Vote: Who is the top offensive lineman in Minnesota high school football?

Read through the nominees and vote for who is the best entering the 2023 season

Vote: Who is the top running back in Minnesota high school football?

Vote: Who is the top quarterback in Minnesota high school football?

Vote: Who is the top pass catcher in Minnesota high school football?

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Let’s take a closer look at some of the top returning offensive lineman in high school football for the 2023 season in Minnesota.

Plenty of worthy names are on this list, so be sure to read through the nominees and vote in our poll for who you think will be the top returning offensive lineman for the upcoming season.

Voting will close on August 27 at 11:59 p.m.

Editor’s note: Our corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. This poll is specifically for fans to vote on the players that have been nominated and in no way discredits any other player who may not be mentioned in our poll.

If you are a coach and you'd like to add a nominee before the poll closes, please email butler@scorebooklive.com.

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Emerson Mandell, senior, Irondale

Mandell is the state’s top 2024 offensive lineman and a 3-star recruit, according to 247Sports. After helping the Knights to a 6-4 record last season, Mandell’s recruiting picked. 

The 6-foot-5, 295-pound lineman holds offers from several Big Ten programs, including Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin — which he is currently committed to.

Kene Anene, senior, East Ridge

Anene, an interior offensive lineman and the 15th best recruit in the state, helped guide an Raptors offense which averaged 265 pass yards and 97 rush yards last season. Anene, a 3-star, who stands at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, committed to Kansas in mid-June.

Photo by Earl Ebensteiner

Brycen Lotz, senior, Braham

Lotz is another 3-star offensive lineman, and a top-20 recruit in the state’s 2024 class. Lotz committed to Wyoming in late-June after an all-district junior season. 

He also held offers from Army, Central Michigan, North Dakota State and Northern Illinois, among others. 

Lotz was an integral part of an offensive line that helped carry the Bombers to the Section 7A Semifinal.

Bode Roberts, senior, New York Mills

Roberts is a returning all-district player who plays two ways. His ability, on both lines, helped guide Matt Radniecki’s program to a 8-2 year. At 6-foot, 210 pounds, Roberts plays defensive end on defense — where teams “run away from him” — and guard on offense. In addition, he is an exceptional long snapper.

Logan Schleeter, senior, Orono

A two-way starter for the past two seasons — including as a sophomore during Orono’s state semi-final run — Schleeter plays along the defensive line and at offensive tackle. 

Standing at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, the lineman, who was a 2022 all-district player, has helped pave the way for impressive Orono offenses in recent years.

Remington Gau, senior, Rochester Mayo

Last year, during Gau’s first varsity season with coach Donald Holcomb’s program, he made “huge strides” leading the line as well as developing this offseason. An offensive guard and defensive end, he holds an offer from Dordt University. 

He has impressive weight room numbers including a 485-pound squat, 260-pound clean and 280-pound bench. “[He’s] going to have a huge senior season,” Holcomb said.

Jacob Liimatainen, senior, Barnum

In 2023, Liimatainen will be “anchoring” the Bombers’ offensive line for the third year in a row. Last season, he started at left tackle for an offense that totaled 1,400 yards through the air and another 2,500 on the ground. 

“Jake is a naturally athletic big man with good feet,” coach Robert Minkkinen said. “He has put in a ton of time in the weight room towards becoming stronger and more explosive. This past year, as a junior, Jake has developed an edge up front and finished a ton of blocks every game.”

Cole Laitinen, senior, Barnum

Laitinen is the “heartline” of Barnum, said coach Minkkinen. “He is a hard worker, tough-nosed, and a complete team-first player for us. He takes coaching very well and always wants to do whatever he can to help the team win.” 

In addition to acting as a standout fullback, Laitinen starts at inside linebacker, where he totaled 77 tackles, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and an interception last season. 

He’s developed into “a downhill linebacker who embraces contact on defense,” Minkkinen said.

Justin Jacobson, senior, Pelican Rapids

Jacobson is a two-way, two-year starter as well as a two-time all-district player who has made a major impact in both trenches for the Vikings. 

Previously, he was his district’s offensive lineman of the year, but has also made his mark on defense in his career with 64 tackles, 42 assisted tackles, 30 tackles for loss, three sacks, three forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown. 

“He finishes through blocks relentlessly and makes a ton of plays in the backfield,” Beachy said. “He is a do-it-all athlete with the size and strength to compete at the NSIC level.” 

Jacobson, however, has chosen to throw shot put and discus at Northern State next season after a third place finish in the Class A discus this past spring.

Owen Krueger, junior, Blooming Prairie

An all-district player last season, Krueger is a “strong, athletic” offensive lineman who plays with “great leverage” and “controlled nastiness,” according to coach Chad Gimbel. 

Krueger plays guard on both sides of the ball and has been a leader for the offensive line even as a sophomore. 

“He’s a weight room junky,” Gimbel said. “[He] spends endless hours working to improve his skills.”

Jonah Blackman, senior, Big Lake

Blackman plays on both the offensive and defensive lines for coach Nick Shriver’s program. Entering his final year, he’s looking to “build on an impressive career,” the coach said. 

A three-year starter, Blackman led the team in tackles last season. Shriver went on to call him, “a vocal leader, who is very involved with the community.”

Sam Stuckmayer, senior, Rockford

Stuckmayer has been starting at offensive tackle for Daniel Houghton’s program since he was a sophomore. The 6-foot-4. 215-pound tackle “moves well,” Houghton said, also calling him a hard worker.

Stuckmayer was his team’s Offensive Lineman of the Year and a 2022 all-district first team member.

Jake Allex, junior, Marshall

After starting as a sophomore for the 9-1 Tigers, Allex has given coach Terry Bahlmann the impression that he’s got a high ceiling as a player and prospect. 

Bahlmann said the 6-foot-4, 275-pounder “has a chance to be our next Division I lineman.”

Tait Anderberg, senior, Lakeville North

Lakeville North’s Anderberg is a monstrous lineman at 6-foot-7, 300 pounds. Anderberg’s frame has propelled into one of the state’s most imposing offensive linemen and a standout for multiple seasons now.

Photo by Jeff Lawler

Jaydon Ellis, senior, Burnsville

Ellis, at 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, brings sheer, brute strength up front for the Blaze. On defense, he plugs up holes as the nose tackle for coach Vince Varpness. 

On offense, he brings a similar level of strength. Force is the defining word that Varpness uses when talking about Ellis.

Ethan Martinez, senior, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton

Martinez is somewhat undersized for a left tackle at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds. But, with an extensive wrestling background, he’s been up to this challenge physically. 

“He plays really well off blocks and is able to move when on offense extremely well,” coach Jason Kainz said. “He is a big, athletic kid.”

Andrew Trout, sophomore, Rocori

Trout is a solid 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds as a sophomore for a team that made it to the Class 4A semifinal last season. 

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