Dakotas 6'1 and Under 2026 Offensive Linemen to Watch This Fall

Every college coach I have a conversation with, tells me they have certain skillsets they are looking for at each position they recruit. Outside of that, some want more size than others in the offenisve trenches, and some just want the toughest and meanest offensive linemen they can find in the trenches regardless of size. To the college coaches that want the toughest and meanest offenisve line targets under 6'1 inches tall, this list is certainly for you as we do a quick scan thru the Dakotas for finding those tough, blue-collar kids that have the skills to play at the next-level.    The 6'1 275 pounder from Sioux Falls Jefferson is a boomer when he makes contact. I was intrigued on tape with how strong Noah's base is for his size, as an offensive linemen that you can see early, knows how to get in a position angle to alleviate his physicality the most. He's developed over the last couple of years too with his pad-level as a prospect that plays on both sides of the trenches for the Cavaliers that has some D2 and NAIA to boot. Intrigued too by the growth too he has made with his footwork as well.     If you like offensive guards that know how to finish their blocks, you will want to check out the first clip on tape from Sioux Falls Lincoln's [player_tooltip player_id='1591388' first='Avanny' last='Kony']. The 6'0 285 pounder, shows good fluidity out of his stance as a pull-blocker as I even feel there's more upside that could be generated when watching his foot speed. His ability to restore leverage as an angle blocker also is intriguing and boosts the upside for the coming years at the next-level. He'll surely be one I would keep on my radar if I were a college program this fall, cause I can gauge there's more to prove for Avanny in his senior season at the Patriots try to redeem their 11AAA state title from 2024.     Kaden is another offenisve guard that is tough as nails coming out of Bismarck High that for some reason just has one local NAIA offer thus far. The 6'0 285 pounder, has relentless drive with his hands as it doesn't take long he's one in the trenches that won't stop his hands until that whistle blows. I like the versatility on tape that Kaden brings into his senior season, as you can tell he can get into the second level, run-block with angles, and pull-block with laying a boom at the point of attack. He's one college coaches around the Dakotas will want to watch his first three games of his senior season closely.     The most explosive first step we have on this list so far, comes from Fargo Davies [player_tooltip player_id='1226688' first='Blake' last='McCarthy'], who I just named to my second team All-State Team for offensive linemen, but I would not be surprised if he is a first-teamer by the end of the 2025 season. The quick powering strength that Blake has is surely one that is hard to miss on tape, as even though Fargo Davies is not a pass-heavy team by any means, in the pass pro reps I watched out of Blake, I was intrigued by how versatile he was with his footwork and hand placement. Blake has one D3 offer thus far as another North Dakotan that surprises me that he doesn't have more attention on the recruiting trail.     Zander in my eyes has the biggest upside out of this 6'1 under OL group in the Dakotas, as the Grand Forks Red River product shows some flashes on tape that intrigue me. I like what Zander can do with getting early leverage as you can tell he wants to take his defender as far away from his quarterback when I watch his reps in pass-pro. He just needs to develop that next step, as far as finishing his blocks as like I said, he has good pad-level, and developing with leverage, but finishing is surely his next-step in my eyes. Oddly enough the deeper I get into his tape, the more force behind his hands I see so if he can make that more consistent in the 2025 season, he could be a Saturdays prospect to watch for out of Grand Forks.

Every college coach I have a conversation with, tells me they have certain skillsets they are looking for at each position they recruit. Outside of that, some want more size than others in the offenisve trenches, and some just want the toughest and meanest offensive linemen they can find in the trenches regardless of size. To the college coaches that want the toughest and meanest offenisve line targets under 6'1 inches tall, this list is certainly for you as we do a quick scan thru the Dakotas for finding those tough, blue-collar kids that have the skills to play at the next-level.