MitchMash: The linemen are stealing the show at The Opening

BEAVERTON, Ore. — They don't even receive stepchild treatment, LaCharles Bentley said.

"It's more like red-headed step children," Bentley said. "They're going to treat you different and look at you different, but it's just part of the process."

The former center for the Cleveland Browns and spirited coach and leader of the offensive line in Nike's The Opening said it's one of his life ambitions to make sure linemen — both offensive and defensive — get a little more media love.

But, quite honestly, this Class of 2014 crop of linemen has more than earned the affection. And respect. And high rating.



According to 247sports.com, four of the top five recruits overall in the country are linemen, including No. 1 Da'Shawn Hand, a 6-foot-4, 254-pound defensive end from Woodbridge (Va.).

Hand and the rest of the beefy boys were showcased on the second day of The Opening on Tuesday and unlike perhaps other years, they were swarmed by a large contingent of media who were hanging on their every word once play wrapped up.

The Opening brings together 161 of the top incoming seniors in one of the nation's top combines that is nationally televised and widely followed.

"Everyone here is going to college, that's all that matters," Hand said. "It doesn't matter what position you play."

Said Bentley: "They might not get all the love of the quarterbacks and running backs, but you earn your respect in how you play. I always tell these guys, regardless if (reporters) don't want to talk to you now, you go out and put somebody's head in the dirt, they're going to want to talk to you eventually."

And there was plenty of big boys — including behemoth 6-5, 350-pound tackle Damien Mama of St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) — knocking all sorts of body parts in all sorts of directions on Tuesday.



An overall winner will be crowned at the Lineman's Championship Wednesday at 2 p.m., Oregon time.

Mama and 6-6, 320-pound tackle Cameron Robinson, the nation's No. 5 recruit from West Monroe (La.), are two of the offensive linemen's best representatives, while Hand, Lorenzo Carter of Norcross (Ga.) and Andrew Brown of Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) figured to fight it out on the defensive end.

Carter is No. 3 and Brown No. 4 in the country.

"None of it really bothers me," Mama said of the lack of notoriety. "We're known as the hidden heroes of the game. We don't get the glory and the sun. I leave it to (the reporters). We enjoy (the game) anyways."

Brown, who just committed to Virginia last week, echoed a similar sentiment.

"Hey, I'm just feeling great because I'm playing against the top linemen in the country," he said. "I feel blessed to even be here in Oregon. I'm just taking it one step at a time and enjoying myself."



Thomas Holley, an uncommitted four-star 6-4, 300-pound defensive tackle from Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.), said he's used to the "skill players" getting the notoriety. Like Brown, he's just glad to be in Oregon.

"I'm here against the greatest high school players in the country so if I don't get a little recognition some games that's fine. Because at the end of the day I know what kind of job I do and I know where I'm going," he said.

Actually, Holley doesn't know yet what college he'll be going to — he has more than 20 offers including Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson and Florida State. But it's very clear that his very clear head, sound backbone and strong, quick frame, will take him somewhere upward.

He's secure in his ability and doesn't need the extra ink. Bentley said all successful linemen carry that knowingness.

"I stay humble, so if that's what (reporters) want to do and focus on the quarterback for making the big play even though the offensive linemen held the defensive line and blitzing linebacker, that's their business," Holley said. "But at the end of the day, what we do in the trenches is what we do. We help win games."

Such verbiage and outlook is music to Bentley's ears. 



He called the offensive linemen collectively at The Opening one of the best groups he's seen at the high school level. Bentley was especially impressed with Robinson and Mama.

"He is the silent assassin," Bentley said of Robinson. "I don't know what sort of level he played against before but after seeing what he does against this competition, he's the type of kid who is a potential (NFL) first-round pick. He has that kind of potential.

"Outside of his physical presence, his footwork, his core strength and athleticism, he's just tough. When you have tough and you have fight and that kind of talent, the sky is the limit."

Bentley said Mama, a right tackle, "is the kid you want on your football team. Collegiately, he could start today. You could plug him in and go. Once he understands systems he is going to play at a very high level."

That said, Bentley said, Mama, who weighs closer to 375, is carrying around too much weight. "It's very exciting what he can do considering how much girth he is carrying around. How good can he be if he's down 30 pounds? He has tremendous upside."

Other offensive linemen Bentley has been impressed with are centers Brian Allen of Hinsdale Central (Ill.) and Jacob Bragg of Nacogdoches (Texas), along with guards Demetrius Knox of All Saints Episcopal (Tyler, Texas) and Viane Talamaivao of Centennial (Corona, Calif.).



The class of defensive linemen, led by Hand, Carter and Brown, is as good as recruiters have seen in years.

When the offensive and defensive stalwarts face off Wednesday, you can bet it will draw plenty of attention.

"When you have the best high school players in the nation you want to set your mark and show that you can compete with them," Robinson said. "You just want to compete."

And not be treated like red-headed stepchildren.

See 247sports.com's shakedown of the offensive linemen and defensive lineman