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As true freshmen, offensive linemen typically spend more time at the food table and in the weight room than in the huddle.
There are exceptions, of course.
Here are five from the 2016 class who could make an impact this fall.
Gregory Little, Ole Miss
Little, a 6-5, 305-pound left tackle, was the No. 3 player in the 2016 class, according to 247Sports.com’s composite rankings.
He was one of two offensive linemen ranked among the Top 25.
Ole Miss has several holes to fill, none more important than at left tackle, where Laremy Tunsil left early for the NFL.
Whether Little can handle that role out of the gate remains to be seen, but the expectation is he’ll start somewhere along the line in 2016.
Landon Young, Kentucky
Who better to rebuild a program around than a Lexington kid who also was pursued by Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, etc?
Young, an Army Game All-American, was ranked the top player in Kentucky and the No. 6 tackle in the country.
At 6-7, 305, he already has the size and, as a state champion wrestler, a fondness for mixing it up.
He’s still finishing up high school, so he’ll have to wait until fall camp to make his move up the depth chart.
Landon Young in the middle of warmups in his regular clothes. Hard to miss him. Big boy.
— Jen Smith (@ByJenSmith) March 26, 2016
Our guy @Landon_Young_67 in the house today! #B16BLUENATION pic.twitter.com/LoM0I2uO3Y
— Kentucky Football Recruiting (@UKStoopsTroops) March 26, 2016
Jonah Williams, Alabama
Alabama stockpiles linemen like few others, but Williams already has impressed teammates this spring.
Alabama LB Shaun Dion Hamilton said early enrollee Jonah Williams has stood out through five practices.
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) March 30, 2016
Alabama’s depth chart is loaded with talented returnees, and most of the projected two-deep redshirted as a true freshman; Williams certainly could go that route.
The obvious exception is Cam Robinson, who not only started as a true freshman, but was a freshman All-American.
Robinson also was an early-enrollee, but he arrived as the nation’s No. 1 tackle prospect and No. 4 player overall in the 2014 class.
Williams’ resume isn’t quite that impressive — he was the No. 17 overall prospect in the 2016 class — but he’s talented enough to compete for snaps.
Ben Cleveland, Georgia
The call him “Big Country” and it’s easy to see why.
Cleveland is another early-enrollee who arrived in January already at 6-6, 319. Imagine what he’ll become with Sam Pittman’s tutelage and Georgia’s weight program.
https://twitter.com/dawgroundtable/status/712394821424586752
Cleveland was ranked the No. 9 tackle in the class.
Working in his favor for snaps this fall is the fact Georgia must replace three starters along the line, including both tackles.
Kellen Diesch, Texas A&M
Diesch, listed at 6-5, 275, might seem undersized for an SEC tackle, but Noel Mazzone’s offense is fast-paced and largely predetermined. The Aggies need agile linemen to run it.
That favors Diesch’s odds of seeing the field this fall.
OFFICIAL: Welcome to Aggieland, Kellen Diesch #12thMan #NSD16 pic.twitter.com/MXtJyva5FW
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) February 3, 2016
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
