Position Breakdown: Top 10 Offensive Linemen in 2022 rankings

Last week we presented an offensive positional breakdown of the 2023 class. Now we’re doing the same for the 2022 class. Today we’re putting a spotlight on the top 10 offensive linemen in our rankings based on their play on the field or at camps over the past several months. 1. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26228" first="Roger" last="Carreon"], Jal</strong>: Before he finally puts pen to paper in December (or next February), the 6-foot-5, 305 pound Carreon promises to be one of the most heavily recruited offensive linemen from this state in years. He already has one Power 5 offer (Oregon State) with more likely on the way. One thing about Carreon we adore : he’s fearless when it comes to competing on the camp circuit. His motto: Anytime, anywhere. 2. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26229" first="Cayden" last="Romero"], Rio Rancho</strong>: Good chance Rio Rancho tops our preseason power rankings, and Romero is a big reason why. He’s 6-foot-5, 320 pounds and can move laterally with cat-like quickness. New Mexico offered last June and the Lobos have shown Romero the love ever since. Don’t  be surprised if he ends up as a Lobo playing FBS football. 3. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134796" first="Ramon" last="Loya"], Carlsbad</strong>: Loya is one of the fastest risers on our big board. Several prestigious schools have already expressed interest, including Mountain West power Boise State. Columbia, Dartmouth, John Hopkins, Middlebury, University of Puget Sound, Davidson and New Mexico Highlands – and others - have inquired or offered. 4. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26271" first="Ben" last="White"], Santa Fe</strong>: The 6-foot-3, 265-pound White is a tank. He helps power Santa Fe’s run game, plowing open holes for RB [player_tooltip player_id="26265" first="Martell" last="Mora"] or protecting QB Luc Jaramillo. We have no doubt he’ll generate plenty of interest from colleges in the fall. 5. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26230" first="Royce" last="Paulk"], Las Cruces</strong>: Is there a bigger human being in the state of New Mexico than Paulk? He’s listed at 6-foot-7, 365 pounds. Yowza. With that size and skill set, he’ll be playing somewhere at the next level. Paulk is an important piece of arguably the best offensive line unit in the state. The Bulldawgs are loaded along the offensive front. 6. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26245" first="Julian" last="Holland"], Centennial</strong>: Holland was expected to make an immediate impact along the Hawks O-Line in the spring and he did that. He’s a major cog in Centennial’s new look offense as the Hawks will have a new QB, RB and No. 1 WR. 7. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135310" first="Jonathon" last="Croker"], Valencia</strong>: The Jaguars get lost sometimes compared to Valencia County rivals Los Lunas and Belen, but Croker is the real deal on and off the field. He’s already been offered by the University of Puget Sound and several more schools have expressed interest. He has an ambitious summer camp schedule ahead of him with two trips to the Pacific Northwest planned. 8. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134992" first="Matt" last="Franco"], Las Cruces</strong>: The Bulldawgs have two offensive linemen on this list and for good reason. They return just about everybody Along the offensive front, including Franco. 9. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134996" first="Justin" last="Gonzales"], Cibola</strong>: Somebody’s gotta protect the No. 1 2023 QB in the state, right? That job belongs to Gonzales and others. He’s 6-2, 265 pounds and should play left tackle a/k/a The Blind Side. I’m sure [player_tooltip player_id="137861" first="Aden" last="Chavez"] is feeling pretty good right now. 10. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135582" first="Austin" last="Mace"], Onate (Organ Mountains)</strong>: Listed at 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, Mace is yet another outstanding O-Line from Las Cruces. Mace has made tremendous strides the past two years and will be a key piece in Onate’s improving offense. https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1387426179171459075 https://twitter.com/Roger_52_/status/1387436729704095749 https://twitter.com/Roger_52_/status/1385027455942119433 https://twitter.com/CaydenRomero/status/1379660725442912258 https://twitter.com/ramonloya77/status/1378844629299236867 https://twitter.com/BenWhiteSFH/status/1387957648654360579 https://twitter.com/Croker65/status/1387151567871217664