The quarterback position may be the most important in football, but it’s nothing without good protection up front. Especially at the offensive tackle position, where players are tasked with protecting the blind side and blocking for today’s new era of elite defenders.
College football is loaded with tackles who are elite at pass protection and physically blocking runs once they get on the field. This sets those players up to potentially receive a huge payday at the next level if they can maintain their production in the upcoming season.
With that in mind, college football prognosticator Phil Steele ranked his top offensive tackle prospects for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft ahead of the college football season. A group of big men who could further increase their Draft value in one of this season’s major leagues can be seen below.
At LSU, the number 7 is typically given to a talented player who is the most impactful player on the Louisiana State roster. But ahead of the 2023 season, Will Campbell received the honor, sporting a number 7 patch on his uniform that he earned in his own right.
Campbell is a two-year starter for the Tigers and has made a major impact on the team’s offensive success since joining the team. He earned Freshman All-American, Second-Team All-SEC and Freshman All-SEC honors in 2022, followed by First-Team All-SEC recognition and a nomination as a Joe Moore Award finalist last season.
Emery Jones sits on the other side of LSU’s offensive line. This makes the Tigers’ duo arguably the best offensive tackle duo in the country on an offensive line that features four starters heading into the 2024 season.
Like Campbell, Jones is also 6’4″ and 300 pounds, with more than 20 starts in his two-year career. Jones received praise from the head coach. Brian Kelly who said: “He makes good decisions. He is never late for anything. He is reliable. He is a kid we can trust. He is very reliable and that is because of his background, his family and his high school. He is exceptional.”
Savaiinaea is the first non-Tiger on the list and sits at No. 3 in Steele’s rankings. Savaiinaea will look to carry his Pac-12 dominance over to the Big 12 next season for the Wildcats.
Savaiinaea, a two-year starter who has made 25 starts, allowed just two sacks in his 889 snaps last season, according to PFF. Savaiinaea also excels in the run game with an 81.7 grade on run blocks.
You won’t find many bigger offensive linemen than Aireontae Ersery on this list. Ersery stands 6’3″ and weighs 330 pounds as he heads into his sixth season with the Golden Gophers.
Ersery has become a mainstay on the Big Ten All-Conference team in his career, earning First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention honors. Returning to college football as the highest-graded offensive tackle at 84.0, according to PFF, Ersery is primed for a breakout season.
It’s hard to put a price on experience for an offensive lineman, but if you could, Wyatt Milum wouldn’t be for sale anytime soon. Milum had started 32 of his 36 games for West Virginia entering his senior year, including 31 consecutive starts.
Milum was a huge impact player on the Mountaineers’ offensive line, one of the best in the country, leading the Power Five in rushing yards per game and ranking third nationally in fewest sacks allowed. Given that Milum did not allow a single sack or quarterback hurry in his 753 offensive snaps last season, West Virginia fans should feel confident.
Blake Miller is another offensive lineman on Steele’s roster entering his third season as a two-year starter. Miller is just the second Clemson offensive tackle since 1986 to log multiple seasons with 950-plus snaps from scrimmage following his 27 consecutive starts.
Miller was a freshman All-American in 2022 and in 2023 became Clemson’s fourth offensive lineman under Dabo Swinney He earned All-ACC honors as a freshman. Known for his effort and aggressiveness in the running game and his long, patient arms in the passing game, Miller is crucial for the Tigers.
Josh Simmons could become the next great Ohio State offensive tackle to make the jump to the NFL. With eight former Buckeye offensive tackles currently in the NFL heading into next season, that would be an elite group to join.
Like many before him, Simmons boasts impressive athleticism for his size. Simmons shows improvement year over year as he begins the season with 26 consecutive starts between his time at Ohio State and San Diego State.
Nicknamed “Escalade” by his teammates, Anthony Belton’s college career began at Georgia Military College before landing at NC State. Belton now has the chance to continue climbing up mock draft boards and make it to the NFL.
Tasked with replacing the first round draft pick Ickey Ekwonu As a left tackle before the 2022 season, Belton answered the call. Belton started eight games that season and all 13 games for the Wolfpack last year to earn third-team All-ACC honors and tie for the team lead with 51 blocks.
Fa’amoe is one of the most intriguing offensive tackle prospects on Steele’s entire roster. Fa’amoe appeared in just one game in his first two seasons at Washington State and moved from the defensive line to the offensive line during his career.
There’s no question that Fa’amoe has translated his physicality from his days on the defensive line into his run-blocking ability on offense. And with impressive production in just two seasons at the position, there’s plenty of potential for him to continue to show next season and beyond.
Ozzy Trapilo rounds out Steele’s top 10 as he enters his fifth and final season with Boston College after sitting out his freshman year. Trapilo, who started at both right and left tackle throughout his career with the Eagles, showed his versatility.
Trapilo made 10 starts at left tackle in 2022 before making 12 starts at right tackle last season. Not allowing a single sack last year and representing the tallest tackle in Steele’s top 10 at 6-foot-8, Trapilo is primed for a big year.
Steele’s 11-25 overtimes for the 2025 NFL Draft
eleven. Myles Hinton — Michigan
12. Trey Zuhn III — Texas A&M University
13. Josh Fryar — State of Ohio
14. Tristan Leigh — Clemson
fifteen. Fernando Carmona Jr. — Arkansas
sixteen. Lundt Chase — University of Connecticut
17. Zambrano Hunter — State of Illinois
18. Riley Mahlman — Wisconsin
19. Andres Chamblee — State University of Singapore
twenty. Logan Taylor — Boston College
twenty-one. Micah Pettus — Old Lady
22. Nolan Rucci — State of Pennsylvania
23. Jack Nelson — Wisconsin
24. Juan Campbell Jr. — Tennessee
25. Braylen Nelson — Fresno State
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