The spotlight doesn't shine as bright as it should on the big guys up front, but it's a vital part of any offense and defense.
As it’s proven to be a task every year to find out exactly who are the top returning players at their respective positions, Friday Game Night has put together a series of top returning linemen in 2021.
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Some of these guys already have accepted college offers, some have offers on the table, and some are starting to blip on the radar.
Graduated are guys like Cedrick Nicely (Ole Miss) and Ignacio Olvera at Gainesville. Flowery Branch lost Daniel Tulk and Cody Bradford, while Buford lost Power 5 lineman Jacob Smith (Alabama).
But the 2021 group of linemen is pretty deep with several weighing their college options and others hoping to pique the interest of top recruiters around the nation.
Below are the top returning offensive/defensive linemen across the area:
Buford -- DL River Wilson (6-2, 265 lbs) committed to Navy
Buford -- DL Josiah Wyatt (6-4, 220 lbs) committed to Appalachian State
Buford -- OL Paul Mubenga (6-3, 280 lbs)
Cherokee Bluff -- OL/DL Mateo Guevara, (6-4, 275 lbs) offers from Charlotte, Ga State, Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee, Buffalo, Kent State
Cherokee Bluff -- OL/DL Cason Moore (6-3, 265 lbs)
Chestatee -- OL Levi Stowers (6-3, 250 lbs)
Flowery Branch -- DE Sam Westbrook (6-4 230lbs)
Gainesville -- OT Elijah Ruiz (6-4, 290 lbs) offers from Tennessee Tech, Gardner-Webb, St. Thomas, Valparaiso
Gainesville -- OT Lacorey Hutchinson (6-1, 250 lbs)
Gainesville -- DE Qua Coley (6-2, 215 lbs)
Gainesville -- DE Khaliq Maddox (5-11, 270 lbs)
Jackson County -- OT Evan Rosser (6-4, 300 lbs)
Jackson County -- OT Jonathan Lindquist (6-4, 310 lbs)
Jefferson -- OL Brain Habeck (6-3, 240 lbs)
Jefferson -- OL/DL Jamarcus Hill (6-6, 265 lbs)
Jefferson -- OL Cole Patterson (6-2, 265 lbs)
Lakeview -- OL/DL Tanner Allen (6-2, 260)
North Hall -- OL/DL Jarrett Latty (6-1, 215 lbs)
North Hall -- DE Kevin Rochester (5-10, 180 lbs)
Rabun County -- OL/DL Bear Old (6-5, 280 lbs) offers from Troy, Eastern Kentucky, Gardner-Webb, MTSU, Penn
Rabun County -- OL/DL Will McCraw (6-4, 240 lbs) offers from Mercer, Army, and Gardner Webb
Rabun County -- DL Chris Thompson (6-2, 235 lbs)
West Hall -- OL/DL Reagan Byrd (6-3, 258 lbs)
White County -- OT JD Trowell (6-6, 290 lbs)
White County -- DE Alex Garcia (6-2, 260 lbs)
