Knowledgeable football aficionados know that the big men up front often determine the winners from the losers. Offensive line protects and drives while the defensive line disrupts and prevents. The big eaters are at times undervalued but cannot be underappreciated. Skill positions (Quarterback, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends) cannot show what they can do if they are not protected from the monsters from the line and having some monsters of your own works in your favor.
On the high school level, the trench monsters are getting bigger and more athletic than ever before. Florida is not generally known nationally to produce elite offensive and defensive linemen, but the state still has some of the best prep big men in the country.
What team has the best collection of talent? This one is really difficult to determine but here are the most dominant offensive and defensive linemen in the sunshine state.
Teams With Two Elite Linemen Talents
American Heritage (Plantation) Patriots 5A
Khristopher Love, 2020 OL (USF commit, three-star, 6’3” 315 pounds)
Richard Thomas, 2020 DE (four-star, 6’2” 240 pounds)
Armwood (Seffner) Hawks 7A
Clyde Pinder, 2020 DT (North Carolina commit, three-star 6’1” 303 pounds)
Desmond Watson 2021 DT (four-star 6’4” 315 pounds)
Berkely Prep (Tampa) Barracudas 3A
Jaylen Harrell, 2020 DE (four-star 6’4” 235 pounds)
Zach Perkins, 2020 OT (three-star 6’4” 321 pounds)
Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) Chiefs 4A
Terry Mareus, 2020 DT (three-star 6’1” 290 pounds)
Gerald Mincey, 2020 OT (three-star 6’5” 324 pounds)
Chamberlain (Tampa) Chiefs 5A
Cesar Reyes, 2020 OT (three-star 6’5” 287 pounds)
Johnny Walker, 2020 DE (three-star 6’3” 204 pounds)
Cocoa Tigers 4A
Richard Leonard, 2020 OG (Florida commit, three-star 6’2” 320 pounds)
Marquise Freeman, 2020 DE (three-star 6’3” 185 pounds)
Deerfield Beach Bucks 8A
Woody Jean, (Arizona commit, three-star, 6’4” 287 pounds)
Choute Kervins, (UCF commit, three-star, 6’3” 251 pounds)
Gulliver (Miami) Raiders 4A
Donnell Harris, 2020 DE (four-star 6’4” 210 pounds)
Westley Neal 2020 DT (three-star 6’1” 317 pounds)
McArthur (Hollywood) Mustangs 7A
Javon Alexander, 2020 DL (6’3″ 290 pounds)
Christina Aiello, 2020 OL (6’4″ 300 pounds)
Miami Booker T. Washington Tornadoes 4A
Tramel Logan 2020 DE (three-star 6’3” 230 pounds)
Anthony Hundley 2021 DT (three-star 6’1” 253 pounds)
Miami Central Rockets 6A
Trevon Allen 2020 DT (three-star 6’0” 239 pounds)
Laurence Seymour 2021 OL (Miami commit, four-star 6’2” 293 pounds)
Miami Christian 2A
Michael Noel 2020 OL (6’3″ 290 pounds)
Naim McMillan 2021 DE (6’1″ 200 pounds)
Miami Norland Vikings 6A
Kendrick Wilson, 2020 DE (UCF commit, three-star 6’5” 235 pounds)
Issaiah Walker, 2020 OL (four-star 6’4” 309 pounds)
Miami Palmetto Panthers 8A
Savion Collins, 2021 DT (Miami commit, four-star 6’4” 290 pounds)
Leonard Taylor, 2021 DT (four-star, 6’4” 255 pounds)
Miami Southridge Spartans 6A
Daniel Lyons, 2022 DE (four-star 6’4” 234 pounds)
Dante Anderson 2022 DE (four-star 6’3” 197 pounds)
Oakleaf (Orange Park) Knights 8A
Chantz Williams, 2020 DE (Miami commit, four-star 6’4” 238 pounds)
Jalen Rivers Oakleaf, 2020 OL (Miami commit, four-star 6’6” 331 pounds)
Palm Beach Gardens Gators 8A
Timothy Brown, 2020 DT (three-star 6’3” 260 pounds)
Decorri Brown, 2020 DT (three-star 6’2” 285 pounds)
Trinity Catholic Ocala Celtics 3A
Miller Merriweather-Lewis, 2020 OG (USF commit, three-star 6’3” 298 pounds)
Caleb Johnson, 2021 OT (three-star 6’7” 295 pounds)
University School (Davie) Sharks 4A
Marcus Tate, 2021 OL (four-star 6’5″ 326 pounds)
David Espino Jr, 2022 OL (6’2″ 275 pounds)
Vanguard (Ocala) 5A
Antonio Smith, 2020 OT (Miami commit, three-star 6’2” 272 pounds)
Bryce Langston, 2021 DE (four-star 6’3” 221 pounds)
Best Offensive And Defensive Lineman Units
IMG Academy (Bradenton) (Independent)
Although the Ascenders do not compete for a state championship, IMG is always worth mentioning when it comes to a national championship and the big boys up front are a big reason why. Greg Crippen OG 2021 (Notre Dame commit, four-star 6’4” 285 pounds), Weston Franklin 2021 OG (four-star 6’4” 308 pounds), George Jackson 2021 OT (Florida commit, three-star 6’4” 350 pounds) and Alex Atcavage 2020 OT (Florida State commit, three-star 6’5” 285 pounds) are not just D-1 but an elite power five offensive linemen. Perhaps the best athlete of the lineman is on the defensive side with Warren Brinson (Georgia commit, four-star 6’5” 300 pounds) causing disruption.
Monsignor Pace (Miami) 4A
Pace is working their way back to elite status and they are starting the right way with the guys upfront. The #1 player in the country of the 2022 class Shemar Stewart DE (four-star 6’6” 236 pounds) is a freakish athlete that will only get better.
Shykeim Gloster 2020 DE (three-star, 6’3” 215 pounds) Kenley-Mary Asse 2020 OL (three-star 6’3” 293 pounds) add veteran leadership on both sides of the ball. Watch for this team to upset some favorites this year.
Clearwater Academy International (Independent)
This independent program is going into its third year of existence and is building monsters on the line. Akeem Mesidor 2020 DE (three-star 6’3” 250 pounds) and Geri Theodore 2020 DE (three-star 6’4” 225 pounds) will come off the edge hard looking to cause havoc.
JeJuan Sparks 2020 DT (Indiana commit, three-star 6’2” 327 pounds) clogs up the middle making life difficult for opponents to get anything going. CAI travels to Atlantic (Delray) and 1A state champion Madison County this season.
Miami Columbus 8A
Elijah Roberts DE 2020 (Miami commit, four-star 6’3” 267 pounds) will be dangerous all year with Jabari Ishmale DE 2021 (four-star 6’5” 221 pounds) coming off the edge in three or four-point stances. Both are versatile athletes that continue to get better with every snap.
Andre Lamas 2020 OG (FAU commit three-star 6’3” 270 pounds) is solid in the middle of that O-Line and can play either side with confidence.
Pahokee 1A
What both Latarie Kinsler 2020 DE (three-star, 6’3” 204 pounds) and Tamarick Best 2020 DE (three-star 6’1” 225 pounds) may lack in girth, they make up with their quickness. If they can add some muscle to their frames, both will easily add their fourth star.
Watch Latarie Kinsler Jr. @LK2Jr from Pahokee with the sweet spin move here at the @TheOpening @BRYANCRAWFORDS2 @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/P77gZUG0xR
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) February 18, 2019
Jaylon Williams 2020 DT (three-star 6’3” 290 pounds) is the perfect run-stopper to clog the middle while Kinsler and Best fly on the outside.
South Dade (Homestead) 8A
Jonathan Denis 2020 OG (Oregon commit, four-star 6’3” 279 pounds) is one of the modern-day athletic guards that can move and pass protect at a high level.
Jose Mirabal 2020 OG (FIU commit, three-star 6’5” 285 pounds) also has great feet and mauls his opponents. Terrell Battle 2020 DE (three-star 6’3” 250 pounds) gives the Buccaneers a strong outside rush to keep quarterbacks uneasy.
Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) 3A
Besides our last team on this list, the Lions have multiple elite talents on both sides of the football. Joseph Habinowski 2020 OT (Ohio Commit, 6’4” 306 pounds), Jeremiah Mawall 2020 OG (three-star 6’5” 300 pounds) and Jai’Mari Herbert 2020 OG (three-star 6’2” 263 pounds) have ideal size as seniors in high school and will be key for the Chaminade’s running game.
The combination of size and speed from Willie Moise, 2020 DT (Miami commit, four-star 6’3” 291 pounds) and Claude Larkins 2020 DE (Minnesota commit, 6’4” 230 pounds) on the defensive end will be a major problem for any team to handle.
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) 7A
The elite offensive and defensive lines for the Raiders could likely compete at a small college level. On the offensive line the most talented of the trio of Jamari Sylvester 2020 OT (FIU commit three-star 6’4” 298 pounds), Marlon Martinez 2020 OT (LSU commit 6’5” 287 pounds) and Marcus Dumervil 2020 OT (four-star 6’5” 300 pounds) is arguably Dumervil. The more exciting part of his game is his play as a defensive tackle. His film impresses viewers with his sheer power as he leaves passers or pass rushers on their back often. Dumervil moves with surprising speed with his size and has D-1 programs salivating.
Four ⭐️ offensive tackle @marcus_dumervil of @STA_Football talks recruiting and praises his O-Line which is arguably the best in the state at HS Media day presented by @MiamiDolphins. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/bqJFrzzXpu
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) August 3, 2019
The defensive line…deeper than the Raiders’ offensive line which is saying something. The stacked line consists of Jamari Maybin 2020 DE (three-star 6’1” 260 pounds), Bobby Washington 2020 DT (FIU commit, three-star 5’9” 298 pounds), Riyad Wilmot 2020 DE (three-star 6’3” 248 pounds) and the massive Boaz St. Vil 2021 DT (three-star 6’2” 341 pounds)
The most athletic, Tyreak Sapp 2021 DE (Florida commit, four-star 6’3” 255 pounds) uses his strong frame to create leverage at the point of attack. He is able to fend off blockers and make tackles with ease. Sapp also has the quickness to get to the ball faster than most of his teammates. Some of the reasons why St. Thomas Aquinas will be contending for state and national championships once again.
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