Top 5 Freshman Offensive Linemen

Offensive linemen: try winning a championship without them.

We spend a lot of time talking about the top skill positions and understandably so. But championships are won on the line of scrimmage, especially in the SEC.

Who will help lead the SEC teams of the future? See below.

Here are the top five freshman offensive linemen in the SEC.

1. D.J. Humphries – Florida

He was considered by many analysts to be the nation’s top offensive tackle in the 2012 class. Humphries had no trouble earning the No. 1 spot on this list. He enrolled in January and showed Florida’s coaches he should be ready to help this fall. Florida has depth questions, which will allow Humphries to join the rotation sooner rather than later. Humphries (6-6, 280) needs to add weight, but most freshmen do.

2. John Theus – Georgia

He’ll challenge for a starting position this fall. If Kolton Houston isn’t available to start at right tackle, expect Theus to grab that spot. Theus (6-6, 292) looks SEC ready, although he still has room to add weight and knowledge of Georgia’s offensive system. Scout.com ranked Theus the top prospect in the state of Florida in 2012. Georgia was certainly proud of its in-state “Dream Team” in 2011, but it will happily take the best from Florida.

3. Avery Young – Auburn

There’s been a buzz around Young as fall camp approaches. The Tigers have several young offensive linemen, which means the competition will be tough. But Young will have a talent advantage over most players in the group. Young will have a chance to help Auburn’s right side of the offensive line early this season. The group might have its issues this year, but the future looks bright. And Young will be a part of it.

4. Evan Boehm – Missouri

It might not be this year, but expect Boehm to be a central figure in the middle of Missouri’s offensive line for the next few years. Boehm (6-3, 290) has received praise from his veteran teammates for his strength and work during the offseason. Boehm, who considered switching to Auburn close to signing day, was a critical part of Missouri’s 2012 class as the Tigers prepare for life in the SEC. They’ll need big, tough players, and Boehm fits that profile.

5. Jessamen Dunker – Florida

Like Humphries, Dunker is expected to add depth to the Gators’ offensive line this fall. He too enrolled early at Florida and participated in spring drills. The extra work should pay off. Dunker (6-4, 320) has great size and benefited from an extra spring in Florida’s weight program. It should be a fun battle between Dunker and Humphries to see who’s the best lineman from this class. Either way, the Gators’ future looks bright.

Be sure to keep up with recruiting from across the SEC on MrSEC.com’s Recruiting Page.