2029 Offensive Linemen Pushing Ahead

There are some positions on the football field where seniority reigns supreme.   Those are typically the very most important positions, ones where a team requires a steadying, veteran influence in the most impactful spots.   Offensive line is one of those. Football is a game of blocking and tackling, after all, and a team is only going to go as far as its best blockers.   Best almost always means oldest.   But not here. The sophomore class is absolutely loaded with high-end OL talent, players who have already been identified as having major college potential, ones who have already cracked starting lineups for powerhouse programs, ones who are already multi-year starters.   These are the guys who truly dictate who's going to win a football game, and they're doing it at an awfully young age.   Let's take a look.    BREAKING DOWN THE TOP FIVE   [player_tooltip player_id='1818345' first='Jordan' last='Lewis'] Dorman (pictured)   Lewis isn't just No. 1 at his position group. He's No. 1 in his entire class. The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder has already loaded up on college offers, highlighted by ones from programs like Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State, and it's easy to see why. Tackle or interior lineman, it doesn't matter. His footwork, power and determination are just a few reasons why he anchors arguably the state's best offensive line, and those attributes have already played a key role in helping the Cavaliers grind out some tough wins.   [player_tooltip player_id='1397682' first='Lodon' last='Veal'] Union County   Veal announced his presence in a big way as a freshman, cracking the starting lineup and setting the tone in three games before an injury ended his season prematurely. The 6-foot-3, 280-pounder has since returned to the lineup, and those first snaps post-ACL reconstruction didn't look like he missed much of a step at all. The hard work he put in while sidelined shows his drive and that, combined with his physical gifts, is a bright sign of what's still to come.   [player_tooltip player_id='2205128' first='Bryson' last='Schuhmann'] Loris   Loris has posted some absurd offensive numbers over the last two-plus seasons, piling up yardage and points at an alarming rate. The skill position guys have enjoyed a lot of attention for having said numbers next to their names, but the guys setting the table for them haven't gone unnoticed. Schuhmann started for the Lions last year as a freshman and is a two-way player up front who also wrestles at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, with plenty of room to still grow.   [player_tooltip player_id='2137612' first='Kamaury' last='Little'] Orangeburg-Wilkinson   Little was an All-Region and All-State performer as a freshman at Lake Marion, and now he plays for an Orangeburg-Wilkinson program synonymous with physical, bullying OL play. That sounds like a great fit to us for the man they call Cornbread, who uses his density to his advantage on both the offensive and defensive lines. Not surprisingly, the Bruins are running the ball at will in the first half of the season, and players like Little will try to keep that going deep into the postseason.   [player_tooltip player_id='1825543' first='Jeremiah' last='Lewis'] C.A. Johnson   C.A. Johnson has one of the fastest teams in the state, and not just in Class A, but all of that speed at the skill positions has nowhere to go without the time and the room to run. The Hornets knew their lines would be a strength for them coming into this season, and Lewis will make sure that extends just beyond this season. The 6-foot-6, 240-pounder has an explosive burst that will only become more potent with time.    NEW TO THE RANKINGS   [player_tooltip player_id='1823381' first='Koy' last='Wright'] East Clarendon   Wright has been a steadying influence for an East Clarendon team hampered by injuries, which can be a lot to put on the plate of a freshman. Not the 5-foot-11, 235-pound Wright, who started clearing that plate last year and is already eyeing seconds. The Wolverines know they have strength on the left side when they follow behind Wright, which is something they'll lean on even more as they navigate the Region VI-2A schedule.   [player_tooltip player_id='2332261' first='Derris' last='Bennett'] Stratford   Bennett is on an upward trajectory that suggests he could fly up these rankings after newly joining them. Initially, the offensive line wasn't even his primary position, and now he's already a starting left tackle as a sophomore. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder has more of the rush end build, but with the strength, technical ability and drive to stake his claim to the most important position on the field. Just wait until he packs on some more size.   [player_tooltip player_id='2370996' first='Deon' last='Stackhouse'] Mullins   The offensive line was considered to be a position of significant improvement coming into this season for Mullins, and that's thanks in part to Stackhouse joining older brother DeAndre (at 6-foot-3 and 355 pounds) up front for the Auctioneers. At 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, there should be plenty of room to grow, especially if he keeps up the hard work in the weight room. His max lifts increased throughout the summer, and we expect his level of play to follow a similar trend.   [player_tooltip player_id='2348815' first='Trey' last='Coward'] Dillon   An offensive lineman at Dillon is always going to be an eye-grabber, because it's no secret throughout the state what it takes to earn one of those spots up front. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Coward has the goods, bringing power, quickness and solid footwork to both lines for the Wildcats at the varsity level after starring for the JV squad. That can be a fairly steep learning curve, especially to play to Dillon's standard, but we feel confident Coward will hold on to his spot for as long as he wants it.    POWERING THEIR WAY UP THE LIST   [player_tooltip player_id='2205272' first='Ke'Andre' last='Harris'] Clinton   Harris is a powerhouse on the interior for Clinton, a program that is no stranger to leaning on the opposition and wearing them down over the course of 48 minutes. The 5-foot-11, 270-pound Harris packs a mean punch already, but maybe even more striking is how he delivers it. He moves really well with no wasted motion, which in turn makes him that much better at moving whoever's across from him.   [player_tooltip player_id='1676976' first='Camden' last='Lockhart'] Blacksburg   Lockhart was one of several youngsters who played on Friday nights last year for Blacksburg, and he impressed in the Wildcats' playoff game against Chester. He can - and already has - line up pretty much anywhere on either line, meaning he's already got a pretty good understanding of what it takes to win battles in the trenches. He proved that with his play at center as a freshman, and he furthered honed his leverage skills on the wrestling mat.   [player_tooltip player_id='2370981' first='Ivan' last='Lorenz'] Hilton Head   There's no flowery or polite way to put it - Hilton Head takes great joy in beating up on people. The Seahawks have more beef than your favorite butcher shop, and it doesn't take long to see that they know how to use it. Lorenz is the perfect example of what we talked about in this story's introduction, as he forced his way into a starting role as a youngster and isn't letting go.   [player_tooltip player_id='1817112' first='Isaiah' last='Littlejohn'] Lugoff-Elgin   It's Lugoff-Elgin, so you already know that it takes a physical, nasty disposition to pencil your name into the starting lineup. Well, Littlejohn has done it in ink. The 6-foot, 290-pounder pushed everyone around at the JV ranks last year and immediately arrived on the varsity roster as its starting left guard. He's off to a good start there, too, creating holes that helped the Blue Demons average 8.5 yards per carry through their first three games.

There are some positions on the football field where seniority reigns supreme.