SARASOTA - They are known as a football team's "thick necks," but the five players charged with protecting their quarterback and opening holes for their backs are a team's engine. If the unit fails in cohesion and execution, runners don't run, and passers don't pass.
One of Riverview High's favorite sons, David Baas, was plucked from the school's Kiltie Band by late Rams head football coach John Sprague and put on the Riverview offensive line. Somewhere at his home, Baas has a Super Bowl ring won as a member of the New York Giants.
The 15 offensive linemen on our list have much more modest goals. Every Friday night, putting defenders of every shape and size flat on their backs.
Top Seniors: Listing the top 52 Sarasota, Manatee area high school football seniors for the 2024 season
Here's the Herald-Tribune's list of the Sarasota-Manatee area's top offensive linemen, in alphabetical order:
Top high school offensive linemen in the Sarasota-Manatee area for 2024
Jake Boydston
Cardinal Mooney
Vitals : 6-foot, 250 pounds; Sr.
College commitment: None
The Cougars' best returning lineman, Boydston can play all five positions along the offensive line. Head coach Jared Clark ran behind the 250-pounder a majority of the time.
Luke Chappell
Riverview
Vitals : 6-foot-2, 290 pounds; Jr.
College commitmen t: None
The physical junior will start at center for Rams head coach Josh Smithers.
Wyatt Gadeken
Lakewood Ranch
Vitals : 6-foot-1, 250 pounds; Sr.
College commitment : None
The 6-foot-1, 260-pound offensive lineman did his part last season helping the Mustang running attack rush for nearly 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns. Gadeken also heaved the shot put for the Mustang track and field team, finishing seventh in the Class 4A-District 8 meet.
Nash Hudgens
North Port
Vitals : 6-foot-2, 270 pounds; Jr.
College commitment : None
The 6-foot-2, 270-pound offensive and defensive lineman, and wrestler on the Bobcat wrestling team, will be expected to open holes for running back Peter Kalphat. A starter since a freshman, Hudgens had 33 pancake blocks last season.
Caiden Lee
Parrish
Vitals : 6-foot-4, 290 pounds; Jr.
College commitment : None
One of the Bulls’ team captains, the 6-foot-4, 290-pounder, said Dylan Clarke, his head coach, is physical, athletic, smart, and will be the leader of the Parrish offensive unit.
Mikkel Lambert
Palmetto
Vitals : 5-foot-11, 280 pounds; Sr.
College commitment : None
The 5-foot-11, 280-pound offensive lineman has been called by FlaVarsity.Rivals.com one of the top returning offensive players in Class 6A-District 11. Lambert has a roster spot at Albion College.
Grayson Martin
Riverview
Vitals : 6-foot-3, 320 pounds; Jr.
College commitment : None
Starting as a sophomore, the 6-foot-3, 320-pound offensive lineman was a key component in Ram backs rushing for more than 3,000 yards. Martin will again start for Riverview head coach Josh Smithers.
Trevor Dutting-Morrell
Braden River
Vitals : 6-foot, 273 pounds; Jr.
College commitment : None
The offensive guard started for the Pirates as a sophomore. He helped Braden River average 28 points per game and rush for a season total of 1,624.
Al Oliver
Venice
Vitals : 6-foot-5, 310 pounds; Sr.
College Offers: Jackson State, North Carolina A&T, Gardner Webb, Bryant University, and Eastern Kentucky.
A physical offensive tackle, last season while playing for Riverview, Oliver helped running backs DJ Johnson and Isiah Belt each to 1,000-yard-plus seasons. Now will be opening holes at Venice for Jamarice Wilder.
Marvin Palominos
Out-of-Door Academy
Vitals : 6-foot-3, 300 pounds; Sr.
College Offer : Mercyhurst University
Playing in 11 games last season, the 6-foot-3, 300-pounder, on the Thunder offensive line, helped ODA rush for 2,238 yards and 28 touchdowns. The owner of a 4.5 GPA has visited Bucknell and is drawing interest from Ivy League schools and has an offer from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa.
Da'Ron Parks
Cardinal Mooney
Vitals : 6-foot-5, 300 pounds; Jr.
College Offers : From 22 schools including Alabama, Florida, FSU, Ohio State, USF, UCF, and Penn State.
The junior offensive lineman comes to Cardinal Mooney by way of Hurricane High School in Hurricane, West Virginia. Last season the 8-3 Redskins rushed for 2,958 yards and scored 45 touchdowns. The four-star recruit will start at left tackle for the Cougars and protect the blind side of quarterback Devin Mignery.
Ethan Salata
Cardinal Mooney
Vitals : 6-foot-5, 310 pounds; Jr.
College commitment : None
The junior offensive lineman can play offensive guard or tackle and did his part last season in Mooney backs rushing for 3,411 yards and scoring 40 touchdowns.
Jeremy Stroh
Saint Stephen's
Vitals : 6-foot, 225 pounds; Sr.
College commitment : None
Last season at center, the 6-foot, 225-pounder registered 11 pancake blocks. At nose guard, Stroh had 51 tackles, 4.5 quarterback sacks, nine quarterback hurries, and recovered a fumble. Once again he will anchor both sides of the line for the Falcons.
Austin Varga
Saint Stephen's
Vitals : 6-foot-4, 202 pounds; Sr.
College commitment : None
The Falcons’ 6-foot-4, 202-pound offensive tackle/defensive end finished last season with four pancake blocks on offense, and 30 tackles - 13 for loss - six sacks, seven QB hurries, an interception, and a forced fumble on defense.
La'darien Williams
Palmetto
Vitals : 6-foot, 285 pounds; Sr.
College commitmen t: None
A two-year varsity starter, the offensive lineman will help anchor the Tiger line for first-year head coach Eric Sanders at center and left guard. Can squat 510 pounds.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top 15 offensive linemen in Sarasota, Manatee to watch in 2024 high school football season
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