A dozen difference makers: high school offensive linemen

By Eric Frantz May 16, 2020, 7:30am

Who is the Great Lakes Region's Top OL heading into the 2020 season?

Grafton High School offensive lineman JP Benzschawel highlights
Watch Wisconsin recruit and the state's No. 1 overall prospect in action during his junior year.

Joe Thomas, Orlando Pace, Mike Webster, Mike Munchak, Dan Dierdoff, Russ Grimm and Nick Mangold. The Great Lakes states have produced several notable offensive linemen. Below is the latest batch. Too early to tell if there are any Hall of Famers here, but the talent is undeniable.

Heading into the 2020 high school football season, these are 12 of the top offensive linemen in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. All player rankings referenced are according to 247sports.com.

Who is the best? You tell us. Vote in the poll below to support your QB. Voting closes at noon (EST) on May 30. You may vote as many times as you like.

We will release additional positional "Difference Makers" articles over the next two weeks. The pieces are a precursor to the Great Lakes Preseason Football Teams, which will be unveiled in June.
Lakota West's Tegra Tshabola is considered the country's sixth overall 2022 tackle prospect. He's committed to Ohio State.
Lakota West's Tegra Tshabola is considered the country's sixth overall 2022 tackle prospect. He's committed to Ohio State.
Photo by ScoutingOhio

GREAT LAKES REGION OFFENSIVE LINEMEN 2020



JP Benzschawel, Grafton (Wis.), 6-7, 260, 2021
Wisconsin’s No. 1 overall prospect and the country’s 16th ranked tackle prospect. Committed to Wisconsin.

Rayshaun Benny, Oak Park (Mich.), 6-5, 275, 2021
No. 6 overall prospect in Michigan and No. 20 tackle prospect nationally. Allowed one sack last year. Doubled as a defensive threat (75 tackles, five sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries). Holds 40 offers including Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, Iowa, USC, Michigan, Notre Dame,  Georgia and Wisconsin.

Joe Brunner, Whitefish Bay (Wis.), 6-5, 265, 2022
Wisconsin’s No. 1 overall 2022 prospect and the country’s fifth ranked tackle prospect. Holds eight offers including Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Penn State, Northwestern and Iowa.

Ben Christman, Revere (Richfield, Ohio), 6-6, 299, 2021
Ohio State commit is Ohio’s No. 5 overall recruit and the country’s No. 15 tackle prospect. First team OPSWA D-III All-Ohio. Added 52 tackles and seven tackles-for-loss on defense. Holds 22 offers, including Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, Pitt and Florida.

David Davidkov, New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.), 6-6, 295, 2021
Iowa commit is Illinois’ No. 2 overall prospect and the No. 17 tackle prospect nationwide. Holds 18 offers including Ohio State, Michigan, LSU, Oregon, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State.

Garrett Dellinger, Clarkston (Mich.), 6-6, 280, 2021
No. 5 overall prospect in Michigan and No. 12 tackle prospect nationally. Holds 16 offers including Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State. AP All-Michigan.



Giovanni El-Hadi, Stevenson (Livonia, Mich.), 6-5, 285, 2021
No. 4 overall prospect in Michigan and No. 9 tackle prospect nationally. Committed to Michigan.

Blake Fisher, Avon (Ind.), 6-5.5, 336, 2021
Notre Dame recruit is Indiana’s No. 1 overall prospect and the No. 8 tackle prospect nationally. Holds 32 offers including Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, LSU, Michigan, Iowa, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn state and Wisconsin.

Riley Mahlman, Lakeville South (Lakeville, Minn.), 6-7, 270, 2021
Wisconsin commit is Minnesota’s No. 1 overall prospect and the 19th ranked tackle prospect nationally. Picked the Badgers over Ohio State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Minnesota, Michigan State and Iowa.

Nolan Rucci, Warwick (Lititz, Pa.), 6-8, 289, 2021
Pennsylvania’s No. 1 overall prospect and the nation’s No. 1 tackle and No. 14 overall prospect. Holds 29 offers including Clemson, Notre Dame, Penn State, Wisconsin, Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Texas, Stanford and Michigan. Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 5A All-State.

Rocco Spindler, Clarkston (Mich.), 6-4.5, 295, 2021
No. 2 guard prospect nationally and No. 3 overall prospect in Michigan. Two-way starter since freshman season. Holds 18 offers including Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Alabama, LSU and Wisconsin.

Tegra Tshabola, Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio), 6-6, 320, 2022
Ohio’s No. 2 overall 2022 prospect and the country’s sixth ranked tackle prospect. Ohio State commit. Holds 13 offers including Michigan, Penn State, USC, Oklahoma and LSU.