p>   <p>Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Taylor's skill set is his spatial awareness and intuitive decision-making in blitz pick-ups. His quick pulls into the opposite gap and ability to identify his first key demonstrate advanced awareness and technique.</p>   <p><em>Collegiate Offers: Ole Miss, Toledo, New Mexico State, UT-Martin, UNLV, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Memphis</em></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CodyTaylor68/status/1732614646790602931 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='342107' first='Brody' last='Benton'] | Des Arc | C/O 2025</h2>   <p>An offensive lineman who is both quick and powerful off the snap, [player_tooltip player_id='342107' first='Brody' last='Benton'] demonstrates remarkable efficiency straight out of his stance with impressive striking ability. Standing at 6'3" and weighing 300 pounds, Benton's size doesn't hinder his agility; he exhibits excellent chop steps and lateral footwork to counter both inside and outside attacks from defenders. His feet are never stagnant in pass protection, and he has developed the strength to move up and through defenders with great power in run blocking. Benton also takes pride in his rugged run blocking, often pancaking defensive linemen to eliminate them from the play.</p>   <p><em>Collegiate Interests: Arkansas, North Texas, Harding, Henderson State, Ouachita Baptist, Louisiana-Monroe </em></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BrodyBenton78/status/1794431772232417773 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='927094' first='Gabriel' last='McElyea'] | Gentry | C/O 2025</h2>   <p>A trait that all collegiate coaches admire is physicality, and Gabe McElyea does not lack in this area. Standing at 6'3" and weighing 290 pounds, McElyea plays with an impressive, hard-nosed style that, combined with his swift feet, often gives him a quick advantage over his opponents. His playing style results in a plethora of highlight-reel pancakes and impressive gaps. McElyea's ability to create a wall for his ball carrier stems from his aggressiveness and powerful legs, allowing him to dictate the direction of the match-up. His footwork and agility also shine in open-field and quick screen game scenarios, making him a versatile asset on the field.</p>   <p><em>Collegiate Interests: UT Martin, Central Arkansas</em></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/GabeMcElyea65/status/1723020535448134105 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='918048' first='Tucker' last='Young'] | Hot Springs Lakeside | C/O 2026</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='918048' first='Tucker' last='Young'] brings a high-IQ, fundamentally sound presence to the offensive line. Standing at 6'4" and weighing 300 pounds, Young has the potential to reach an elite level before signing day arrives. Often playing guard, he excels at attacking defenders' outside half, forcing them back into traffic. At the guard spot, Young effectively holds his own on the edge of the formation, creating a solid pocket barrier for his quarterback. He keeps defenders centered with his excellent handiwork, maintaining control within the defenders' shoulders. Young is exceptional at attacking second-level defenders, leveraging his impressive foundation and engagement skills.</p>   <p><em>Collegiate Interests: Arkansas, Central Arkansas, Arkansas State</em>,<em> Harding, </em></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/tuckeryoung74/status/1797378236273263010 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1669858' first='Jayden' last='Huckabee'] | Cross County | C/O 2027</h2>   <p>Here is a 2027 prospect with high-quality potential as his body matures, already boasting an impressive 6'2", 305-pound frame. Defensively, Huckabee is an absolute tank in the run game, serving as an elite run-stopping nose guard. He has a knack for creating log jams in the middle of the formation, often leaving ball carriers with little to no room to operate behind the line of scrimmage. In passing situations, Huckabee is a brute up the middle, regularly splitting double teams and winning one-on-one matchups to collapse the pocket directly in the quarterback's face.</p>   <p>Offensively, Huckabee excels at creating wide gaps quickly with his brute strength and is the driving force for his offensive unit in short yardage situations. He shows great potential for elite footwork in the passing game and outside run schemes, complementing his already dominant inside game.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/B_Huck77/status/1748900134342033796 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='535123' first='Harris' last='Manning'] | Osceola | C/O 2025</h2>   <p>As a defensive lineman, [player_tooltip player_id='535123' first='Harris' last='Manning'] excels as an impressive run-game hole filler. He adeptly works his way into gaps to easily contain ball carriers in tight confines. Manning (5'10", 270 pounds) uses his strong, quick hands to shed blocks as soon as the handoff is made, allowing him to make tackles effectively in the gap. During outside run plays and quarterback bootlegs, Manning exhibits surprising closing speed on ball carriers in the open field. He has a great ability to string running plays out to the sideline, taking impressive angles in pursuit.</p>   <p><em>Collegiate Interests: Knox College, Central Oklahoma</em></p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/HarrisManning51/status/1755285952346362318 </div></figure>

The engine driving many offenses and the tempo-setters for the defense often go unnoticed unless their assignments are missed. However, in this thankless position, let's shine some light on the talented linemen throughout the state.