The OL talent was off the charts at State. The first junior to make this list Grafton’s James Nellis James Nellis 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Grafton | 2025 State WI . Nellis is shaping into a high end prospect. He already is filling out his long frame. The OT put his well rounded skill set on display. In pass protection, James uses his length to make initial contact, he has a powerful punch to stand up edge rushers. His anchor proved to be next level ready as he was able to shut down any bull rush attempts. The junior has smooth, quick feet under that big, powerful frame. He can move and mirror easily. In the run game, James is a bully. Grafton’s OT was able to drive his man off the ball, opening up plenty of space to attack. James is one of the top names to know in a loaded 2025 OL Class.

It has to be just a matter of time for the 6’4″ 290 lbs OT out of Grafton HS. No question, Grafton is going to want to run the ball early and often in games. You can bet they are going to find a lot of success following Nellis’ blocks. The big man already demonstrated the strength, the consistent hand placement, and the athleticism to get up to level two and stick a block on an LB on varsity as a sophomore. The big man maintains his wide base and drives DL out of the trenches with violence. I’ll be most interested to see how he has developed as a pass blocker. If he can show the ability to slide and quickly react to edge rushers and land accurate punches, then he will have checked off a lot of what you want to see from a high caliber OL prospect. I’m excited to see James and this Grafton offense this season.

James put on a show from start to finish. The sophomore has elite size at 6’4″ 285 lbs and already possesses the type of strength that can reset the line of scrimmage well into the second level of the defense. He proved last Saturday that he also has the anchor to stand up a bull rusher in his tracks and mirror them as they look to move and counter move. Dive into his full performance in the MVP article HERE.

A kid who made a big rise in the rankings during our last update is the sophomore OL out of Grafton. The 6’3″ 290 lbs OT is an intimidating presence in the trenches. He is a mauling run blocker who has the strength to throw DL around. On Saturday I am looking forward to watching him in pass protection. You can see that he has the light feet that allows him to get in position quickly. I’m looking forward to seeing how his overall reactive athleticism looks in the pass protection reps. He is going to be a top prospect going forward.

Rankings Jump: 11 SpotsrnAnother prospect who climbed his way into the Top 25 is the Grafton OL  James Nellis James Nellis 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Grafton | 2025 State WI . The 6’3″ 265 lbs OT will excite recruiters when they pop on the highlights. James utilizes sharp technique in his lower body. His wide base gives him all the power needed to bulldoze defensive linemen out of the trenches and into the second level. James is able to create a lot of movement that opens up big running lanes for his RBs. Nellis also has those heavy weight boxer hands that deliver big time punches when he makes initial contact. His range and overall athleticism pop off throughout the highlights as well. You will see him come off double teams to pick up second level defenders. James is a prospect with an intriguing mix of size, power, and athleticism. He will be an impressive prospect by his senior season.