Small School Offensive Linemen to Look Out For

One of Minnesota's best football exports, time and time again, are its molly-whoppers lined up in the trenches. Minnesota offensive linemen are simply put, cut from a different cloth, and these guys are no different. There are athletes who are fit for every level of college football here, from D1 to D3, each with appealing upsides. Meet some of the best small school trench monsters!    A recent University of Northern Iowa commit, Hynes has been one of my favorite outstate prospects since he kicked off his junior campaign a year ago. On his tape, Hynes is a monster. A 6'7" center with a 6'9" wingspan is an insane mismatch on most DTs, especially in AAA ball. There isn't an NT safe from his wrath, and for having such a giant frame, Hynes is surprisingly quick and frequently works to the second level. This dude is a mauler who can drive kids into another area code play after play. Running behind him is a gift, and his senior season will likely cause defensive coordinators headaches.     One of two 2027 athletes to find himself on this list, Pearson's stock has risen tremendously this offseason, a trend I don't see slowing down anytime soon. He doesn't have a ton of sophomore-year tape, but his intangibles are crazy. He utilizes his long wingspan well and does a good job of absorbing powerful bull rushes. He's a kid I'm pumped to see more of going forward, and if Pearson puts forth some nuts junior tape, he's an athlete who could attract a lot of higher-level attention.     An underrated 2026 trench dog hailing from a small AAA school, Diers possesses a lot of traits that would lend themselves well to playing football at the next level. Technically, there are some things that still could be refined, but I love the low pad level Diers plays with. He gets underneath defenders and engages his hands early. If he could move his feet a little faster and more consistently, I could see his stock shooting up. I like his future as an IOL.     The other 2027 to find his way onto this list, Hagel, is primed for a breakout junior year. Hagel is a returning two-way trench starter who primarily plays center on offense, but has the versatility to play down the line. He makes great use of his stout build and is a force when pulling. After he gets in motion, Hagel does a great job of keeping his eyes on the linebackers and blocks well in space once he engages them. He plays low and runs his feet through contact, both amazing traits I hope he continues to develop.     An undersized but gritty tackle hailing from southern Minnesota, Fagan is an athlete who recently jumped onto my radar. He plays with a high motor, and I love how he always manages to find work somewhere down the field. He possesses and frequently uses one of the most disgusting and violent hand chop moves that I've seen, which he uses as a perfect counter to halt over-eager defensive linemen. Fagan is an under-the-radar athlete whom I'd love to see more of after his senior year.     Jordan has consistently produced underrated athletes year after year, and Klein fits into that mold perfectly. A physical and powerful guard, Klein is one of the most well-rounded offensive line prospects in AAA. He can hand-fight really well when asked to pass protect, but at the same time, possesses one of the meanest first punches toward defenders I've seen. If he can play lower more reliably, Klein would be trending toward one of the better IOLs in the state.     A Swiss-army knife offensive lineman who also plays on defense, Taylor is one of three Red Wing OLs who I've been impressed with this offseason. He's quick off the line, especially for a 250+ lb athlete, and he doesn't hesitate to work to the second level. I'd like to see him stick with his blocks a little longer and get some more depth on his pass sets, but Taylor can absolutely stonewall a defender once he locks into their pads. I think Red Wing is gearing up for a big 2025 season, and I'm psyched to see what Taylor can do.     Another giant of a human being hailing from a small school, Maxwell possesses the frame to attract NSIC attention. Anchoring the blindside for Red Wing, Maxwell uses his long arms to keep pass-rushing edge rushers at bay, and plays with a high motor, never giving up on a play. Leverage is the biggest area that could see improvement, but boy, can he stifle a bull rush. You can't coach size, and Maxwell is a big kid. I expect that we will see his stock rise during his senior year.     A standout defensive lineman who plays both ways for Rockford, Stuckmayer can get it done on both sides of the ball. As a guard, Stuckmayer is a bit undersized but makes up for it with his speed and quickness. Stuckmayer has a keen sense of leverage and is able to displace bigger defenders by using his fast feet and previously mentioned leverage. He's also a menace when asked to pull. He works quickly to the second level and never stops moving forward. Stuckmayer is an underrated two-way force.     A versatile plug-and-play offensive lineman who can be put at any position down the line, Fangman's potential to make an impact at the next level as an IOL is clear. I think his best techniques are reach blocks and down blocks. Fangman is quick enough and agile enough to scrape to the shoulder of defensive linemen, even if they are lined up in an unideal alignment. But he can also just bear down on defenders and displace them out of a gap using his power. That Red Wing OL looks like it's gonna be a tall task for defenses to negate.

One of Minnesota's best football exports, time and time again, are its molly-whoppers lined up in the trenches. Minnesota offensive linemen are simply put, cut from a different cloth, and these guys are no different. There are athletes who are fit for every level of college football here, from D1 to D3, each with appealing upsides. Meet some of the best small school trench monsters!