College Football Recruiting 2011: Power Ranking The Top 25 Offensive Linemen

As we finish up the 2010 high school football season, it's time to re-evaluate the talent of the 2011 recruiting class and hand out some new positional rankings. 

Based on performances throughout the summer in various camps around the country, there's been some noticeable shifts in opinion from every recruiting outlet you'll come across. 

That's the nature of the business. Sports are a show-me-now game.

When it comes to recruiting, there's no difference. 

We'll take a look at the top 25 of every position and keep you up to date with the biggest names to watch out for this year.

Here's the updated rankings for the top 25 offensive linemen of the 2011 class.

25. Paulay Asiata, OT

Commitment: Uncommitted 

Paulay Asiata is one of the more overlooked prospects out there.

While he's given a 4-star grade by Scout, he ranks in as the No. 14 offensive tackle. But he has the potential to be in the top five. 

The 6'5", 290-pound lineman has dominated his opposition. But the level of competition he's faced is somewhat suspect, and it's difficult to judge exactly how good he's been. 

Competing against other top prospects from around the country in various camps is the best way to judge prospects in this situation. But to this point, there is no information or film of any camps he attended.

Therefore, we, like most scouts, must take what we can from the game film and roll with it. 

24. Landon Turner, OG, North Carolina

Commitment: North Carolina

Landon Turner plays offensive tackle in high school.

But he very well could make the transition to left guard based on his ability to drive block and get to the second and third levels quickly. At 6'5" and 305 pounds, he's got the size for either position.

But the interior is where things look brightest. 

Turner is a better-than-advertised athlete who can get downfield and hit the second and third levels of blocking quickly. He does a great job of really engaging his opponent.

There are some quickness issues, though. It takes Turner a bit too long to get out of his stance on occasion.

If that isn't corrected, he could be in for a bumpy ride. 

23. Andre Yruretagoyena, OT, Oregon

Commitment: Oregon

Andre Yruretagoyena is simply an animal in games and a tenacious player whose motor and drive are as good as anyone in the nation. 

When you watch him on film, you'll see a player with a real nasty side to him. The mean streak that every good lineman should have. 

He'll battle from whistle to whistle with anyone and really excels as a run blocker. Of course, the downside is that Yruetagoyena tends to be a bit too aggressive at times, and that can get him into trouble.

He needs to learn to play more disciplined to be the same force at the next level. 

22. Troy Niklas, OT

Commitment: Uncommitted

Niklas is an intriguing prospect that could have a future at offensive tackle, tight end or defensive end at the next level.

He'll need to bulk up, and a redshirt year certainly seems like a strong possibility. But Niklas has a great natural frame and a huge wingspan. 

A hard worker with a good attitude to match, Niklas needs to polish up his technique and learn to use his leverage more to his advantage.

But once things start to click, he could become a force. 

21. Cyrus Hobbi, OG

Commitment: Uncommitted

Hobbi is one of the top offensive guards in the country and has the versatility to play every interior line position.

He's athletic, has great size at 6'3", 285 pounds and has a great initial burst. 

Some scouts see him as a center. But based on his ability to pull and reach the second and third level of contact guard, he might be better suited for his skill set. 

Hobbi is probably the last offensive lineman Nebraska is targeting. The connection to the Cornhuskers is a strong one; they have to be considered the leader at this point.

20. Angelo Mangiro, OG, Penn State

Commitment: Penn State

Angelo Mangiro has the prototypical size of an offensive guard.

He's got a massive lower body, low center of gravity and a solid natural frame. He plays with a wide base and has excellent footwork and hand technique. 

A top 5-10 offensive guard in the 2011 recruiting class, Mangiro plays aggressively with a lot of power and strength. But right now, his pass protection skills are suspect. 

He comes from a high school system focused on the running game. After watching his technique, it's easy to see how he's struggled to develop as a pass blocker.

But he's got the brains and talent to figure it out. 

19. Jordan Walsh, OG, Iowa

Commitment: Iowa

Jordan Walsh is a top five offensive guard and one of the top players in Iowa's 2011 recruiting class.

He's a powerful blocker with a great all-around skill-set and polished technique. Not the most athletic or strong, but Walsh knows how to use his body and will only get better with age.

He's very quick off the ball and has some of the best drive-blocking skills in the country. But his technique will need to be reworked some to be effective at the next level.

Walsh's best asset might be his hands. He uses them so well to engage his opponent quickly and rarely lets go of his man before the whistle blows.  

18. Jordan Prestwood, OT, Florida State

Commitment: Florida State

At 6'6" and 265 pounds, Jordon Prestwood has the building blocks of an elite prospect. He's got the size, the wingspan, the footwork and the intelligence to one day develop into a top-tier offensive tackle.

He's on the raw side and will be a bit of a project. But there's no denying that he's a top-10 talent at the offensive tackle position. 

Prestwood was the first of a wave of Notre Dame decommitments, leaving the team in November for Florida State and seemingly opening the floodgates after his departure. 

17. Antonio Richardson, OT

Commitment: Uncommitted

Antonio Richardson—ranked as the fourth offensive tackle by Rivals and No. 12 by Scout—is right up there with Greg Robinson as one of the few elite tackles still uncommitted.

At 6'5" and 310 pounds, he's the No. 1 prospect from the state of Tennessee and a player everyone in the SEC is trying to get their hands on. 

He's a bit raw, but extremely strong with a good deal of athleticism and a massive reach. If he can sort out issues with his footwork and blocking technique, you could be looking at a future NFL pillar for someone's offensive line. 

16. Ryne Reeves, C, Nebraska

Commitment: Nebraska 

Ryne Reeves is at worst the No. 2 center in the country.

He's a very strong player who has incredible body control and hand movement, though he needs to work on his footwork and positioning to reach elite status. 

He reads defenses very well and does a great job calling out adjustments for his teammates, serving as the anchor of the offensive line. 

Reeves will be staying at home and playing for the Cornhuskers in 2011. It shouldn't be long before he earns himself the starting gig.

15. Conor Hanratty, OG, Notre Dame

Commitment: Notre Dame

There's some disparity when judging the quality of a prospect like Conor Hanratty.

Some scouts see him as one of the top-rated prospects at his position, while others have passed him over due to technique issues. 

Based on his natural ability to stay low and deliver a punishing hit on first contact, there's a lot to like about his game, though. Even if his technique is still raw.

With a little work and some time in the weight room, he has the intangibles to be an elite guard. Based on the way he accelerates through his blocks to the second level, Hanratty could have a very bright future as a pulling guard or even an anchor.

Depending on how the Irish decide to use him.

14. Brendon Austin, Stanford

Commitment: Stanford

At 6'6" and 265 pounds, Austin needs to add some bulk to his frame in order to hold up against defensive ends at the next level.

But the basics are there.

A redshirt year would probably be best for Austin so he can focus on the weight room and learning the ropes. He's an intelligent kid who earns all Academic All-State honors, and it won't take him long to figure out the Cadinal's system.

He's got the versatility to play on either side of the line. But his athletic ability means he's probably best suited for a try on the left side first to see if he can handle it.

You don't want to waste that type of potential on the right.

13. Brian Bobek, C, Ohio State

Commitment: Ohio State

Bobek is the top-rated center of the 2011 class and one of the best overall recruits in the country.

He plays both offense and defense, but scouts agree his future is on the offensive side of the line.

He's got the ideal build of a center and has one of the quickest releases when snapping the ball that you will ever see. He's also very good at recognizing what the defense is doing and calling out adjustments to blocking schemes.

As a blocker, Bobek stays low and keeps his arms extended, driving his defender off the ball and doing an excellent job of creating running room up the middle. He can handle the bigger defensive tackles and does a solid job blocking at the second level.

12. Bobby Hart, OT, Florida State

Commitment: FSU

Bobby Hart is rated as a top 10 offensive tackle by both Scout and Rivals and is an intriguing player for a number of reasons.

He's got the size, arms, feet and athleticism every offensive line coach in the country is looking for in an elite prospect. Hart's wingspan is massive for his size and his upper-body strength is eye-popping.

As soon as he learns how to be a better pass-blocker, FSU has something special here. There are very few big men with his level of flexibility and body control and even fewer who can manhandle defenders with such ease.

11. Sedrick Flowers, OG, Texas

Commitment: Texas

One thing immediately stands out about Flowers the moment you see him in drills or on the field.

He is almost unnaturally strong and super athletic for his size.

He's so quick off the ball and has one of the best initial bursts in the country. He hits his man square in the chest on first impact and drives him into the ground.

Flowers' ability to succeed as a pulling guard is what's most intriguing about his game. He can get to the second level of defenders as fast as anyone his size can and has an unstoppable motor.

10. Tyler Moore, OT, Nebraska

Commitment: Nebraska

Moore has the natural frame of an elite talent and could turn out to be one of the best two or three offensive line prospects from the 2011 class.

He needs to perfect his technique and footwork. But the building blocks are there for a dominating tackle at any level.

A strong run blocker, he's inconsistent in pass protection and needs to learn to play with more focus.

Moore has such great explosion at the point of attack and superb footwork though. It's only a matter of time before he's blocking as well against the pass as he already does against the run. 

9. Matt Hegarty, OT, Notre Dame

Commitment: Notre Dame

Another of Notre Dame's solid haul of offensive lineman is offensive tackle Matt Hegarty, ranked as top 10 prospect at his position by both Scout and Rivals. 

He's an ideal left tackle prospect with good size, long arms and a ton of athleticism. He moves about as well as any lineman in the country and can routinely use his superior athleticism to get to the second and third levels of defenders. 

Hegarty is a very good pass rusher and has a solid initial burst at the line of scrimmage. There aren't many players faster off the ball than he is, and it helps him win a lot of battles in the trenches. 

He needs to continue to get bigger and stronger. But the tools are all there for a lot of success.

8. Gregory Robinson, OT

Commitment: Uncommitted

Robinson was one of the top performers at the U.S. Army All-American Combine last year.

At 6'5" and 296 pounds, he's a big and physical player with a lot of upside.

He's a workout warrior that really impresses with his strength and agility.

Though his technique as a blocker is still a bit raw. He often struggles to stay low and doesn't adjust his feet very well.

Robinson relies on his natural ability right now. But that won't cut it in college.

If he can learn to balance himself better and slide his feet against speed rushers, there won't be much stopping him from being an elite tackle.

7. Garrett Greenlea, OT

Commitment: Texas

The second of the Longhorns' 5-star haul along the offensive line, Greenlea has got a ton of upside and a great natural frame for the position.

There's little doubt he'll quickly excel at the next level. 

He's a near-perfect fit for the mold of offensive tackle coaches are looking for. He's tall, lean, athletic, has a great frame and wingspan, moves his feet well, is quick off the ball and can block anyone from a defensive tackle to a blitzing defensive back. 

Greenlea tends to play a little overaggressive at times, though. There are questions about his body control and balance, but any issues are minimal.

6. Kiaro Holts, OT, North Carolina

Commitment: North Carolina 

Holts is one of the top offensive lineman in the country and has prototypical NFL size.

He's the type of player that could develop into an elite talent on the college level and a coveted prospect when it comes time for the NFL draft.

He's rated as the No. 4 offensive tackle on Scout and the No. 20 offensive tackle on Rivals. This 5-star talent shouldn't be too undervalued though.

At 6'5" and 270 pounds, he's one of the strongest and most athletic tackles in the nation and could develop into a force for years to come. 

Holts is the Tar Heels' top commitment to this point and looks poised to enter the fold as a potential starter right from the get-go. That should make him one of the top instant impact freshman for the 2011 season.

5. Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina

Commitment: South Carolina

One of the top offensive tackles in the country, Brandon Shell is a five-star talent ranked as a borderline top-five prospect at his position. 

With great size and athleticism, Shell's footwork and body control make him one of the best pass blockers in the entire country. He's shown vast improvement in his technique in the last couple of years, so the signs point toward him continuing to improve going forward. 

He needs to work on his run blocking, particularly when it comes to engaging his opponent all the way through the play.

But the tools are all in place. 

4. Brey Cook, OT, Arkansas

Commitment: Arkansas

Cook is one of the top-rated offensive tackles in the country. At 6'7" and 310 pounds, he has elite size and a frame to build off.

That just can't be taught.

He's an extremely strong run blocker and has a great push at the line of scrimmage.

As a pass-blocker, he struggles somewhat with faster and more athletic defenders. But it's more a matter of consistency than anything else.

He has the footwork, hand usage and agility to get it done.

He's just a notch behind guys like La'El Collins or Christian Westerman and rates out as a top seven offensive tackle prospect by both Rivals and Scouts.

A solid senior season will undoubtedly make him a 5-star prospect by the time he hits his college campus.

3. Christian Westerman, OT, Texas

Commitment: Texas

At 6'5", 285 pounds, Westerman is projected to be a star at either a guard or right tackle at the next level. 

He's a very strong blocker and moves his feet as well as anyone in the country.

But the fact that he never played left tackle in high school probably means it just doesn't suit his skill-set.

He overpowers defenders with quick hits and a very low stance. But the way he's able to move suggest he'd be very successful as a pulling guard. 

This guy could open up a highway on counters.

2. La'El Collins, OT, LSU

Commitment: LSU

At 6'5", 285 pounds, Collins is 15-20 pounds away from being an off-the-charts prospect at left tackle.

His strength, athleticism and blocking skill is about as good as anyone's in the class.

From a physical standpoint, he's an imposing specimen who can knock back a defender a full yard with a single push.

Collins excels at both pass-blocking and run support. He does a great job of getting to the second level.

He also has that bit of nasty you like to see in offensive linemen. Not to mention great character and a motor that runs hard every single play.

If you're looking for a polished lineman that can not only start as a freshman, but get in there and perform at an All-American level, this is your man.

1. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT

Commitment: Uncommitted

At 6'6", 322 pounds, Kouandjio is one of the most athletic big men in the country. 

He has a huge wingspan and, at times, appears to move as swiftly as someone half his size.

When it comes to natural ability as a blocker, Kouandjio has top-end balance and moves his feet as swiftly as any high school player I've ever seen. He goes a great job staying low to the ground and using his tree trunk-like arms to manhandle defenders.

Kouandijo is polished and as ready to compete at the college level as anyone in the 2011 class.