2026 Lineman Watchlist

<p>Here's eight impressive 2026 “hog mollies” to take a look at. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='401195' first='Johnny' last='Garner'] | ATH | Ozark</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='401195' first='Johnny' last='Garner'] (5-8, 180) plays with a maturity and calmness rare for someone his age. Defensively, he shows remarkable discipline, rarely falling for blitzes or play-action fakes, instead waiting for plays to unfold before making his move. His keen understanding of play development allows him to pursue the ball with precision. </p>   <p>What truly stands out is his pass-blocking intelligence. Garner excels in using proper technique, especially in his drop steps, while leveraging his low center of gravity to hold off larger defenders. His strong football IQ and technical soundness make him a force to be reckoned with, despite his smaller frame.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='641475' first='Kamareus' last='Shepherd'] | Offensive Lineman | Fort Smith Northside</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='641475' first='Kamareus' last='Shepherd'] (5-10, 240) combines quick feet with impressive athleticism for his position. He demonstrates solid foot quickness and burst off the snap, using his hand placement and timing to create leverage on the inside. His strong lower body power allows him to consistently drive defenders backward, making him a force in the run game. Shepherd also showcases a strong anchor in pass protection, maintaining body control and balance to keep his position, making him difficult to beat on pass rushes.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jacob [player_tooltip player_id='1257470' first='Asher' last='Lanehart'] | Offensive Lineman | Star City</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1257470' first='Asher' last='Lanehart'] (6-2, 250) fires off the line with impressive burst, keeping a low pad level and consistently placing his hands well to maintain leverage. His quick footwork and constant activity allow him to overpower defenders, either driving them into the ground or pushing them to the second level. Whether executing his various assignment blocks, Lanehart excels by using angles to dominate his opponents. In pass protection, his strong anchor—supported by a powerful lower body and firm hand technique—gives him control against the rush.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1152827' first='Kristian' last='Jackson'] | Offensive Line | Sylvan Hills</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1152827' first='Kristian' last='Jackson'] (5-10, 230) brings impressive quickness and power to the line. Throughout the off-season, he's been dedicated to improving his skills, attending workouts and practices while earning multiple camp invites. Jackson bursts off the line of scrimmage, using his quickness and proper hand placement to gain inside leverage and drive his defender back. His footwork and technique are polished, allowing him to stay in control, while his lower body strength and active feet enable him to maintain pressure and push through blocks.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1248546' first='Lance' last='Gulley'] | ATH | Arkadelphia</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1248546' first='Lance' last='Gulley'] (6-0, 210) combines power and athleticism, making him a force on the edge. He exhibits impressive quickness, allowing him to contain runs and force ball carriers back inside. Gulley's hand placement and patience are key, as he effectively controls the offensive line while reading the play and reacting to make stops. His lower body strength gives him the leverage to drive linemen backward, creating consistent pressure on quarterbacks. A reliable tackler, Gulley consistently demonstrates good technique and brings a physical presence to every play.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='887020' first='Jayden' last='Thomas'] | Defensive Lineman | Fort Smith Northside</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='887020' first='Jayden' last='Thomas'] (5-10, 150) is a versatile defensive tackle that is capable of playing across the entire defensive front. With a combination of speed and strength, Thomas consistently causes problems for opposing offensive linemen. He exhibited great effort and production in the offseason specifically pertaining to his strength and explosiveness, which has paid dividends, enhancing his ability to disrupt plays quickly. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='830860' first='Jayton' last='Jones'] | Defensive Lineman | Bryant</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='830860' first='Jayton' last='Jones'] (5-10, 220) brings a combination of athleticism, quickness, and versatility to the defensive line. With experience lining up across multiple positions, Jones consistently uses his explosiveness off the snap and foot quickness to beat his opposition. His use of hands is particularly impressive, allowing him to win 1v1 matchups and create disruption in the backfield. On the edge, his awareness and lower body strength enable him to contain runners and force plays back inside. When lining up in the interior, Jones shows an ability to penetrate gaps, consistently making tackles or sacks.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='419605' first='Max' last='Rocha'] | Offensive Lineman | Mena</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='419605' first='Max' last='Rocha'] (6-0, 270) brings a blend of power and agility to the interior of the Mena offensive line. Known for his physical play, Rocha can overpower defenders, creating wide rushing lanes and consistently controlling the point of attack. His quickness enables him to establish leverage swiftly, giving Mena a solid presence upfront.</p>

Here's eight impressive 2026 “hog mollies” to take a look at.