Freshmen don't often get into the starting lineup unless they are otherworldly talents (see Pace, Orlando) or if a team is going through a rebuild or a coaching change. To that end, it isn't always easy to forecast the guys who will play a major role in their teams fortunes in a given year. But fear not, friends -- we have found 10 behemoths who should be able to, at worst, contribute and, at best, grab a starting spot.
These are not necessarily the 10 top recruited offensive linemen, but rather the 10 who will make an immediate impact by grabbing playing time. Positional ranking is included.
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| UCLA's Chris Murray (Orange County Register) |
1. Chris Murray/UCLA (OL28) -- The Bruins needed a LOT of help, and Chip Kelly smartly picked up some offensive linemen for his uptempo spread option system. Murray, who protected USC QB recruit JT Daniels at Mater Dei HS, has already been penciled in as a starter at guard, and impressed as a prepster with his quickness and attention to detail.
2. Penei Sewell/Oregon (OL7) -- The Ducks return both of their guards, but Sewell is good enough to get into the rotation and has already climbed to second string on the right side. A massive individual (6-5, 349), Sewell is surprisingly nimble and can get out in front on traps and pulling plays.
3. Delone Scaife/Miami Fla (OL20) -- Scaife is another player who was in for spring ball and made waves, enough to climb to a backup guard spot. Scaife is strong and powerful and adept at finishing blocks.
4. Brey Walker/Oklahoma (OL5) -- The Sooners don't have a holdover at right tackle, which means Walker could seize that spot with a good fall camp. As it is, the agile, quick-footed Oklahoma native is penciled in as the backup.
5. Nicholas Petit-Frere/Ohio State (OL1) -- The Buckeyes must replace left tackle Jamarco Jones, and while they profess to have confidence in redshirt freshman Thayer Munford, Petit-Frere should challenge for the starting spot once he arrives for fall camp. Tall but lean (6-6, 272), Petit-Frere is equally good at pass and run blocking, and could be a fixture up front should he nab the starting role.
6. Rasheed Walker/Penn State (OL9) -- There isn't a ton of experience behind the starting tackles, so don't be shocked if the Maryland native grabs one of the backup roles -- at least as a start. Walker has good footwork and, at 6-6, excellent arm extension.
7. William Barnes/North Carolina (OL6) -- The Tar Heels are in transition, and one of their real question marks is up front on offense, returning just one starter. Barnes, a Florida native, has a mean streak and good strength, and it should be just a matter of time before he finds his way into the lineup.
8. Jamaree Salyer/Georgia (OL2) -- If Georgia wasn't returning three starters up front, and if two reserves from last year weren't set to start in 2018, Salyer might be at the top of this list. Another massive individual (6-4, 342), Salyer loves to run block and should be a perfect fit for the Dawgs run-based offensive philosophy.
9. Curtis Dunlap Jr/Minnesota (OL24) -- PJ Fleck is all about toughness, which is why he focused so heavily on offensive line in the last recruiting cycle. Dunlap is one of two top-50 linemen the Gophers nabbed, and hails from the prestigious IMG Academy in Florida. He was already up to number two at right guard, and with a good fall camp might be able to ascend to starter.
10. Jackson Carman/Clemson (OL3) -- Carman was the top prospect in Ohio but spurned his home state Buckeyes for Dabo Swinney's crew. A prototype left tackle thanks to excellent feet, Carman isn't beating out All-America Mitch Hyatt for that spot. So he might need to spend a year on the right side, where there is a lot of inexperience.
Just Missed: Cade Mays/Georgia (OL4); Will Craig/Cal (OL35); Steven Jones/Oregon (OL27); Colten Blanton/Texas A&M (OL21); Jerome Carvin/Tennessee (OL50); Demarcus Marshall/Texas Tech (NR); Alec Anderson/UCLA (NR); Levon Livingston/SMU (NR); Nik Hogan/Tulane (NR); Despelado Alexandre/Georgia State
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