Five Offensive Tackles to Buy Stock in This Season

The Tennessee high school football season continues this week. After a long offseason, we are finally back to the sport that we all love. With new seasons come breakout players, unknown commodities who make a name for themselves and even players who were good but have taken that next step in their football journey.   I'm doing a new series about each position where I find five players whom you and college coaches need to buy stock in. Continuing, I have the offensive tackles. Each one is a bit different in their own ways, but definitely good enough to buy stock in for this season.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />    [player_tooltip player_id='2182382' first='Ty' last='Hathaway'] had a solid sophomore year, then took his game to the next level this offseason. He has used that hard work to pull in several Power Four offers, including Penn State, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Maryland and more. Many schools are bought in on him, and so am I. However, I do think he can take his recruitment to the next level in 2026 with a strong campaign.   He offers good size, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 275 pounds, with a strong frame. Hathaway is an athletic offensive tackle who moves well laterally, is quick off the ball, has a strong anchor, plays with physicality and possesses a high football IQ. The junior is a good all-around lineman, but excels in pass protection, making him a great fit for some of the schools recruiting him.    ---    [player_tooltip player_id='1305226' first='Haddon' last='Thornburg'] transferred to Baylor this offseason, immediately impressing his coaches and teammates. Since joining the Red Raiders, he's forced his way into the starting lineup as a sophomore, serving as Erik Kimrey's right tackle. The 2029 prospect looked excellent against nationally ranked Buford (Ga.) and last week when Brentwood Academy came to Chattanooga for the season opener.   He offers tremendous size for his age, standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 295 pounds with a strong, lean frame. Thornburg is physical with powerful hands, good technique, a terrific anchor and good speed off the ball. He does have a Division I offer from Toledo, but he is about to blow up on the recruiting trail.    ---    [player_tooltip player_id='1355869' first='Jamil' last='Thompson'] is one of the most physically gifted players in Tennessee, regardless of position and class. He showed a lot of good things last season at Knoxville Webb, but left this summer for McCallie, where he will receive some of the top coaching in the state. The sky is the limit for this young offensive tackle, and I can't wait to see how he progresses.   He's an incredibly large human being, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 325 pounds. I saw him in person this spring, but Thompson looks like he's leaned out a bit while maintaining muscle. That will be huge in helping him be more mobile and get better bend at offensive tackle. Still, he's one of the strongest players in his class with a high motor, powerful hands and the ability to play both sides of the offensive line.    ---    [player_tooltip player_id='1218739' first='Barrett' last='Hudson'] is one of the most underrated players in Tennessee and has been kept a secret by Eagleville High School. I've been on the hype train since watching him dominate a PRZ camp two years ago, and after seeing his Week 1 tape, I'm even more on board. The 2029 prospect was a menace in the trenches, moving people with ease.   He offers good size, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 277 pounds with a lean, athletic frame. I'm impressed by the growth he's had since I last saw him in person, but it's not a surprise. Hudson is a two-time Tennessee Future Star, so it was expected. The sophomore is quick off the ball, has a high motor, possesses strong hands, the ability to pull and the raw power to knock somebody off their route with little effort.    ---    [player_tooltip player_id='1704258' first='Dante' last='Wade'] is an incredibly talented player who's serving as Baylor's left tackle. He has been a huge talking point of that young core they have in Chattanooga. Now, he gets to show off his skills. The junior picked up an offer from Georgia this past June, which has put his name out there. Still, he's due for a big season that will earn him even more high-level offers.   He's a mammoth of a man, standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 310 pounds with a powerful frame. I would like to see him polish up some stuff, but that will come throughout his next two seasons of high school. Against two of the best teams in America, he more than held his own, proving that he is a legitimate Power Four prospect. Wade is strong, has a stout anchor, does a good job using his hands and is dominant in the run game.

The Tennessee high school football season continues this week. After a long offseason, we are finally back to the sport that we all love. With new seasons come breakout players, unknown commodities who make a name for themselves and even players who were good but have taken that next step in their football journey.