5 Senior Offensive Linemen Expected to Dominate in 2026

Everybody knows that football is won and lost in the trenches, and another wave of overlooked offensive linemen has taken center stage this summer for Prep Redzone VA. Whether or not they've already begun to garner high-level collegiate attention or not, these five senior blockers are being tabbed as some of the most under-recruited in the state right now.    [player_tooltip player_id='1180950' first='Brady' last='Collins'] is incredibly impressive on tape, and some FCS teams have begun to realize his potential over the past couple of months. He's an absolute mauler in the run game and moves very well for his size.   You can tell he's been coached very well at LCA due to his consistent display of above-average technique. Some high school centers have a hard time snapping the ball and stepping at the same time, but Collins is very smooth with it. He's very in-tune with his upper body as well and has a beautiful snap/trigger (snapping the ball and then punching with his off-hand), which allows him to gain a quick leverage advantage early on in each rep. Collins is an excellent puller as well, which bodes well for his outlook at the next level.   He recently received his first D1 offer from Norfolk State, and if he continues on his current path, it definitely won't end up being his last high-level offer.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BradyCollins_90/status/2067422349155082712?s=20 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1311680' first='Xavier' last='Kennard'] is a very powerful high school left tackle who already has a great feel for the position. He has a nice stance and fairly strong pass set, and knows how to use leverage to his advantage.   Pancaking defenders in the run game is also a common theme with Kennard, as his leg-drive, hand placement, and motor are fun to watch. Consistently playing through the whistle is the name of the game for Kennard, and it's something that college offensive line coaches are going to love.   He seems a bit bigger than his listed size of 6'2", 263 lbs., so we'll have to double-check on that as well. Kennard recently received an offer from Bluefield State (D2), which should be the first of many for the 1st-team All-District and All-Region performer.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/footballcoach79/status/2018839302780903629?s=20 </div></figure>     Another player who moves pretty well for his gargantuan size, [player_tooltip player_id='1213857' first='Nolan' last='McIntyre'] displays some excellent traits at offensive tackle. He consistently stuns defensive linemen with a strong punch, he moves well laterally when mirroring defenders in pass protection, and he can displace defenders in the run game with upper-body and core strength.   His size and movement skills were on full display at the National Preps Showcase in May, being talked about as one of the top performers of the event. He'll definitely begin to rake in some D2 and FCS offers in 2026 with a standout senior season.     Despite being our 9th-ranked offensive lineman and one of the most impressive in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='1311655' first='Jaxon' last='Manning'] is still being overlooked by college programs. Though he's an above-average pass blocker, where he stands out is in the run game.   Everything from his trigger step at the snap to his finish is top-notch in both the power and zone game, and he already looks like a collegiate offensive lineman who's playing at the high school level. Manning is an excellent second-level mover as well, consistently taking advantageous angles to linebackers when pulling and climbing off of combo blocks at the line of scrimmage.   He's going to be a standout offensive guard at the collegiate level, and the fact that he doesn't have more FBS offers right now is mind-blowing. With that being said, he has pulled in offers from Sacred Heart (FCS), Gardner-Webb (FCS), and Norfolk State (FCS) recently. College coaches should keep [player_tooltip player_id='1311655' first='Jaxon' last='Manning']'s name in mind for 2026.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jaxon_Manning_/status/2064101515007029280?s=20 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1312773' first='Luke' last='Colbert'] is an under-recruited center prospect who has an excellent anchor and core strength, which he uses to negate and steer interior bullrushers with. He'll need to work on his short-area quickness at the next level, but he displays a lot of things that college coaches look for in a high school center.   Good snaps, awareness (stunt recognition), and leg-drive are all up to par for Colbert, and he's been taking quite a few visits to D3 programs this offseason like Moravian, Christopher-Newport, and Stevenson.   If he has a great season in 2026, it wouldn't be surprising to see him pull in some D2 offers as a senior.

Everybody knows that football is won and lost in the trenches, and another wave of overlooked offensive linemen has taken center stage this summer for Prep Redzone VA. Whether or not they've already begun to garner high-level collegiate attention or not, these five senior blockers are being tabbed as some of the most under-recruited in the state right now.