What makes a great Offensive Lineman?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of, if not the most important position in football besides Quarterback. The offensive line is the lifeblood of the offense. Without a good line, nothing is able to function. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So many colleges are looking to bolster their offensive line, and that's because good offensive linemen are extremely rare. Here are a few key variables I look for in good offensive linemen, and a couple of prospects who make great examples. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Size</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The most important trait if you want to be recruited. You usually need to be at least 6'3" if you want to play guard, and at least 6'5" if you want to play tackle. Long arms help tremendously as well. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1148700' first='Jacob' last='Timmer'] - West Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Very good size- height, weight, length</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>As strong as he is big</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Can improve footwork and agility, but size makes up for a lot of his flaws</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615781' first='Maddux' last='Murphy'] - St. Joseph</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>One of the most well-built offensive linemen in this class</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>VERY strong run blocker</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Good first step</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Decent pass blocking = D1 offers. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Strength</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>Should be obvious, but if you want to play offensive line, you need to be strong. You have to be able to physically dominate the man in front of you in order to go D1. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Khaleif Canty - Cass Tech</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Plays bully ball</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Extremely competitive</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Drives people into the dirt</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Does not care about playing nice- offensive line is war</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='568183' first='Eli' last='Macauley'] - Forest Hills Northern</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Doesn't have elite size, but makes up for it with good footwork and strength</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Knows how to use leverage to immediately body defensive linemen</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A very high floor player</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fundamentals</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>Being fundamentally sound is extremely important. Even more important is being consistently fundamentally sound. These two players excel in that category. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='568194' first='Gregory' last='Patrick'] - Portage Northern </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>So. Incredibly. Consistent. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Great, hard punch</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Extremely balanced</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Also very athletic (another vital trait)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212356' first='Ben' last='Nichols'] - Davison</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Executes any and all blocks at a high level</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Consistent footwork</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Good all-around OL play. Agility only thing holding him back</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Intangebles </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The hardest variable to attempt to measure. Very few players that I can confidently say have great intangebles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1246804' first='Sullivan' last='Garvin'] - Allegan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Who I think of when I think great intangebles </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Extremely kind person</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Does all the right things on and off the field</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A+ character evaluation</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Has improved a huge amount every single year</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>All signs point toward a continued upward trajectory through college</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two more important variables - Athleticism and GRADES! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->