20 best high school OL/DL in the nation entering the 2024 football season

Expect these 20 linemen to make headlines throughout the 2024 high school football season

Bishop Gorman (Nevada) High School lineman Seuseu Alofaituli is committed to play college football for Miami (Florida). / Jann Hendry, SBLive

Georgia kicked off the high school football season last week, and several more states get started this week.

As the high school football season ramps up across the country, SBLive/SI has been featuring players expected to be the best of the best in the nation this season.

We started with the best defensive backs in the nation, followed by the best quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends and running backs, and now it's the top linemen's turn.

Here are the 20 best high school offensive and defensive linemen in the country heading into the 2024 season.

Seuseu Alofaituli, sr., Bishop Gorman (Nevada) 

Alofaituli is a compact interior offensive lineman who possesses an advanced football IQ for his age. The Miami commit is a member of a stacked Bishop Gorman front that includes fellow four-star recruits Alai Kalaniuvalu and Douglas Utu.

Kevin Brown, jr., Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) 

One of the nation’s top prospects for the Class of 2026, Brown is a two-way athletic freak for Harrisburg. He recorded 11.5 sacks last season while starring on the offensive line with more than 100 pancake blocks. Brown committed to Penn State at the end of July. 

Isaiah Campbell, sr., Southern Durham (North Carolina) 

A Clemson commit, Campbell is capable of playing anywhere on the defensive line for Southern Durham. He piled up 110 total tackles (27 for loss), 16 sacks and two forced fumbles as a junior. 

Jackson Cantwell, jr., Nixa (Missouri) 

Nixa Eagles lineman Jackson Cantwell holds back a Joplin defender during the high school football championship game in 2023. / Nathan Papes/Springfield News-Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK

The No. 1 Class of 2026 offensive lineman in the 247Sports composite rankings, Cantwell notched 91 pancake blocks as a sophomore while allowing zero sacks. He is also a track standout who received Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year honors last season after claiming state titles in the shot put and discus. Cantwell holds personal records of 74 feet, 9.75 inches and 205-4, respectively, in the throwing events. 

Jourdin Crawford, sr., A.H. Parker (Alabama)

A.H. Parker High School (Alabama) lineman Jourdin Crawford works out using a restrictive band on his legs in 2022. / Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK

Parker is a classic defensive tackle at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds who also can also get after the passer. The Auburn commit tallied 67 total tackles and 17 sacks last fall while also scoring three touchdowns on offense as a bowling ball of a fullback. 

Tony Cumberland, jr., Willamette (Oregon)

Tony Cumberland practices with Desert Mountain High School football teammates in 2023. He transferred to Willamette (Oregon). / Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

A starter since his freshman year at Desert Mountain High School in Arizona, Cumberland had 25 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in his first two seasons of high school football. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound offseason transfer to Willamette committed to Oregon last year and is part of the Ducks' No. 1-ranked recruiting Class of 2026.

Aaron Dunn, sr., Spanish Fork (Utah) 

Dunn is a standout offensive tackle who also gets some run on the defensive line for Spanish Fork. The 6-foot-8, 290-pounder is an unstoppable basketball force who averaged 17.2 points per game last season. He committed to Utah in August. 

Iose Epenesa, sr., Edwardsville (Illinois)

Edwardsville (Illinois) High School DE/DL Iose Epenesa committed to Iowa in August 2024. / Photo by Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports

Epenesa, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound five-star Iowa commit who can play defensive end or tackle, had 46 total tackles (10 for loss), seven sacks and three forced fumbles as a junior. His 15 career sacks are tied for the Edwardsville program record with his older brother, A.J., who plays for the Buffalo Bills. 

Avery Gach, sr., Groves (Michigan) 

Birmingham Groves junior Avery Gach announced his commitment to Michigan football in May 2024 at the high school. / Brandon Folsom/Hometown Life / USA TODAY NETWORK

Gach earned a starting spot at right tackle as a freshman at Groves and has been a varsity mainstay ever since. The ferocious Michigan commit recorded 90 pancake blocks without allowing a sack last fall. 

Elijah Griffin, sr., Savannah Christian (Georgia)

Savannah Christian (Georgia) lineman Elijah Griffin is considering offers from Georgia, Miami and USC. / Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News / USA TODAY NETWORK

Griffin tallied 97 total tackles (31 for loss) and 17.5 sacks as a junior en route to Georgia Class 3A lineman of the year honors. His dominant interior play helped lead Savannah Christian to the state finals. A five-star prospect, Griffin’s numerous offers include Georgia, Miami and USC. 

Ty Haywood, sr., Ryan (Texas)

A five-star Alabama commit, Haywood is a prototypical offensive tackle prospect at 6-foot-6 and 295 pounds. He is an athletic lineman who also competes in track for Ryan. 

Immanuel Iheanacho, jr., Georgetown Prep (Maryland)

Iheanacho, another five-star prospect, is a massive offensive tackle at 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds. He was a dominant interior force as a sophomore for a Georgetown Prep team that finished 8-2 overall. 

Josh Petty, sr., Fellowship Christian (Georgia)

A small-school star in Georgia, Petty starts both ways for Fellowship Christian. The five-star recruit is also a standout wrestler who won the 285-pound Class 2A state title as a sophomore while placing second last year. He is committed to Georgia Tech. 

Maxwell Riley, jr., Avon Lake (Ohio)

Riley is an imposing two-way lineman whose early offers include Alabama, Michigan and Ohio State. Along with his football talents, Riley is also a standout track and field thrower who owns a personal shot put record of 56-4.  

David Sanders Jr., sr., Providence Day School (North Carolina)

Just how dominant is Sanders Jr.? He was voted North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior after tearing it up on both sides of the ball. The five-star prospect was a key piece in the trenches as Providence Day captured the Division I state title.

Logan Schram, sr., Boerne (Texas)

Schram did not allow a single sack during his first three seasons at the varsity level. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive tackle is committed to TCU.  

Jahkeem Stewart, jr., St. Augustine (Louisiana)

The 6-foot-6, 280-pound Stewart can play anywhere on the defensive line for St. Augustine. He piled up 85 total tackles (33 for loss) and 20 sacks as a sophomore. The five-star prospect’s numerous early offers include Alabama and LSU. 

Champ Taulealea, sr., Valley Christian (California)

Taulealea is an overwhelming force in the run game at 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds. The Washington commit could also see some time on the defensive line as a senior. 

Solomon Thomas, sr., Raines (Florida)

Raines (Florida) High School offensive lineman Solomon Thomas listens to questions during media day on Aug. 1, 2024. / Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Thomas could play offensive guard or tackle at the next level. A five-star Florida State commit, Thomas won the Class 2A state discus title as a sophomore (168-5) while placing second last spring. 

Jalen Wiggins, sr., Rickards (Florida) 

Florida State football hosted Rickards High School DL Jalen Wiggins on Junior Day in January 2024, but Wiggins chose Florida. / Ehsan Kassim/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wiggins specializes in getting after the passer. The Florida commit tallied 97 total tackles (31 for loss), 37 quarterback hurries, 16 sacks and two forced fumbles a season ago. 

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports