Here are the best 10 offensive linemen ahead of 2024 high school football season

With the start of another high school football season around the corner, The Enquirer is ranking the best players in Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.

While they typically don’t receive the headlines as skilled position players, offensive linemen are vital to any offense, creating holes for running backs to race downfield and blocking dangerous defensive linemen to protect the quarterback in the passing game.

Here are the best 10 area offensive linemen to watch across the area gridiron this fall, listed alphabetically.

At the end of this story, remember to vote for the top offensive lineman in the city.

Here's how to watch some Ohio high school football games in 2024

Vincent Giordano, Lakota West

Giordano transferred to Lakota West from Fenwick, where he was listed as a tight end and defensive lineman last season. Recruiting services are touting Giordano as one of the top offensive tackles in Ohio ahead of his upcoming senior season with the Firebirds.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound tackle is ranked by 247Sports as a two-star prospect and the No. 135 player in Ohio for the Class of 2025. He committed to Bowling Green earlier this summer.

Raphael Greene, Winton Woods

Speaking of Ohio’s top linemen, Greene is tabbed as the No. 63 player in Ohio for the Class of 2025 by 247Sports. Greene, a three-star lineman, had 14 Division I offers before committing to Toledo July 3.

Jess Hauer, Wyoming

Hauer was a first-team All-Ohio selection in Division IV last season after helping pave the way for a Wyoming offense that ran for 2,500 total yards and 31 touchdowns last season.

Hauer was a two-way contributor for a Wyoming squad that won 12 games and reached the regional championship game. On the defensive line, Hauer had 77 tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception.

Robert Hayes, Indian Hill

Indian Hill had a stellar season up front with Hayes anchoring an offensive line that helped the Braves run for 2,360 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Hayes was a third-team All-Ohio selection in Division IV after helping lead the Braves to a Cincinnati Hills League title.

Tucker Kattus, St. Xavier

The Enquirer listed Kattus as the No. 10 player in Greater Cincinnati for the Class of 2025. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound tackle is a three-star prospect and a top-50 player in Ohio for his class, according to 247Sports.

He is the third Kattus brother to land in Lexington after committing to the Kentucky Wildcats in March. He was a first-team All-Ohio selection for the Bombers last season.

Max Merz, Highlands

The Enquirer listed Merz as the No. 19 player in the Class of 2026. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound interior offensive lineman holds offers from Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, Marshall, Louisville, Troy and Toledo.

Kage Payne, Kings

Payne garnered first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio honors last season for the Knights.

A 6-foot-3, 280-pound interior offensive lineman, Payne is listed as a three-star recruit and the No. 82 player in Ohio for the Class of 2025, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He has a lengthy offer sheet that includes Syracuse, Marshall, Coastal Carolina and several MAC programs.

Oscar Piedrahita, Sycamore

The anchor of the Aviators’ offensive line, Piedrahita is one of the top returners for a Sycamore squad looking to build on last year’s playoff appearance.

Piedrahita earned first-team all-league honors last season and was named honorable mention All-Ohio in Division I.

Dylan Stewart, Conner

A 6-foot-4, 280-pound interior offensive lineman and a top-25 player in the area for the Class of 2025, Stewart is ranked by 247Sports as a three-star prospect and the No. 27 player in Kentucky for his class.

Stewart has received several Division I offers, including from Western Michigan, Air Force, Eastern Michigan, Navy, Western Kentucky and Yale.

Jonathan 'J.T.' White, Princeton

Listed at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds on last season’s roster, White was a key cog on a Princeton offense that led the Greater Miami Conference in scoring (29.7 points per game) en route to a league title.

White was named first-team all-league and honorable mention All-Ohio.

On the radar

Marty Adkins , Moeller; Mateo Armento , Moeller; Chance Baugh , Beechwood; Eli Caldwell, Ryle; Lucas Donahue , Cincinnati Country Day; Logan Fehr , Lawrenceburg; Keegan Gar r, Colerain; Naim Jackson , La Salle; Petey Jones , Cincinnati College Prep Academy; Preston McCauley , Simon Kenton; Christian O’Neal , Lakota West; Travis Raines , Harrison; Patrick Ramage , Cincinnati Country Day; Austin Turner , St. Bernard; Maddox Zeigler , West Clermont

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here are the best 10 offensive linemen ahead of 2024 high school football season