Building the Perfect Offensive Lineman in Tennessee: DII-AAA

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tennessee high school football is loaded with talent, especially in Division II-AAA. From frame and athleticism to blocking and technique, standouts bring unique traits to the field each Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this Prep Redzone scouting series, I'm building the ultimate player at each position and classification by combining the best size, skills, traits and intangibles from top prospects across the state. There's just one rule: each player can be used only once, unless necessary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next in the series, I'm doing Division II-AAA blockers. By blending the best qualities of five different players, I've created the blueprint for the perfect offensive lineman in this classification heading into the 2026 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1968996} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/DanteOT.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1968996" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Baylor OL [player_tooltip player_id='1704258' first='Dante' last='Wade'] during a scrimmage.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Frame: 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1704258' first='Dante' last='Wade'] – Baylor School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1704258' first='Dante' last='Wade'] has yet to play meaningful snaps at Baylor School, but he's the clear-cut choice for this category. The rising junior offers terrific size for his age, standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 310 pounds with a long, stout frame that's built to play big-time football at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2028 prospect has the space to put on even more good weight, which will only increase his value. Wade is a freak at left tackle and should have a breakout season for the defending state champions in Division II-AAA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2141738} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/02/ibryant.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-2141738" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: CPA OL [player_tooltip player_id='1158911' first='Isaiah' last='Bryant'] during a game.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Athleticism: 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1158911' first='Isaiah' last='Bryant'] – Christ Presbyterian Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next in this article, we have athleticism. It was a tough choice with some of the best trench players in Tennessee residing in Division II-AAA, but I picked [player_tooltip player_id='1158911' first='Isaiah' last='Bryant']. He's been one of the top linemen in his class throughout high school and has racked up more than 20 Division I offers. But, he committed to play his college football at Missouri State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bryant is relatively fluid for his size and position, has a nice first step, moves well laterally, can be productive in space and is quick on his feet. The rising senior has a good overall skill set that should translate to the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1957371} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Photo-Oct-16-2025-10-41-30-PM.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1957371" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Ensworth OL [player_tooltip player_id='1180873' first='Ashton' last='Coles'] during a game. Photo from his Instagram.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Technique: 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1180873' first='Ashton' last='Coles'] – Ensworth School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I struggled to find a place for [player_tooltip player_id='1180873' first='Ashton' last='Coles'], and not because he's bad. The rising junior is strong in multiple areas, but his technique is what helps take this player to the next level. The offensive tackle plays at Ensworth, where he receives arguably the best coaching in Tennessee, so it makes sense that he's proficient in this aspect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coles features strong footwork, a stout anchor, solid bend, excellent hand placement and some of the most powerful hands in this classification. He's leaned out over the offseason, which should help his technique and bend become even better. This is a slam dunk Power Four player, and I'm excited to see how he develops throughout the rest of his high school career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2098364} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/user-uploads/Gabriel-Gonzalez-tn-new-crop-401x263-1767394278.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2098364" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Knoxville Catholic OL [player_tooltip player_id='1236042' first='Gabriel' last='Gonzalez'] at a Prep Redzone camp.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Run Blocking: 2029 [player_tooltip player_id='1236042' first='Gabriel' last='Gonzalez'] – Knoxville Catholic High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next on this list, we have run blocking. It's a vital piece of being an excellent offensive lineman, but I'm giving it to [player_tooltip player_id='1236042' first='Gabriel' last='Gonzalez'] from Knox Catholic. He had a sensational 2025 season with Webb School of Knoxville, earning Rivals Freshman All-American honors. Now, he moves up to play for a team that's littered with Power Four talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gonzalez offers great size, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 300 pounds with a stout frame that is built to dominate in the run game. He's powerful, has strong hands, is a relentless player in the trenches, has a quick first step and maintains good pad level that helps drive players into the second level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1891899} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/jbaker3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1891899" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Ensworth OT [player_tooltip player_id='1673214' first='Jake' last='Baker'] during a game. Photo from his Instagram.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pass Protection: 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1673214' first='Jake' last='Baker'] – Ensworth School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the final attribute in today's article, we have pass protection. [player_tooltip player_id='1673214' first='Jake' last='Baker'] at Ensworth doesn't get enough praise for how good a player he is, but the '27 prospect is a Power Four commit for a reason. He's dominant and is my pick for best pass protector in Division II-AAA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He plays right tackle and helps anchor one of the top offensive line units in Tennessee, but looks to have taken that next step this offseason. I left their spring practice a few months ago, impressed with what I saw, especially in this area. Baker has a quick first step, possesses some of the best football instincts in his class, a stout anchor, quick hands and good hand placement.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->