The Film Room: #TN2026 Off. Linemen

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Breaking down highlights in our lab, today we go in-depth with five offensive linemen from our rising senior class that all sport college potential and upside as well as a few that may have abilities to take their games beyond the college ranks. </h2>   <p></p>   <p><strong>#TN2026 Film Room</strong></p>   <p><strong>(OT/G) [player_tooltip player_id='284141' first='Brody' last='Smith'] - Maryville</strong></p>   <p>- This guy has been a marked man on the recruiting trail since his sophomore season and it's well warranted as Smith is one of the more athletic O-linemen we have coming out of the #TN2026 class. The Rebels big man has a versatile skill set that could allow him to handle multiple positions up front, including tackle and even possibly on the left side. Smith has excellent lower base bend and mobility that helps him get off the snap and drive his man forward. He can get out of his stance fast and lock on quickly before his man can gain sound footing. His footwork is also key. Smith shows the ability to pick up the rush or blitz, move laterally and stay in front of the defender while using his arm length to keep him in-check. HIs tenacity is another trait that helps with his blocking as Smith explodes into his man and always finishes through the whistle. </p>   <p>This guy is a violent blocker that embraces the physical aspect of the game. What could help him in this area playing on the college stage will be additional size and weight. Smith is a tad lean right now but that's ok as he sports a nice frame to pack on more girth and become an even more physical competitor. I do think he can stay on the outside at tackle but his athleticism, size and length does allow him to potentially play inside as well at guard or center. Smith comes from a football family, so the on-field intelligence is certainly there to handle every position within the trenches if needed. I like the upside here with Smith and his potential to become a multi year starter in college and if he continues to develop his body and game, maybe even the pro ranks one day.</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/Brody85Smith/status/1862958949571375414 </div></figure>    <p>- - - - - - </p>   <p><strong>(OL) [player_tooltip player_id='402552' first='Jordan' last='Curll'] - Page</strong></p>   <p>- This Mid-Tennessee big man may have as much potential as any O-lineman coming out of our #TN2026 class and someone that may not have the Power Four looks right now but could somewhere soon down the road. The first thing you notice and like about Curll when turning on his film is his natural athleticism and easy moving lower base. Curll has some of the best footwork and lower body mobility coming out of this class that speaks toward him possibly handling left tackle on the college level. What also helps his cause to play on the left side is his arm length and bend that helps him handle the outside speed rush. Curll is a smooth mover that should only get better in this area as he continues to fill into his body and gain more football intelligence. </p>   <p>College coaches look for pass blocking tackles on a continuous basis, so Curll should see a spike in his recruitment over the coming months but his value goes beyond playing on the outside as the Patriots big man has the physicality and girth to handle either guard position as well. The great thing about Curll too is that he is still coming into his own and just now seeing his potential for the college game, so his best football days are definitely ahead of him. He needs continued work in the weight room as well as with his on-field work but the upside is certainly there to see Power Four schools get involved and turn him into one of the more pursued offensive linemen from our #TN2026 recruiting class.</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/joe_spears7/status/1852511683501076980 </div></figure>    <p>- - - - - </p>   <p><strong>(OT/G) [player_tooltip player_id='1367238' first='ZaColby' last='Malone'] - Whitehaven</strong></p>   <p>- Much of what was said above about Curll can be placed here about Malone. The Tigers offensive lineman has some top level potential for the college stage as a possible left tackle that sports the athleticism and mobility to handle the pass rush. This Memphis area big man has already started to show off his potential this off-season in camps where he has impressed many with his nimble lower body and quick feet as well as his arm length and physical game play. It's hard to find guys who can actually handle the tackle position on the college stage but Malone shows the capabilities of doing so. Another trait that stands out is his willingness to be physical. Malone does a good job of moving his feet and staying in front of his man then finishing with violence. His physicality should increase over time as well as the Tigers big man continues to add more weight and fill out his body. </p>   <p>Malone may have some of the best feet from our O-line class. He moves well laterally, using his feet first to put him in position then stays on path with his defender due to his athleticism. The way this Whitehaven big man can move but also play with physicality shows the ability to move inside if needed. I do think that Malone is a “tackle” that could handle the left side but certainly do good work on the right side as well. It's still a learning curve for Malone as he continues to learn about the game and himself but the potential is most certainly there. MTSU and Cornell have already offered but I know he will see his offer list expand but will the Power Four schools get involved? I believe they will. He may need to hit the camp scene this summer to make that happen but I feel coaches would be impressed with Malone's upside as a pass blocking tackle.</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/ZacolbyM/status/1893581529059627353 </div></figure>    <p>- - - - - - </p>   <p><strong>(OG/C) [player_tooltip player_id='1621929' first='Baker' last='Correll'] - Dobyns-Bennett</strong></p>   <p>- Grit, power and toughness are three intermediate traits that stand out about this East Tennessee O-lineman when you turn on his junior film. Correll is a mauler, a physical competitor that enjoys making contact and being guys into the ground. He is able to do so with his physically well built frame as well as his athleticism off the snap. The Indians rising senior has a nice bend and the ability to stay low with his pad level then explode into his defender, knocking guys back on a consistent basis. His run blocking is an immediate trait that translates well to the college game but Correll also has the athleticism to develop nicely with his pass blocking as well. The ability to handle the pass rush shows upside for Correll to play left guard in college. He also has the versatility to potentially take care of all three interior O-line positions, including developing at center. </p>   <p>Last year as a junior, Correll put forth his best work yet where he established himself as a bonafide college prospect that I feel still has levels to his game. While he is physically well built, Correll still has room to grow with his body. The Indians big man has room to pack on more weight and become an even more physically imposing run blocker. He can also enhance his lower body agility as well. While I do think his mobility is on point, Correll can still increase this area over these off-season months, which could help him tremendously during college camp season. I am kinda bullish on this guy as I see Correll right now as one of the better guard prospects from the #TN2026 class that could jump on the recruiting scene sooner than later.</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/Bakercorrell4/status/1827881470406590774 </div></figure>    <p>- - - - - - </p>   <p><strong>(OG/C) [player_tooltip player_id='1568954' first='Noah' last='Spears'] - MUS</strong></p>   <p>- The next stud O-lineman to come out of the MUS football program looks to be this 6'4 interior mauler that brings a nice combination of athleticism and power to the playing field. Spears has the look and size of a college guy and he shows those capabilities throughout his junior film. What you see when you turn on his clips is a guy that gets out of stance quickly and explodes into his man, driving him back and paving the way for his ball carriers. Spears plays with tenacity and an aggressive nature that college coaches would enjoy coaching up. He shows quick footwork on film along with nice bend that can continue to develop further over time. Spears also shows a good job at pulling and trapping due to his mobility and ability to move laterally. </p>   <p>On field work must continue however with this Memphis O-lineman as Spears can be a tad stiff at times and play with high pad level. If he can increase his bend and lower body agility, the Owls O-lineman can see his game take off because the natural power and physicality is already there. I also think he can take on more weight and become more powerful with his run blocking. His pass blocking is another area that needs continued work but I can see the upside in this area for Spears where he could potentially handle left guard in college. At the time of writing this, Spears sits under the radar with his recruitment, which means hit the college camp scene this summer will be key towards him landing offers. I like how this big man goes about his business in the trenches, so I can certainly see his stock increase over time and become one of the better guard prospects coming out of the Memphis region.</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/noah_spearss/status/1876433491304632406 </div></figure>