Here are 12 Columbus-area high school football offensive linemen to watch this fall
Leading up to the high school football season, The Dispatch is taking a look at central Ohio’s top players by position.
Here are 12 offensive linemen to watch this fall, in alphabetical order:
Jaden Ball, Bloom-Carroll
The 6-foot-5, 303-pound senior anchored an offensive line that helped the Bulldogs reach the Division III state final last season, losing to Canfield 35-14 to finish 14-2. A Purdue commit, Ball was first-team all-state and all-district and Lineman of the Year in the MSL-Buckeye. He finished with 176 pancake blocks and did not allow a sack.
Jake Cook, Westerville North
At 6-5 and 295 pounds, Cook is expected to anchor the Warriors’ offensive line under first-year coach Stanley Jackson Sr. Last season, Cook was second-team all-district and honorable mention all-state in Division I. He is listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.
Trevor Croak, Licking Valley
The 6-4, 260-pound senior was first-team all-district and honorable mention all-state in Division IV and first-team all-LCL-Buckeye last season. He helped the Panthers reach the Region 15 playoffs and finish 5-6 with an offense that averaged 26.7 points.
Gavin Dabo, Grove City
The senior is again expected to anchor the line for the Dawgs’ up-tempo offense. The 6-4, 280-pound Western Michigan commit was first-team all-district and third-team all-state in Division I and second-team all-OCC-Ohio last season. Grove City averaged 27.6 points and finished 6-5, its first winning season since 2013.
Gunnar George, Fairfield Union
The 6-0, 280-pound senior was first-team all-Southeast District and honorable mention all-state in Division IV last season, along with first-team all-MSL-Buckeye. He helped lead an offense that averaged 26.5 points in a 5-5 season.
Andrew Heisler, Jonathan Alder
The 6-4, 270-pound senior was first-team all-district and all-CBC and second-team all-state in Division IV a season ago. He helped the Pioneers advance to the Region 15 playoffs, where they lost to Dresden Tri-Valley 30-10 in the first round to finish 6-5. Jonathan Alder averaged 24.1 points per game.
Hayden Krinn, Mount Gilead
The 6-0, 190-pound senior was first-team all-district and all-KMAC last season, along with third-team all-state in Division VI. The Indians reached the Region 23 playoffs, losing to Worthington Christian 55-20 in the first round to finish 6-5. Mount Gilead averaged 26.2 points per game.
Rex Lahr, Pickerington North
The 6-2, 240-pound senior is expected to be a key player up front for the Panthers. Last season, the Liberty University commit was second-team all-OCC-Ohio and special mention all-district in Division I. North averaged 27.3 points and finished 7-5, losing to Pickerington Central 28-20 in a Region 3 second-round contest.
Tylar Mix, Ready
At 6-4 and 330 pounds, the senior should be an imposing presence on the line for the Silver Knights. Last season, he was first-team all-district in Division IV as Ready went 8-4, losing to Gnadenhutten Indian Valley 34-10 in a Region 15 semifinal. The Knights averaged 36.3 points per game.
Christian Taylor, Columbus South
Coach George Yates II calls Taylor the anchor of the Bulldogs’ offensive line. The 6-2, 254-pound senior was first-team all-district and all-City League and third-team all-state in Division III a year ago. South finished 8-2, losing to Washington Court House 61-54 in the first round of the Region 11 playoffs. The Bulldogs averaged 32.7 points per contest.
Matt Von Almen, Big Walnut
The 6-2, 235-pound senior tackle was first-team all-district, second-team all-OCC-Capital and third-team all-state in Division II last season. The Golden Eagles averaged 35.7 points and finished 10-3, losing to Massillon Washington 42-21 in a Region 7 semifinal.
Dane Wleklinski, Dublin Jerome
A 6-6, 280-pound senior tackle, Wleklinski will again anchor the Celtics’ offensive line. The Virginia commit was first-team all-OCC-Cardinal and second-team all-district a season ago. Jerome finished 9-3, losing to Olentangy Liberty 28-14 in a Division I, Region 2 second-round game, and averaged 23.8 points per contest.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 12 central Ohio high school offensive linemen to watch this fall
