By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

A football team’s success can always be directly tied to the play of its offensive line.

They are the unsung heroes.

They are the warriors who are not afraid to get dirty, grinding their way through the bruising work that they know awaits them on every snap.

They do their work, then they line up and do it again.

Snap after snap.

Game after game.

Unfortunately, they can drift out of memory because they are not included in record books. Coaches and skill-position players typically own that real estate.

Welcome to the life of an offensive linemen. Where the spotlight rarely shines directly on them.

That is part of what makes them special.

They are the ultimate team players.

Team first. Always.

But make no mistake about it, the offensive line are the winners of football games.

Even if they are the quiet workers.

Today is their day, though.

The day that all of the spotlight shines brightly on them.

This feature is solely dedicated to the offensive linemen in the trenches.

I proudly present the Class of 2024 as my 11th annual All-Trench Team.

MATTHEW COPLEY

Aurora

Senior tackle

6-foot-3, 285 pounds

Coach Bob Mihalik: “Matthew is a team captain and an honor student in the classroom. He returns as our left tackle on offense and is a destructive force on the defensive line. His nastiness and physicality is contagious for our linemen. Matthew is being recruited at the college level and will be an excellent college football player.”

DAN DOERING

Crestwood

Senior tackle

6-foot-1, 265 pounds

Coach Jack D’Amato: “Dan has done a great job this season. He put a lot of effort into gaining size and strength in the off-season and it is showing up on the field. He is a hard-hat type worker who will do anything you ask.”

LOGAN ROBERTS

Field

Senior guard

5-foot-11, 230 pounds

Coach Matt Furino: “Logan has worked very hard to become one of the best linemen in the league. He was the first to arrive and the last to leave the weight room daily. His technique and footwork have improved immensely. His team chose him as a captain, and he has led us from day one.”

IVAN TRENT

Garfield

Senior tackle

6-foot3, 255 pounds

Coach Mike Moser: “Ivan is an aggressive, physical player. One of our team captains. He is an anchor for us on both sides of the ball.”

GAVIN CORBETT

Kent Roosevelt

Senior center

5-foot-11, 210 pounds

Coach Kardell Jackson: “Gavin has been the anchor and leader of our offensive line. During the off-season, he made it a priority to get stronger and bigger. It’s shown on the field so far this season. He’s the guy making our calls and even calling some of the pass protections, so he has a high IQ for the game. Our offensive line has been the most-improved group from last season and it starts with Gavin. The offensive line has led the way to 808 yards rushing and nine touchdowns through the first four weeks of the season.”

TYLER YOUNGBLOOD

Mogadore

Senior center

6-foot-1, 215 pounds

Coach Matt Adorni: “Tyler is a tremendous competitor and is a two-year starter at center. He also plays various positions on defense. He handles all snapping duties and is excellent at making line calls and helping inexperienced players. Tyler is athletic enough to also play guard when needed.”

CHRIS PELLEGRINI

Ravenna

Senior tackle

5-foot-10, 220 pounds

Coach Brian Coman: “Chris has a gritty demeanor that I like to see in an offensive lineman.”

BRIAN YOUNGBLOOD

Rootstown

Senior center

5-foot-10, 200 pounds

Coach Tom Hannan: “Brian is the hardest worker we have in both practices and games. He listens and is coachable. He refuses to fail. He is an old-school center — strong and mean and has a passion for the game. He just loves to compete.”

CALEB MILLER

Southeast

Senior tackle

6-foot-1, 250 pounds

Coach Patrick Youel: “Caleb has been a three-year starter in our program. He has been an impact player on our defensive line for all three years. The past two years, he has become a very good and impactful offensive lineman and this year he is the anchor of both of our lines. We are very young on the offensive line, and he has become the unequivocal leader of that group and is showing and leading them in a very positive way. He is a tough kid and has played through many injuries in his career. He is someone who always brings energy and enthusiasm to football, and he cares deeply for his teammates. He is a very good football player and a sample of our lines, but more importantly, he is an incredible young man and a true leader in our program. He will be missed when he graduates, but will go on to do great things in this world.”

ARTHUR SCOTT III

Streetsboro

Junior tackle

6-foot-3, 295 pounds

Coach Pete Thompson: “Arthur has a rare combination of size, speed, power and agility that make him a dominant player on both sides of the ball. He was a day-one starter as a freshman and has been a consistent force since. He has grown into a good leader for us and sets the example and leads the way for our other linemen. He is viewed as an interior lineman on either side of the ball by most of the schools that are recruiting him.”

COOPER RICHMOND

Streetsboro

Junior tackle

6-foot-5, 270 pounds

Coach Pete Thompson: “It has been a pleasure to see Coop grow — both figuratively and literally — into the player that he has become. As a first-year starter last year, he struggled our first few games while acclimating to varsity football. He hit his stride during the second half of the season and became a force on both sides of the ball. He dedicated himself to the weight room in the off-season, improving his strength and agility, earning multiple scholarship offers in the process. His future is at offensive tackle at the next level.”

BRADY HAKES

Waterloo

Junior guard

5-foot-9, 180 pounds

Coach Mike Devies: “Brady is a kid who plays with a motor. He has a relentless determination that you just love to see as a coach. He has been one of our best linemen for a couple years now. He is a great teammate, and he is a kid who would do anything to help out others.”

OMAR DURAN

Windham

Senior guard

5-foot-11, 220 pounds

Coach Jake Eye: “Omar is a main ingredient to our success, especially offensively. He has become a great leader, who has worked extremely hard to overcome a severe season-ending knee injury last year that required surgery less than a year ago. His return to our lineup has given us the ability to run inside more this year than in year’s past. His work ethic and leadership are outstanding, and he is just an awesome human being. His teammates love him, and so does the coaching staff.”