Top 5 OL Rooms in Tennessee for 2026 Season

<p>The 2025 high school football season inside the state of Tennessee has come to an end and the focus now turns to who returns for the 2026 season next year.</p>   <p>While there will be a lot of moving parts with risers, fallers and even transfers, we begin to take a look at which teams have the best room at each position group in the days leading up to Christmas.</p>   <p>Today, we continue the series with taking a look at the top five offensive line units inside the state of Tennessee for the 2026 season.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1.) Christ Presbyterian Academy</h2>   <p>CPA should return a massive and physically imposing offensive line that effectively opens rushing lanes and keeps the pocket clean.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='905243' first='Skyler' last='Smith'] is the leader of the unit as he manned the center position for the first time last season, doing so at a high level with the size to move nose tackles and the athleticism to work to the second level.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158911' first='Isaiah' last='Bryant'] played primarily left tackle (also some guard) and took another step forward as a junior to becoming one of the better lineman in the state with his size and strength.</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/the_izzy_bryant/status/1981033326941962526?s=46 </div></figure>   <p>Last season was the first at CPA for [player_tooltip player_id='1154143' first='Ben' last='Hale'] who took a massive step forward at tackle with an imposing physique. He took a huge step in his first year working with the coaching staff and should take another one next year as a senior.</p>   <p>The rest of the line unit is well coached and helps generate rushing lanes consistently for one of the better rushing attacks in the state over the last decade.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2.) Franklin Road Academy</h2>   <p>Franklin Road Academy has had one of the best offensive line units in the entire state every single year under the current coaching staff and that will not change next year. If anything, the front five should get significantly better with more experience under their belt.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='866750' first='Keilan' last='Neal'] returns at left tackle, a spot where he has been the quarterback's best friend for the previous two seasons. He will lead this offensive line again with his steady play and experience.</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/shaynep_media/status/1971770143568216100?s=46 </div></figure>   <p>Fellow rising senior Kyre Vaught had a very strong season last year and will look to build upon that success. He has a strong frame and athleticism to take opposing defensive linemen completely out of plays.</p>   <p>2029 prospect Willis Beard Jr was thrown into the fire as a freshman and quickly picked up valuable experience at the center position. With a year under his belt, he should see the game begin to slow down to an extent and continue his quality play on the field.</p>   <p>Around these three, there are several players with solid size, ability and coaching that can fill in the remaining spots.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3.) Ensworth High School</h2>   <p>Ensworth has their own case for best tackle duo in the state leading the way for a formidable offensive line.</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/ashtonmcoles/status/1987666803913367936?s=46 </div></figure>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1180873' first='Ashton' last='Coles'] is a Power Four level prospect and had a very, very strong first season starting at left tackle. He has a massive strong frame that is impossible to work through for defensive linemen.</p>   <p>In his first season at Ensworth, right tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1673214' first='Jake' last='Baker'] provided some consistency on that side of the line. He has great length and athleticism with the ability to keep edge rushers away from his quarterback.</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/jakebaker_50/status/1998124417453551721?s=46 </div></figure>   <p>Ensworth will lose some veterans but will continue to have size along the interior to maintain a strong offensive line unit next season.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4.) Oakland High School</h2>   <p>The Oakland offensive line was young last season but established its presence early and often in every single game throughout the year.</p>   <p>Chandler Cates will return for his senior season after a strong first year in the program that saw him add his first offers.</p>   <p>The team will welcome another transfer tackle in mammoth 2028 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1536133' first='Kendall' last='Brooks'], who flashed high-level potential last season for East Nashville.</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/shaynep_media/status/1999734715486732755?s=46 </div></figure>   <p>2028 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1066169' first='Marland' last='Mixon'] had a strong year along the interior with his powerful ability to move defenders out of rushing lanes at the line of scrimmage.</p>   <p>Joining him on the inside will be fellow underclassmen in 2029 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1305173' first='Trenton' last='Gibbs'] Jr, who maximized his size and athleticism as a freshman while working as a puller.</p>   <p>This unit loses some very capable players, but has since added one to a strong returning nucleus that should continue to pave the way for a standout rushing attack.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5.) Southwind High School</h2>   <p>Southwind made a run to the state semifinals in their first season at the 6A level and while a lot of people correctly give credit to quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='480742' first='Kelvin' last='Perkins'], the trenches on both sides deserve just as much credit from the media and fans.</p>   <p>On that note, the team will return a very strong nucleus of an offensive line that took a significant step forward in their development collectively last season.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1159814' first='Antonio' last='Keefer'] at tackle has one of the highest ceilings of any offensive line prospect in the state with his frame, strength, and athleticism.</p>   <p>Watching Keefer be utilized as a puller with the speed he somehow possesses is truly beautiful and stunning to watch. As he takes another step forward, defensive players will need to keep their head on a swivel.</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/aakeefer/status/1974145780828287406?s=46 </div></figure>   <p>Guard [player_tooltip player_id='378854' first='Chris' last='Campbell'] has started alongside Keefer for a long time now and will return to help provide a strong, reliable interior presence on the front five.</p>   <p>Fellow 2027 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='904973' first='Zachais' last='Ratliff'] provides yet another big, strong and athletic body up front and will be a key returner at tackle for the Jaguars.</p>   <p>Southwind has size along the interior to complement and this unit has the potential to be a very quick riser up these rankings.</p>

The 2025 high school football season inside the state of Tennessee has come to an end and the focus now turns to who returns for the 2026 season next year.