Here are Cincinnati's best offensive linemen in high school football ahead of 2025 season

With the start of another high school football season around the corner, The Enquirer is ranking the best players in Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. 

While they typically don’t receive the headlines as skilled position players, offensive linemen are vital to any offense, creating holes for running backs to race downfield and blocking dangerous defensive linemen to protect the quarterback in the passing game. 

Here are the best 10 area offensive linemen to watch across the area gridiron this fall, listed alphabetically. 

At the end of this story, remember to vote for the best offensive lineman in the city ahead of the season. 

Where’s🏡???
FOREVER HUMBLE 🦍 #blessed#agtgpic.twitter.com/Zd5RQu2yfN

— Lual Aleu (@LualAleu2027) June 14, 2025

Lual Allen, Winton Woods

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive tackle is ranked by 247Sports as a three-star recruit and the No. 7 player in Ohio for the Class of 2027.

Lual has plenty of college suitors over a busy summer and currently has 15 offers, including from Florida, UC, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, West Virginia and Pittsburgh.

Grant Hester, St. Xavier

Hester, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound tackle and guard, was a first-team All-Greater Catholic League-South selection last season.

Daniel Vollmer, candidate for #AngryRuns 😤😤😤

(Nice blocks by Grant Hester & Chase Herbstreit too 😳) pic.twitter.com/R3RBkGtCYu

— Bomber Football (@StXFB) September 14, 2024

Hester has picked up a few Division I offers this offseason.

Dakin Johnson, Clinton-Massie

Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound prospect, is the latest bruising offensive lineman carving out holes in Clinton-Massie's run-heavy scheme.

All the glory to God. I am grateful to announce that I am 100% Committed to Taylor University. Thank you @Coach_Mingo and the coaching staff at Taylor for the offer and having faith in me. Thank you to my mom, coaches, friends, and teammates. @ClintonMassieAD
✝️GO TROJANS! #EMATpic.twitter.com/6vmECx0Foq

— Dakin Johnson 2026 OL (@Dakin_Johnson50) June 26, 2025

Last season, Johnson was a first-team All-Ohio selection after anchoring an offensive line that helped the Falcons run for over 3,400 yards and 43 touchdowns as a team.

He is committed to Taylor University.

Kalel Johnson, Moeller

Last season at Taft, Johnson was a first-team all-conference selection after helping lead the Senators to the first regional title by a Cincinnati Public School in 32 years.

Had a great time yesterday at THE Ohio State University football camp yesterday and working with @TylerBowen@MoellerFootball@Coach_B10@Mike_CoachDpic.twitter.com/TzE5YSvWm8

— Kaleljohnson (@KJ_Johnson27) June 6, 2025

Now at Moeller, Johnson is one of the top recruits in Ohio as he enters his junior season. According to 247Sports, the 6-foot-7, 281-pound tackle is the No. 5 player in Ohio for the Class of 2027 and a four-star recruit.

He holds 18 offers, including from Kentucky, Indiana, Cincinnati, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue and Virginia Tech.

Justin Lyles, Withrow

Lyles, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound interior offensive lineman, was a second-team all-conference selection as a junior last season.

IM HOME GO MOUNTAINEERS!!🏔️@CoachBerry3211@CoachBicknell@RealCoachRod@AllenTrieupic.twitter.com/refXmdSvMu

— Justyn “arizona” Lyles 3⭐️ (@JustynL74) June 16, 2025

Lyles is a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, and the No. 65 player in Ohio for the Class of 2026. He committed to West Virginia in June.

Max Merz, Highlands

A 6-foot-4, 310-pound interior offensive lineman, Merz was a first-team All-Northern Kentucky selection by the Northern Kentucky Football Coaches Association last season.

Card nation…. I’m home🏠@LouisvilleFB@pete_nochta13@CoachROwens@TMossbrucker@HighlandsFB@HSphirepic.twitter.com/JvH7aiY7t3

— Max Merz (@merz_max) September 5, 2024

Merz is ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and a top 20 player in Kentucky for the Class of 2026. Merz is staying in-state after committing to Louisville during his junior season.

Patrick O'Brien, Moeller

O'Brien is another hot name on the recruiting trail as he enters his junior season.

The 6-foot-6, 275-pound offensive tackle is ranked by 247Sports as a three-star recruit and the No. 12 player in Ohio for the Class of 2027.

Had a great time in Happy Valley this weekend! Competed in the Whiteout camp and then had a fun time at the Lasch Bash!! Thank you @CoachTrautFB@chrismahon_@AeneasHawkins@coachjfranklinpic.twitter.com/JVz3EGcDqz

— Patrick O’Brien (@patrickobr_) June 23, 2025

O'Brien holds offers from Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Toledo, Liberty, Western Michigan and West Virginia.

Colby Quinlan, Harrison

Quinlan, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive lineman, was a first-team all-conference selection last season after blocking up front in a Harrison offense that averaged 37.5 points per game.

Had a great time at @GoBearcatsFB camp! Looking forward to what the future holds! Thanks to @CoachCardwell_ for having me out! @drehage38@c_huber5@DrewBanks11pic.twitter.com/fSnMNdodcO

— colby (@colbyquinlan8) June 11, 2025

Quinlan was also named honorable mention All-Ohio and second-team all-district selection in Division II.

William Sandfoss, Newport Central Catholic

A 6-foot-5, 280-pound offensive tackle, Sandfoss committed to Marshall in June.

Committed. @Coach_BMcClain@HerdFB@sydaspears@CoachTonyGibson@CoachRSmith1@CoachRod_McD@GunterBrewer@ChansiStuckey@CoachMO_MU@CoachCornutt@CoachDylanT_@herdnationnews@AllenTrieu@TheHerdBrospic.twitter.com/0kcLcylkX0

— William Sandfoss (@wsand2008) June 22, 2025

The senior is tabbed as a three-star recruit and a top 30 player in Kentucky for the Class of 2026. He was a second-team All-Northern Kentucky selection and also held offers from Kent State, Ohio University, Army, Dartmouth and others.

Tyrell Scott, Elder

Scott was a first-team all-conference selection last season while blocking up front for the Panthers.

A 6-foot-4, 300-pound interior offensive lineman, Scott committed to Western Kentucky in June.

On the radar

Ben Abbott, Fenwick; Jeremy Bader, Oak Hills; Braden Bailey, Hamilton; Kyle Beatty, Ryle; Logan Bellman, McNicholas; Christian Brown, Cooper; Ryan Massie-Cable, Taylor; Joe Coleman, Roger Bacon; Chase Crittenden, Wyoming; Lucas Donahue, Cincinnati Country Day; Braden Ennis, Scott; Emmanuel Gibbs, Western Brown; A.J. Graves, Batavia; Austin Haig, Monroe; Trey Holden, Williamsburg; Mason Howard, Highlands; Jason Lunsford, Reading; Sir Michael Miller, CCPA; Joe Mulvey, McNicholas; Caleb Neth, Williamsburg; Jeff Phillips, Hamilton; Sam Reder, Summit Country Day; Noah Reichel, Cooper; Will Robinson, Cincinnati Country Day; Myles Shaw, Cincinnati Country Day; Hayden Stephens, New Miami; Zion Mason-Strong, Taft; William Sweeney, St. Xavier; Patrick Vogt, Bellevue; Eli Welch, Bethel-Tate

Vote: Who is the top offensive lineman in Greater Cincinnati in 2025?

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati high school football: 2025 preseason top offensive linemen