OFFENSIVE LINE (10[/B]) In 2015, Louisiana produced three linemen who signed with P5 schools, four more who signed with G5 schools, and 13 who signed with FCS schools. How will it go this year? [/B]Probably about the same. [/B]Everyone always needs linemen and Tulane is clearly no exception. We'll lose at least two this year (Uzvadinis and Bradley) and I wouldn't be surprised if one or two more left. We'll sign at least one new one I'd think, and maybe up to three, depending on how many openings we have. We've offered at least 15 offensive linemen from out of state and five from inside Louisiana. Here are the ones I see as the best in the state. At this point I'd be thrilled with any of my top three or four.
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1. OT Willie Allen, 6'7", 310#, John Curtis[/B], With the exception of Edwin Alexander, who I have listed as a DT, Allen may be the best offensive line prospect in the state. He's really big and strong, with good feet. The rest of the linemen I have listed are well behind him in my view regarding potential. He's caused a lot of excitement among the Greenie faithful by showing up at several of our practices, but with offers from LSU and many other P5 schools, I think our chances are slim. Of course, you can't win if you don't play. CJ and staff are trying with him. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1636111/highlights/185842376/v2
2. OG Donavaughn Campbell 6'5", 340#, Ponchatoula (LSU COMMIT)[/B]. Campbell is huge and, though some list him as a tackle, all the highlights I saw had him at left guard. He blows away everyone on running plays and has the speed to pull on sweeps. He's so much bigger than the kids he's blocking that it's hard to tell how he'll do against 300 pounders. That said, he's clearly a great prospect. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2603111/donavaughn-campbell
3. OT Colton Prater 6'4", 280# Airline[/B], In his highlights, Prater lines up at left tackle. While most offensive linemen feature almost all running plays in their highlights, Prater has at least as many showing him as a pass blocker, at which he excels (at least on highlights). He has an offer from Tulane as well as Mississippi State so he's not a "below the radar" recruit, but not one on everyone's offer list. I think he'd be a good addition to the Wave. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2161197/colton-prater
4. OG Collin Fountain 6'2" 309# Barbe[/B] Fountain played left guard as a junior and looked good. Despite his size, he has good footwork and more than enough speed to "pull" on sweeps and running plays to the outside. I was glad to see that he has trimmed down from 330 pounds to 309 recently. That shows a commitment some of our recent linemen haven't gotten around to making. He has offers from Tulane and some other G5 schools. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1749210/collin-fountain
5. OG Taylor Fondal 6'3" 282# Westgate[/B] Fondal played offensive guard in high school, though he also spent some time at defensive tackle. The latter is simply NOT his position. Guard could be, and I think he'll probably sign somewhere in Division 1. He has scholarship offers from LaTech and USM but not much interest elsewhere so far. His highlights feature his run blocking with not a single pass blocking play shown. That, to me is a concern. With as many out of state scholarship we've offered and the guys from Louisiana who I think are better prospects, I hope we don't have to dip this low. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2714380/taylor-fondal-
6. OT Malik Clark 6'5" 275# Riverside[/B] Clark played left tackle his junior year and appeared to excel at run blocking, though his highlights are not as impressive as some of the ones I've included on this list. Of course, highlights don't show the whole package but they should show the player at his best. He holds offers from Mississippi State and Missouri as well as Tulane, so he's showing something to some. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3786978/highlights/171405381/v2
7. OT Cory Harden 6'3" 285# Landry-Walker[/B] Harden played left tackle as a junior and looked good. He doesn't seem to have the coordination I would like, however, and I think his lack of quickness makes him a marginal FBS player, though he already has an offer from Utah, so someone clearly disagrees with me. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3543530/highlights
8. OG Kelton Hollins 6'1" 278# Zachary[/B] [/B]Hollins lined up at center, guard, and tackle for Zachary this year and he's certainly a solid high school player. I think his best position is center but I don't see him as helping Tulane. He doesn't seem to have the footwork necessary to compete at the level we need. Nonetheless, he has offers from Tulane, USM, and LaTech, so some football people see more potential than I. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1404950/kellton-hollins
9. OT Lloyd Cushenberry 6'4" 310# Dutchtown[/B] Cushberry played right tackle for Dutchtown as a junior. That, to me, is suspect because the best tackle on a team usually plays on the left side. For Dutchtown last year, that was Hunter Austin who signed with Nichols State. That said, Cushberry seems to be a solid run blocker, who already has offers from a few G5 teams, but not Tulane, the best I can tell. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1931006/lloyd-cushenberry [/B]
10. OG Travontae Booker 6'4" 290#, East Feliciana[/B] Booker plays tackle on defense and guard on offense. I think the latter is his better position because he doesn't seem to have the quickness to play on the defensive side of the ball. He's pretty much a "below the radar" guy so far with no offers that I can tell and little interest from the scouting services. I'd be surprised if Tulane went after him. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1723989/travontae-booker
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1. OT Willie Allen, 6'7", 310#, John Curtis[/B], With the exception of Edwin Alexander, who I have listed as a DT, Allen may be the best offensive line prospect in the state. He's really big and strong, with good feet. The rest of the linemen I have listed are well behind him in my view regarding potential. He's caused a lot of excitement among the Greenie faithful by showing up at several of our practices, but with offers from LSU and many other P5 schools, I think our chances are slim. Of course, you can't win if you don't play. CJ and staff are trying with him. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1636111/highlights/185842376/v2
2. OG Donavaughn Campbell 6'5", 340#, Ponchatoula (LSU COMMIT)[/B]. Campbell is huge and, though some list him as a tackle, all the highlights I saw had him at left guard. He blows away everyone on running plays and has the speed to pull on sweeps. He's so much bigger than the kids he's blocking that it's hard to tell how he'll do against 300 pounders. That said, he's clearly a great prospect. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2603111/donavaughn-campbell
3. OT Colton Prater 6'4", 280# Airline[/B], In his highlights, Prater lines up at left tackle. While most offensive linemen feature almost all running plays in their highlights, Prater has at least as many showing him as a pass blocker, at which he excels (at least on highlights). He has an offer from Tulane as well as Mississippi State so he's not a "below the radar" recruit, but not one on everyone's offer list. I think he'd be a good addition to the Wave. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2161197/colton-prater
4. OG Collin Fountain 6'2" 309# Barbe[/B] Fountain played left guard as a junior and looked good. Despite his size, he has good footwork and more than enough speed to "pull" on sweeps and running plays to the outside. I was glad to see that he has trimmed down from 330 pounds to 309 recently. That shows a commitment some of our recent linemen haven't gotten around to making. He has offers from Tulane and some other G5 schools. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1749210/collin-fountain
5. OG Taylor Fondal 6'3" 282# Westgate[/B] Fondal played offensive guard in high school, though he also spent some time at defensive tackle. The latter is simply NOT his position. Guard could be, and I think he'll probably sign somewhere in Division 1. He has scholarship offers from LaTech and USM but not much interest elsewhere so far. His highlights feature his run blocking with not a single pass blocking play shown. That, to me is a concern. With as many out of state scholarship we've offered and the guys from Louisiana who I think are better prospects, I hope we don't have to dip this low. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2714380/taylor-fondal-
6. OT Malik Clark 6'5" 275# Riverside[/B] Clark played left tackle his junior year and appeared to excel at run blocking, though his highlights are not as impressive as some of the ones I've included on this list. Of course, highlights don't show the whole package but they should show the player at his best. He holds offers from Mississippi State and Missouri as well as Tulane, so he's showing something to some. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3786978/highlights/171405381/v2
7. OT Cory Harden 6'3" 285# Landry-Walker[/B] Harden played left tackle as a junior and looked good. He doesn't seem to have the coordination I would like, however, and I think his lack of quickness makes him a marginal FBS player, though he already has an offer from Utah, so someone clearly disagrees with me. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3543530/highlights
8. OG Kelton Hollins 6'1" 278# Zachary[/B] [/B]Hollins lined up at center, guard, and tackle for Zachary this year and he's certainly a solid high school player. I think his best position is center but I don't see him as helping Tulane. He doesn't seem to have the footwork necessary to compete at the level we need. Nonetheless, he has offers from Tulane, USM, and LaTech, so some football people see more potential than I. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1404950/kellton-hollins
9. OT Lloyd Cushenberry 6'4" 310# Dutchtown[/B] Cushberry played right tackle for Dutchtown as a junior. That, to me, is suspect because the best tackle on a team usually plays on the left side. For Dutchtown last year, that was Hunter Austin who signed with Nichols State. That said, Cushberry seems to be a solid run blocker, who already has offers from a few G5 teams, but not Tulane, the best I can tell. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1931006/lloyd-cushenberry [/B]
10. OG Travontae Booker 6'4" 290#, East Feliciana[/B] Booker plays tackle on defense and guard on offense. I think the latter is his better position because he doesn't seem to have the quickness to play on the defensive side of the ball. He's pretty much a "below the radar" guy so far with no offers that I can tell and little interest from the scouting services. I'd be surprised if Tulane went after him. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1723989/travontae-booker