Davidson Academy’s Obinna Eze
Franklin’s Max Wray
Oakland’s Elijah Dobbins (right)
Centennial’s Eli Katina
Ravenwood’s Conner Patrick Leitten (60) helped lead the Raptors to a Class 6A state title in 2016.
With the start of high school football just over two months away, here’s a look at some of the top returning Midstate offensive lineman for the upcoming 2016 season, as ranked by The Tennessean’s Michael Murphy.
Football
Classes listed are for the 2016 season:
10. Spencer Norrod
Monterey, senior
Hgt.: 6-3 Wgt.: 295
Position: Tackle
Why chosen: Norrod, a 2015 All-State selection, made his impact felt on both sides of the ball last fall, garnering 5-1A Offensive Lineman of the Year for the region runner-up Wildcats.
9. Rooke Young
CPA, senior
Hgt.: 6-2 Wgt.: 255
Position: Center
Why chosen: Young started all 15 games at center a season ago, posting 32 pancake blocks with a 96 percent grade while helping lead the Class 3A runner-up Lions to a 13-2 record and a third consecutive BlueCross Bowl appearance.
8. Daly Cull
Hendersonville, senior
Hgt.: 6-1 Wgt.: 275
Why chosen: Cull, a 2015 All-Region 6-5A selection, helped pave the way up front for the Commandos’ wing-T rushing attack, which averaged 245.3 yards per contest with 43 touchdowns.
7. D.J. Delfendahl
Mt. Juliet, senior
Hgt.: 6-5 Wgt.: 270
Position: Tackle
Why chosen: Delfendahl, a 2015 All-Region 6-3A selection for the Golden Bears, has received scholarship offers from seven Division I programs, including MTSU, Austin Peay, Ball State, Brown, Columbia, Eastern Kentucky and Georgia State.
6. Eli Katina
Centennial, senior
Hgt.: 6-2 Wgt.: 275
Position: Guard
Why chosen: Katina, a 2015 All-Midstate selection who has been offered by Tennessee Tech, anchored a Cougars offensive front that helped produce 3,793 yards and 36 touchdowns en route to the school’s first-ever state semifinal appearance.
5. Elijah Dobbins
Oakland, senior
Hgt.: 6-4 Wgt.: 270
Why chosen: Dobbins, a 2015 All-Region 2-6A selection with offers from a handful of FCS schools, helped lead a powerful Patriots offense that produced 4,704 yards and 55 touchdowns en route to a Class 6A semifinal appearance.
4. Caden Williams
Franklin, senior
Hgt.: 6-5 Wgt.: 270
Position: Tackle
Why chosen: Williams, a two-star prospect and 2015 All-Midstate selection, helped lead the way up front for a potent Franklin running game that racked up 2,429 yards (221.7 per game) and 22 touchdowns last season.
3. Patrick Leitten
Ravenwood, senior
Hgt.: 6-8 Wgt.: 247
Position: Tackle
Why chosen: Leitten, a three-star prospect with scholarship offers from Vanderbilt, MTSU, Memphis and Wake Forest among others, will be one of the few returning starters for the reigning Class 6A champion Raptors.
2. Obinna Eze
Davidson Academy, senior
Hgt.: 6-6 Wgt.: 277
Position: Tackle
Why chosen: Despite never playing a single down at the varsity level, Eze, a four-star prospect and native of Nigeria, has received scholarship offers from more than 15 Division I schools, including the entire Southeastern Conference.
1. Max Wray
Franklin, junior
Hgt.: 6-6 Wgt.: 265
Position: Tackle
Why chosen: Wray, a four-star Georgia commitment, helped lead the way up front for a powerful Franklin running game that racked up 2,429 yards (221.7 per game) and 22 touchdowns last season.
Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.