College Football Recruiting 2012: Where Are the Top OLs Headed?

Our next stop comes to the big uglies for an update. I really like the offensive line talent in this year's class, especially at the top of the board. Left tackle remains, and likely will always be, the top and most important offensive line position up front. The 2012 class has a couple potential cornerstone left tackle prospects this year and their potential is off the charts.

There are also a few center/guard prospects and of course right tackle types that are also standouts. Offensive recruiting is imperative to a program's success, because if you can't protect your QB or open up run alleys, then your offense will go nowhere.

These top offensive linemen are all players that will surely help your program.

10. Kyle Kalis

6'5", 305 pounds, Kalis is a fine OL prospect out if the Midwest region. He can play just about every spot along the offensive front, but right now I think he'll be a right tackle in college. He gets solid extension in his punch and looks to strike inside the rusher's chest every time.

His foot quickness if solid, as he can mirror and slide on island well for a big man. He's strong on his feet and comes out of his set quickly and violently. Kalis will look to finish a defender off in the run game and he flashes second level ability to get up on smaller targets and produce in space.

He committed to Ohio State during his junior year.

9. Evan Boehm

A 6'3", 290-pound guard prospect, Boehm is a warrior in the interior trenches. He made the All-combine team at the Army junior combine in January, displaying great agility, strength and balance for a guard, even though he currently plays tackle for his high school squad.

He has a great work ethic and it shows on every snap. Boehm fires out of his stance to jump on top of defensive linemen, he gets into their bodies and just walks them back out of the way. He mauls in short areas and can handle his own turf in the middle of the pocket against powerful defensive tackles.

He has a top list of Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin and Arkansas, among a slew of other options.

8. Dan Voltz

Voltz is the epitome of your typical Midwestern offensive linemen: He's big at 6'5", 300 pounds, strong and has a nasty streak. Football is his kind of sport and bullying defenders is his hobby and job. Voltz went down to the US Army junior combine and made first team, showing he has athleticism to his overall game.

He has a nasty streak in him, as he always looks to finish. Voltz will look for work when he's uncovered and maul any oncoming threat. He shows solid vision and awareness for stunts, twists and blitzes and seems to communicate well with his line mates.

He likely will be either a guard or right tackle in college, which will be at Wisconsin.

7. Zach Banner

Banner may be the tallest offensive tackle in the country as he stands a whopping 6'9". And even though I have Banner among the tops on this list, Josh Garnett, a fellow Washington OL, is no slouch either.

He has a remarkable wingspan and frustrates rushers as it takes a vacation to get around him. He uses his long arms to stay clean from defenders and just simply washes them past the QB to keep his passer protected. He doesn't move like a stick figure and can get out on the perimeter to pin and seal defenders to spring outside runs loose for his offense. He just needs to add strength.

The son of NFL great Lincoln Kennedy, Banner is welcome to every school in the Pac-12, along with Nebraska, Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Penn State.

6. Jordan Simmons

The No.6 notch has us stay on the West coast and move to the Golden State, as talk is Jordan Simmons is the top lineman in the state this year. And mind you, even though this list only has 10 OL prospects, it is a big time year of depth in the trenches on the West.

Simmons is a big one at 6'5", 330 pounds. He has some baby fat to trim, but he still has outstanding athletic ability, agility, balance and foot quickness. He can play tackle or kick inside to guard and still anchor an offensive front.

Trying to bull rush Simmons is suicide as he can just maul you and steer you to where he wants you to go. If you think about trying to run around him, he will just slide and mirror you until you stop.

He has offers from just about all of the nationally known FBS powers.

5. Avery Young

The 6'6", 275-pound Young came to the Miami NIKE Camp in 2010 and impressed all observers at the camp. He has the tools to be a future left tackle and man the left island with ease due to his long arms and fantastic athleticism.

Young stays squeaky clean vs. the rush by keeping defenders away from him with his long arms. Rushers can't get under his pads, and he can mirror as well as anyone in the country. He can make any block in the run game and could be an excellent fit in a zone oriented run scheme due to his easy ability to get on the second level and be productive.

It seems like Young likes Oklahoma right now, but also has Texas, Georgia, Florida and Florida State, among plenty of other schools drawing interest.

4. Ty Darlington

Hailing form the Sunshine State, Darlington is a 6'3", 270-pound center/guard prospect. His best asset, to me when I watch him on film, is his easy movement to pull and trap inside. He's quick out of his stance, light on his feet and brings his hips at the point of attack.

Darlington is quick to adjust to targets on the second level and is great in space. In fact, it's not a far stretch to imagine him as a tackle in college. Darlington is an excellent drive blocker, as he moves targets off their marks with strength and tenacity.

He has over 30 offers and likes Oklahoma, Auburn, Florida State, Iowa, Virginia Tech and Northwestern.

3. DJ Humphries

Humphries is probably the most athletic offensive lineman I've seen so far, and I don't think I'm going to see any trench prospect with his type of athleticism. He moves around so easily, and has incredible balance, foot quickness, agility, play speed and lateral movement skills.

He is a sure fire elite left tackle and will be a 5-star recruit. Humphries can isolate himself on the left island and take away a team's best pass rusher all night long. He can slide, mirror, adjust and recover vs. anyone and he hasn't given up a sack in two years. He's a phenomenal left tackle and he reminds me of D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

At 6'6", 270 pounds, he has a boatload of offers from all of the major BCS schools.

2. John Theus

Theus is a 6'6", 295-pound tackle that can play left as equally as right on the fronts. He's been a star in the making since his sophomore year and now is one of the best overall players in the country. He is the younger brother of Georgia long snapper Nate Theus.

John works every snap and is at his best as a run blocker. He bullies opponents and just mauls them as a drive blocker. As a pass protector, on tape, you see the set quickness, foot quickness, quick slide ability and recover ability vs. oncoming rushers. He just simply refuses to allow a defender to touch his QB.

Theus has many offers for his services including Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Auburn, Clemson, Alabama, North Carolina State and many others.

1. Andrus Peat

Peat is the top offensive line prospect in the country and is another future all-conference left tackle. At 6'7", 280 pounds, he is the younger brother of Todd Peat, Jr., who signed with Nebraska last year. Andrus is considered a better prospect than Todd and that's saying something.

Peat is a great technician and a fine athlete for a left tackle. He has great set quickness, gets good hand placement in his punch and moves well when engaged.

Peat has excellent feet, as they are light, nimble and very quick, which allow him to recover, mirror and adjust during his slides. He is great as a drive blocker and runs feet upon contact.

He has been offered by just about everybody and will look to narrow his choices down in the coming months.