CFB Future 100: Top 13 Offensive Linemen in Class of 2016
After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analysts Damon Sayles, Sanjay Kirpalani and Tyler Donohue have graded the top 100 players in the 247Sports' composite rankings and provided in-depth analysis. Bleacher Report will run a position-by-position breakdown series of the best college football recruits in the class of 2016. Here we present the Top Offensive Linemen.
Other Positions
The quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers get all the publicity and recognition, but the majority of them will be the first to give the offensive linemen all the credit when credit is due.
In college football recruiting, offensive linemen are often the first ones to get recognition. College coaches will say that an elite lineman is harder to find than an elite skill-position player. For example, an athlete like 5-star Greg Little, the nation's top-ranked offensive tackle according to multiple recruiting sites, is a needle in a haystack of sorts—and Texas A&M is happy to have him committed.
This section of Bleacher Report's CFB Future 100 series focuses on offensive linemen. Tackles are scored using the metrics of hands (25 points), power (15), lateral quickness (25), pass protection (25) and run-blocking (10). Interior linemen are scored using the metrics of strength (20 points), pass protection (30), run-blocking (40) and explosion (10).
13. 4-Star OG Richard Merritt
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Height/Weight: 6'5", 345 lbs
High School: Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.)
247 Ranking: No. 2 OG/No. 85 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 87/100
Many coaches will tell you that you can't teach size—and Richard Merritt has lots of size. As the spring approaches, the 4-star offensive lineman is nearing 30 offers. Pittsburgh is the latest to offer, but Merritt, per 247Sports, has Clemson, Michigan, Michigan State, Alabama and North Carolina high on his list. Oregon has yet to offer but is also a school to watch.
Merritt, according to 247Sports, hasn't made many visits to campuses yet, but he did take an unofficial trip to Maryland in September. He also visited Penn State last April.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Merritt has a massive frame and will be beneficial as an interior lineman, particularly in short-yardage situations. He is an aggressive lineman who uses his lower-body strength to bully defenders in run-blocking (36/40). Merritt's college future most likely is at guard, but he has excelled as a high school tackle.
12. 4-Star OT Jonah Williams
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Height/Weight: 6'5", 272 lbs
High School: Folsom, Calif.
247 Ranking: No. 11 OT/No. 82 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
Jonah Williams has had an impressive February, and his stock continues to rise. He has more than 20 offers, and the month has included new offers from Michigan, Texas A&M, Florida, Cincinnati and Georgia.
Auburn is an early favorite, according to the 247Sports' Crystal Ball predictions. His mother attended Auburn, per 247Sports' Keith Niebuhr. Before moving to California, he lived in Atlanta, so he knows Auburn and the SEC environment.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Williams has good size and length, but it's his versatility that might make him a top-tier college athlete. He can play on the defensive line if necessary. If Williams stays on the offensive line, he can play tackle or guard. He has good lateral movement and quickness off the snap.
11. 4-Star OT Liam Eichenberg
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Height/Weight: 6'6", 290 lbs
High School: St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio)
247 Ranking: No. 10 OT/No. 81 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
With more than a dozen offers, Liam Eichenberg's stock is growing more and more. Pittsburgh is the latest school to offer, per 247Sports, and he has offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida State, Penn State and Tennessee, among other programs. He was at Ohio State's junior day in January.
Ohio State and Notre Dame are Eichenberg's top two schools, according to Miles Joseph of Rivals.com. He has made unofficial visits to Ohio State, Notre Dame, Marshall and Michigan.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Eichenberg is one of those linemen who uses his size, tenacity and technique to his advantage. He is a big, physical athlete who plays through the whistle and likes to record pancake blocks. Eichenberg's a strong, blue-collar lineman who has good hands (23/25) and is versatile enough to play either tackle or guard.
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10. 4-Star OT E.J. Price
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Height/Weight: 6'6", 307 lbs
High School: Archer (Lawrenceville, Georgia)
247 Ranking: No. 9 OT/No. 74 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
When it comes to E.J. Price, schools from coast to coast have offered scholarships. Price, according to 247Sports, has more than 30 schools that have offered, but per Paul Strelow of Rivals, Price has a top 10 of Auburn, Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, Ohio State, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee, Clemson and Vanderbilt.
Price attended Clemson's junior day on Jan. 31., and he took in recent junior days at Florida State and Georgia, per 247Sports. He also has made unofficial visits to North Carolina, Penn State and Auburn.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Price is a quick lineman who uses his length and athleticism to his advantage. Price's hands (23/25) make him one to watch, and he has a good first step off the snap. Speed is going to be Price's primary asset, but he is a project that any college coach will enjoy working with.
9. 4-Star OG John Raridon
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Height/Weight: 6'4", 260 lbs
High School: Valley (West Des Moines, Iowa)
247 Ranking: No. 1 OG/No. 56 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 93/100
Committed to Nebraska
John Raridon, per 247Sports, not only is the No. 1 player from the state of Iowa but also the No. 1 offensive guard in the country. Iowa and Iowa State were hoping to keep Raridon in the state, but Nebraska was able to score his commitment in September. Raridon is the cornerstone to what should be a solid Nebraska offensive line class.
Raridon is a strong Nebraska pledge, but he also has offers from Oklahoma and Illinois, along with Iowa and Iowa State. It'll be tough for anyone to sway Raridon from Nebraska, as he has made several unofficial visits to Lincoln since his sophomore year.
Bleacher Report Analysis
There's a level of toughness that makes Raridon one to watch. He isn't the biggest lineman, but he's fearless against defensive linemen bigger and smaller. He is technically savvy enough to line up either as an interior lineman or play tackle. Raridon plays bigger than his size, and he likes to be a run-blocking bully in the trenches (38/40).
8. 4-Star OT Jauan Williams
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Height/Weight: 6'7", 283 lbs
High School: Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.)
247 Ranking: No. 8 OT/No. 54 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
The recruiting process is wide open for Jauan Williams, who is nearing 30 offers as we inch closer to the spring. Williams has Maryland, Florida, Ohio State and Penn State high on his list, according to 247Sports, and he has made unofficial visits to Ohio State, Maryland and Penn State.
If Williams is looking to attend school far from home, he has his options. Clemson, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Florida State, UCLA and Arkansas all have offered.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Williams has tons of length, which serves as an advantage against defensive linemen. Williams has bulked up in recent months, and he can add more weight to his frame without it slowing him down. He's an athlete with lateral quickness (22/25), and he's someone who plays every down with a chip on his shoulder.
7. 4-Star OT Michal Menet
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Height/Weight: 6'5", 250 lbs
High School: Exeter (Reading, Pennsylvania)
247 Ranking: No. 7 OT/No. 45 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 92/100
The race for Michael Menet seems to be an early battle of the in-state favorite versus the defending national champion. Penn State and Ohio State are recruiting the 4-star offensive lineman well, but Menet also is interested in offers from Michigan State and Duke. Menet currently has more than 20 offers combined, the latest coming from Georgia.
Menet, according to 247Sports, has made reported unofficial visits to Penn State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Michigan State since his sophomore year. Both Penn State and Ohio State have received multiple visits.
Bleacher Report Analysis
For a lineman with a relatively lean frame, Menet is a strong athlete (14/15) who wins a lot of battles against larger defenders because of his technique. Menet's athleticism makes him a strong candidate to play effectively anywhere on the offensive line. He has solid lateral footwork (23/25) and keeps his defenders in front of him.
6. 5-Star OT Ben Bredeson
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Height/Weight: 6'5", 270 lbs
High School: Arrowhead (Hartland, Wisconsin)
247 Ranking: No. 6 OT/No. 31 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Ben Bredeson is in the heart of Big Ten country, and he has a few Big Ten schools high on his early list. He also has more than a dozen offers to consider already. Bredeson has Wisconsin high, according to 247Sports, but Ohio State, Michigan, Auburn and Iowa also are in the mix.
Notre Dame is another school of interest for Bredeson, as he took an unofficial visit there in September. Bredeson has made reported unofficial visits to Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Bredeson is a versatile lineman who is strong (14/15), agile and athletic enough to play tackle or guard. He has good quickness for a guy his size, and he plays with a mean streak. Bredeson likes being physical off the snap, and he will only improve overall, as he has a high ceiling.
5. 5-Star OT Ben Cleveland
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Height/Weight: 6'7", 322 lbs
High School: Stephens County (Toccoa, Georgia)
247 Ranking: No. 5 OT/No. 30 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 93/100
Committed to Georgia
Ben Cleveland committed to Georgia in July, which meant the Bulldogs won an SEC battle against Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss and South Carolina. He recently took an unofficial visit to Georgia and had in-depth meetings with offensive line coach Rob Sale and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, according to Anthony Dasher of Rivals.com.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Cleveland has all of the raw tools a college coach wants in an offensive lineman. He's got great size and tons of strength (15/15), and he can be a problem for defensive linemen in run-blocking situations. Cleveland has good feet and even better hands (24/25), but he will continue to develop all around and has the potential to eventually be an all-SEC lineman.
4. 5-Star OT Willie Allen
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Height/Weight: 6'7", 300 lbs
High School: John Curtis (New Orleans, Louisiana)
247 Ranking: No. 4 OT/No. 29 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Willie Allen has several intriguing offers early in his recruiting process. As he inches closer to 20 offers, Allen has so far received them from LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida State and, most recently, Texas. Kentucky could be a sleeper choice, as he recently was on campus for an unofficial visit, per 247Sports.
Allen has visited LSU several times, and with New Orleans a little more than an hour away, will proximity play a key role in Allen's recruiting? Look for Allen to have an interesting spring.
Bleacher Report Analysis
A long, tall lineman, Allen impresses with his first step off the ball and his lateral movement (24/25) in passing situations. He has good strength (24/25), and he is athletic and coachable. In fact, the idea of him being coachable may be what springboards him to all-conference status early.
3. 5-Star OT Tommy Kraemer
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Height/Weight: 6'5", 305 lbs
High School: Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio)
247 Ranking: No. 3 OT/No. 22 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Committed to Notre Dame
The top-ranked player in Ohio, Tommy Kraemer ended his recruiting process in October with a commitment to coach Brian Kelly and Notre Dame. Kraemer is the first pledge for the Irish, and he is a huge get in a recruiting battle that also included Northwestern, Boston College, Duke and in-state school Ohio State.
Kraemer was at Notre Dame for the school's junior day at the end of January. He committed to the Irish during an unofficial visit back on Oct. 4.
Bleacher Report Analysis
College coaches are high on Kraemer because of his upside. He has good length and uses his hands well in pass protection (23/25). Kraemer is one of those linemen who plays after the whistle, which college coaches love to see. He will get better, technically, as he continues to progress.
2. 5-Star OT Patrick Hudson
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Height/Weight: 6'6", 325 lbs
High School: Silsbee (Silsbee, Texas)
247 Ranking: No. 2 OT/No. 13 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 95/100
Committed to Baylor
Baylor currently has a national top-12 recruiting class for 2016, and offensive tackle Patrick Hudson is a big reason why. The 5-star offensive lineman decommitted from Texas A&M and gave his pledge to the Bears in July, roughly a month after taking an unofficial visit to Waco and seeing the campus.
Hudson is a solid Baylor commit, but he has other offers from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and LSU. Additionally, he is getting interest from Alabama. Texas A&M is still a team to watch, as well.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Hudson is a lineman who already has college-level size and strength (15/15). He plays with tenacity and aggressiveness, and he lines up every play with the mission of dominating the defenders in front of him. He's a big athlete who overpowers his competition using an explosive first step. Hudson will be a major contributor in college.
1. 5-Star OT Gregory Little
13 of 13Height/Weight: 6'5", 282 lbs
High School: Allen (Allen, Texas)
247 Ranking: No. 1 OT/No. 1 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 97/100
Committed to Texas A&M
As the nation's top-ranked 2016 offensive line recruit, Greg Little ended his recruiting process relatively quickly when he gave his verbal to Texas A&M on June 20. Little is a strong Texas A&M commit, but the offers continue to roll in. Since the start of the new year, Little has picked up offers from Alabama, Ohio State, UCLA and, most recently, Oklahoma.
Little is nearing 30 offers and is expected to garner even more attention during the spring. However, he is excited about playing for the Aggies and reuniting with and blocking for 2015 5-star quarterback signee Kyler Murray.
Bleacher Report Analysis
There are very few flaws with Little's game. He's a big, strong offensive tackle who moves well laterally (24/25) and loves to record pancake blocks. It's rare to see Little overpowered by a defensive lineman. Part of that is because of his technique and poise on the line. On the field, Little is mature beyond his age—and he's only going to get better.
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