With the 2017 recruiting cycle winding down, now is the time to look back at where the top commits signed. The offensive tackle position in this year’s recruiting class is absolutely loaded and one school in particular hit it big with two standout commitments. Here is a look at the top five offensive tackles in the class of 2017.
Foster Sarrell, Stanford Cardinal
Sarrell emerged as one of the to players in the 2017 college football recruiting cycle and there is no doubt about his incredible ability heading in to this season. The 6’7’’, 311-pound tackle is widely considered the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 2 overall recruit in this year’s class. A dominant performance at The Opening helped solidify his status as the best offensive lineman and the Cardinal have to be thrilled about landing him to help anchor their line for years to come. This position is absolutely loaded but the consensus is that Sarrell is the best prospect among this year’s recruiting class.
Walker Little, Stanford Cardinal
As if Stanford didn’t hit it big enough with the selection of Sarrell, Little’s addition gives them another absolute beast on the offensive line. Little is the No. 10 prospect in the entire nation and he could work with Sarrell to form the most dominant bookend duo in the country for years to come. At 6’7’’ and 315 pounds, Little will be the perfect bookend to Sarrell as an absolutely dominant right tackle over the next couple of seasons.
The Cardinal took a step back this season and much of that had to do with an offense that couldn’t do enough in their three losses. In the losses to Washington, Washington State and Colorado, the Cardinal combined for a total of 27 points. They need to be able to win the battles on the line of scrimmage, grind out yards on the ground and control the clock. That is what is going to allow them to climb back up the power rankings in the Pac-12 and having two quality offensive tacklers like Little and Sarrell is a really good start.
Alex Leatherwood, Alabama Crimson Tide
While the Crimson Tide missed out on both Sarrell and Little, they managed to lock in another outstanding recruit in Leatherwood. The 6’6’’, 327-pound tackle is listed as the No. 1 tackle prospect in the country by 247sports.com and he is certainly considered among the best across the board. Leatherwood could make an immediate impact on the right side at Alabama and it will be interesting to see how quickly they move him to the left side based on need and his development.
Trey Smith, Tennessee Volunteers
Smith is another absolute beast at 6’5’’ and 310 pounds. He comes in at No. 4 on this list not because of his overall talent but because he might not be as far along as some of the other names on this list in terms of being polished. Smith still has the potential to be an absolutely dominant left tackle beginning with his freshman season but right now, he is No. 4 on our list of the top offensive tackle prospects for 2017. The Vols need more quality on their offensive line as they clearly couldn’t get the job done down the stretch of the season. The Vols running game cut in and out at times this year, and much of that had to do with the fact that the Vols front five simply didn’t hold up in SEC play. If Tennessee is to finally take that next step – that’s a big if – then they’ll need more from the offensive line and guys like Smith.
Austin Jackson, USC Trojans
After missing out on Sarrell and Little to a conference rival in Stanford, USC landed a potential star in Jackson. The 6’6’’, 280-pound tackle is a little bit raw in terms of his technique but he has all of the tools to become a standout at the position at the college level. Jackson received upwards of 20 offers including from a number of Pac-12 schools so his decision to sign with the Trojans is a huge score for that program. After their performance down the stretch of the season and in the Rose Bowl, things are looking up for USC.
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