CFB Recriting 200: Top 13 Interior Offensive Linemen
After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report recruiting analysts Sanjay Kirpalani and Tyler Donohue have graded the top 200 players in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and provided in-depth analysis. As national signing day draws near, Bleacher Report provides a position-by-position breakdown of the best college football recruits. Today, we present the Top Interior Lineman
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They may not be the most flashy players on the field, but offensive linemen keep things moving forward. The men in the middle can make or break an attack based on their play in the trenches.
We broke down each guard and center who appears among the top 200 prospects in 247Sports' composite rankings, organized in order of their rating. Our Bleacher Report college football recruiting analysts also chimed in with scores of their own, grading on a 100-point scale for strength, explosion, pass protection and run blocking based on film study.
*All prospects studied and graded by Bleacher Report national recruiting analyst Tyler Donohue.
13. 4-Star Kyonta Stallworth
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Height/Weight: 6'4"/275 pounds
High School: Martin Luther King High School; Detroit, Michigan
247Sports Ranking: No. 9 offensive guard; No. 184 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 80/100
Committed to Michigan State on Aug. 7, 2013
Kyonta Stallworth committed to the Spartans prior to his junior season, though the offers kept coming over the next year-and-a-half. Tennessee, Alabama and Iowa each extended scholarships, but he remains loyal to Michigan State and made multiple campus visits to East Lansing this fall.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Stallworth exhibits athleticism that allows him to wreak havoc on both sides of the ball, warranting a 9/10 rating for explosion. Agility is a major positive, allowing him to reach targeted points along the defensive front in pull settings. Increased physical strength is necessary for Stallworth to make strides as a downfield run-blocker, though he does work to finish off blocks throughout his upperclassman film.
12. 4-Star Jalin Barnett
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Height/Weight: 6'4"/315 pounds
High School: Lawton High School; Lawton, Oklahoma
247Sports Ranking: No. 8 guard; No. 181 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Committed to Nebraska on Jan. 14, 2014
Jalin Barnett spent time on campus for official visits at Arkansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska, setting the stage for a final push that involved each team until his commitment to the Cornhuskers. He also received offers from Alabama, Texas Tech and Tennessee before the end of his junior year.
Bleacher Report Analysis
You'll be hard-pressed to find many 6'4", 315-pound teenagers who move with the fluidity Barnett flashes. He glides like a lighter man, using nimble footwork to stay in front of oncoming pass-rushers or pull around to seal off a gap.
At his finest when moving downhill, he establishes a low base off the snap and motors through his initial target before advancing to the second level. Barnett's ability to blow up two defenders on one play tied him with two others on this list for the top run-blocking marks (38/40).
11. 4-Star Tommy Hatton
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Height/Weight: 6'3"/280 pounds
High School: St. Joseph Regional High School; Montvale, New Jersey
247Sports Ranking: No. 4 center; No. 180 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to North Carolina on June 13, 2014
Tommy Hatton collected offers from Maryland, Iowa, South Carolina and nearby Rutgers before the end of his junior year. He committed to the Tar Heels at the start of summer break and has remained consistent with that verbal pledge, spending his lone official visit in Chapel Hill.
Bleacher Report Analysis
I love the intensity Hatton brings to every rep, whether its during drills or in the trenches of a game. He plays angry, displays natural leadership and doesn't give a damn about how his opponent is feeling.
While competing at a Nike camp in New Jersey last spring, Hatton actually turned to our pack of reporters and shouted about only being rated a 3-star recruit. His performance for the remainder of the afternoon—and year—validated that grievance.
Hatton is a mauler in run-blocking (38/40) and handles power-rushers well while operating in pass protection (25/30). His burst off the ball and sheer relentlessness make him my top-rated 2015 center.
10. 4-Star Fred Ulu-Perry
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Height/Weight: 6'2"/300 pounds
High School: Saint Louis School; Honolulu, Hawaii
247Sports Ranking: No. 3 center; No. 149 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 86/100
Committed to UCLA on July 11, 2014
The Bruins beat out multiple programs for Fred Ulu-Perry’s pledge, but UCLA may have some company down the stretch of his recruitment. Texas Tech and Oregon State each hosted him for an official visit this fall and continue to fight for a commitment. He is the catalyst of a strong offensive line class headed to Los Angeles.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Ulu-Perry spends his snaps inflicting pain upon defenders. His mauler approach stood out this summer at The Opening, an elite invite-only football showcase held at Nike’s world headquarters. He follows through blocks by rolling his hips and landing punches at quality pad level, grading out at 37/40 in run blocking.
9. 4-Star Patrick Vahe
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Height/Weight: 6'2.5"/300 pounds
High School: Trinity High School; Euless, Texas
247Sports Ranking: No. 2 center; No. 131 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 83/100
Committed to Texas on July 28, 2013
Patrick Vahe pledged to the previous Texas regime and became an inherited mainstay of Charlie Strong’s 2015 class. Baylor, LSU and UCLA presented options elsewhere. He took an unofficial visit to Texas A&M in October, but he doesn’t currently hold an offer from the Aggies.
Bleacher Report Analysis
He displays excellent awareness in pass protection and moves smoothly laterally, earning a 34/40 score in that department. Vahe bends well at the knees and implements a natural-looking slide-step. Relative to other members of this list, he isn’t very physically imposing, and there will be early tests against power-rushers at the collegiate level.
8. 4-Star Matthew Burrell
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Height/Weight: 6'5"/302 pounds
High School: C.D. Hylton High School; Woodbridge, Virginia
247Sports Ranking: No. 7 guard; No. 107 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
Committed to Ohio State on Nov. 17, 2014
Matthew Burrell enjoyed a frenzied recruitment that took him across the eastern region. After seriously considering offers from Florida State, Tennessee and LSU, his focus shifted to a pair of Big Ten Conference rivals. He ultimately chose the Buckeyes over Penn State.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Burrell is a likable young man who displayed legitimate leadership character attributes at The Opening, where several fellow prospects told me he stood out in drills. Fellow offensive linemen seemed to gravitate toward him, and he made sure defenders remembered their matchup moving forward.
Fundamentally, he maintains proper form by staying square and bent. A violent initial punch helps counteract bull rushes and finesse moves alike. His aggressive style of run blocking regularly results in second-level pancakes, contributing to his score of 37/40 in that element.
7. 4-Star Josh Wariboko
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Height/Weight: 6'3.5"/315 pounds
High School: Casady School; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
247Sports Ranking: No. 6 guard; No. 102 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
Uncommitted: Considering UCLA, Oklahoma and Ohio State
Josh Wariboko recently named a group of finalists that features a trio of programs from three different conferences. UCLA, Oklahoma and Ohio State are each in the mix for a commitment, excluding a group of contenders that once included Arkansas, Louisville and Oklahoma State.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Wariboko applies plenty of power at the point of attack and maintains momentum downfield, locking onto defenders and driving them in whichever direction he chooses. These attributes netted a grade of 38/40 in run blocking. His lower-body work is relentless, and you have to appreciate a punishing blocker who keeps his feet churning through the whistle.
6. 4-Star Tristen Hoge
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Height/Weight: 6'4"/276 pounds
High School: Highland High School; Pocatello, Idaho
247Sports Ranking: No. 1 center; No. 89 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 84/100
Committed to Notre Dame on Dec. 7, 2013
Tristen Hoge held several offers before the start of his junior season. Penn State, LSU, Stanford, Cal and Florida each saw enough evidence on his sophomore film to extend scholarships. He pledged to Notre Dame at the conclusion of the 2013 campaign, providing a cornerstone for Brian Kelly's class.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Hoge isn't exactly from a talent-laden region, but he certainly set himself apart from the pack in recent years. He demolished overwhelmed defenders, and there's substantial room for him to expand on his physical frame.
His ability to clamp down defensive linemen at the point of attack was apparent at The Opening, where Hoge exhibited consistent hand placement that gave him an early edge against elite opponents. He remains a work in progress from a physical standpoint and must do a better job bursting through his hips, resulting in a 7/10 grade in explosiveness.
5. 4-Star Richie Petitbon
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Height/Weight: 6'4"/301 pounds
High School: Gonzaga College High School; Washington, D.C.
247Sports Ranking: No. 5 guard; No. 65 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 85/100
Committed to Alabama on April 4, 2014
Richie Petitbon picked the Crimson Tide after several campus visits to other colleges. He journeyed to an array of universities throughout his junior year, including Virginia Tech, Penn State, Boston College and Maryland, where his father played college football.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Set to become a third-generation Division I football player, Petitbon possesses in-game intelligence and uses it to exploit opponents. He displays excellent anticipation in various settings, an attribute that really stood out at The Opening when Petitbon was asked to pass-protect in one-on-one situations
He doesn't waste steps and moves downfield with a purpose while spearheading the rushing attack. I worry about his ability to initially counter top-tier SEC defensive linemen in short-yardage situations due to a level of strength (16/20) that's still developing.
4. 4-Star Lester Cotton
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Height/Weight: 6'4"/325 pounds
High School: Central High School; Tuscaloosa, Alabama
247Sports Ranking: No. 4 guard; No. 54 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 95/100
Committed to Alabama on Feb. 1, 2014
Lester Cotton committed to Alabama as a junior and has remained a steadfast member of Roll Tide Nation ever since. Due to proximity, he's likely visited campus more than any member of the current Crimson Tide class. Prior to pledging, he fielded offers from the likes of USC, Auburn and Ole Miss.
Bleacher Report Analysis
No one graded higher in terms of "strength" than Cotton during our evaluation. He earned 20/20 in that facet, and it carries over into run blocking, as he bludgeons opponents with brute force and directs the flow of traffic in the trenches.
Aside from overbearing physicality, Cotton carries himself well in pass protection. He maintains excellent balance and keeps foes off-kilter by dishing out a devastating punch at the onset. Cotton could command early collegiate reps, regardless of the deep roster at Alabama.
3. 4-Star Javon Patterson
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Height/Weight: 6'2"/290 pounds
High School: Petal High School; Petal, Mississippi
247Sports Ranking: No. 3 guard; No. 52 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 92/100
Committed to Ole Miss on Nov. 20, 2014
Ole Miss secured a pledge from Javon Patterson late in the 2014 season, fending off a slew of fellow SEC contenders. The Rebels were joined by Auburn, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi State in a crowded pursuit. He narrowed down that top five during the final stages of an expansive decision-making process.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Patterson is prepared to push for playing time with just a few minor improvements. His solidly built physique appears equipped to handle the rigors of collegiate competition, and he utilizes a valuable technique that augments those physical tools.
He fires out of his stance and uproots opposing linemen with proper hand placement and powerful hips, earning a 9/10 score in explosiveness. Though Patterson spent high school snaps at tackle, he was often utilized as a pull-blocker and should continue to grow in that department moving forward.
2. 4-Star Maea Teuhema
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Height/Weight: 6'4.5"/340 pounds
High School: Keller High School; Keller, Texas
247Sports Ranking: No. 2 guard; No. 37 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to LSU on Feb. 5, 2014
Maea Teuhema flipped from Texas to LSU last national signing day, when older brother Sione did the same and signed with the Tigers. He's also reciprocated interest from Oklahoma and UCLA during late stages of his recruitment.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Brute force is a staple of Teuhema's style and high school opponents ended up on the ground more often than not when matched up against him. He earned a 20/20 score for strength, and that's a factor in his effectiveness as a run-blocker (37/40).
Teuhema could be quicker off the snap, but he makes up for that lack of explosiveness with a devastating punch. Once his running back has a lane to work with, he typically makes his way to the second level and targets a linebacker.
His pass-blocking prowess isn't quite as up to par due to his lack of ideal pop at the start of a play. Teuhema looks a bit top-heavy while dealing with edge-rushers and disengages from opponents a early at times, even while the passer is still working within the pocket.
1. 5-Star Chuma Edoga
13 of 13Height/Weight: 6'3"/280 pounds
High School: McEachern High School; Powder Springs, Georgia
247Sports Ranking: No. 1 guard; No. 26 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Committed to USC on April 21, 2014
Chuma Edoga chose the Trojans over in-state Georgia last spring, representing a big step forward for USC coach Steve Sarkisian as he looks to reignite the program's national reach. He spent an official visit with the Bulldogs in November, but he never wavered in his pledge to the Trojans.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Edoga is an unbelievable athlete along the offensive front. He primarily played tackle in high school and flashes borderline tight end speed, allowing him to get downfield as a lead blocker.
His ability to spearhead rushing convoys 30 yards away from the line of scrimmage is special, earning him a position-best 39/40 score for run-blocking. Edoga is the most explosive lineman on this list, jolting out of his stance with a purpose and punishing those who stand in the way.
There's room for physical growth on his frame, particular the lower body. Added strength down low would help him set a stronger base in pass protection, where he can still be beaten with an elite power-rush move.
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