The majority of the conversation when it comes to college football highlights always seems to be centered on the skill position players like quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers but if you asked any head coach they would tell you that success begins with winning in the trenches and that the offensive line positions are as important as any other. It’s never too early to look ahead to next year and when it comes to grading the top offensive lineman recruits in the country we are already a step ahead. Here is a look at the top five offensive lineman recruits in the country looking ahead to next year’s college football season.
Michal Menet, Guard
Committed to Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State head coach James Franklin has constantly repeated the importance of landing prospects from the Keystone State so he had to be thrilled when he landed the No. 1 guard on the board according to 247Sports. Menet is a four-star offensive guard from Exeter Township High in Reading, Pennsylvania and he made the decision to join three other top prospects from the state with the Nitany Lions. Menet turned down offers from Alabama, Florida State, Michigan and Ohio State in order to commit to Penn State and they have to be thrilled about his potential. Menet plays defensive tackle in high school but that is expected to translate well as an athletic blocker with a mean streak that will have to work on his technique but has all of the raw attributes to thrive on the interior of the offensive line.
Baveon Johnson, Center
Committed to Florida State Seminoles
The top center prospect according to 247Sports is Johnson, who had his pick of some of the top teams in the SEC but ultimately decided to stay in his home state and commit to the Seminoles. A graduate of Lake Gibson High in Lakeland, Florida, Johnson rose to the top of the rankings after a dominant showing at The Opening. A mammoth center that does an excellent job firing off the ball and maintaining his pad level while running over defenders, Johnson has the potential to be the best offensive lineman on this list.
Terrance Davis, Guard
Committed to Maryland Terrapins
The Hyattsville, Maryland-native was expected to bolt for Michigan after they hosted him for an official visit but he ultimately decided to commit to Maryland and stay in his home state. A second-team All-American, Davis does an outstanding job of getting his hands in to opponents and driving them off the line of scrimmage in the run game and while he still has some work to do when it comes to pass-blocking like a number of other top offensive line prospects his massive frame and mean streak make him the ideal prospect at the guard position moving forward with the potential to become an absolute mauler at the next level.
Michael Onwenu, Guard
Committed to Michigan Wolverines
Onwenu will graduate from Cass Technical High in Detroit and join Jim Harbaugh at Michigan after turning down offers from Alabama, Miami and Ohio State among others. The US Army All-American is the top prospect from Michigan in 2016 and the Wolverines can’t wait to see him use his massive frame on the interior of the line. Onwenu is still somewhat raw as a pass-blocker but he is an absolute monster when it comes to opening up holes in the run game and he should continue to dominate at the next level at Michigan.
Richard Merritt, Guard
Committed to Maryland Terrapins
The four-star guard from Archbishop Carroll High in Washington, DC received more than 30 offers from across the country before making the decision to commit to Maryland in December and become the first prospect to commit to the Terrapins under new head coach D.J. Durkin. Merritt lined up at tackle during his prep career but his massive frame and strength make him a prime candidate to become a guard at the next level and he should excel as a run-blocker while working hard to continue to improve his pass-blocking at the next level. Maryland still has a lot of work to do but they have to be thrilled about landing two of the top offensive line recruits in the nation with both Merritt and Davis in the fold moving forward.
