Many are under the impression that HS's out west (Ca, Or, Wa, Nv, Az, Ut, Hi) are not producing the bevy of linemen compared to the rate at which the midwest, southern and east coast HS's turn them out. Rivals recruiting rankings appear to indicate a bit differently.
Although there may be some truth to this downturn from a macro perspective, it does appear high schools out West are in fact producing enough quality interior linemen to compete with the BIG BOYZ on the national stage.
That being the case one may infer the lack of interior play coming out of Pac12 schools (USC in particular) as stemming from coaching, training, nutrition and its recent irrelevance and NOT the lack of quality recruits out West.
Below are national numbers pulled from the Rivals rankings between 2016-2019 of interior linemen from Ca, Or, Wash, Ut, Az, Nv and Hi.
2019
Weak-side Defensive End: Five in the Rivals top 50. USC signed none (as of now)
Strong-side Defensive End: Six in the Rivals top 50. USC singed one (as of now)
Defensive Tackle: Seven in the Rivals top 50. USC signed none (as of now)
Offensive Tackle: Five in the Rivals top 50. USC signed one (as of now)
Guard: Three in the Rivals top 35. USC signed none (as of now)
2018
Weak-side Defensive End: Six in the Rivals top 40. USC signed one
Strong-side Defensive End: Four in the Rivals top 45. USC signed none
Defensive Tackle: Three in the Rivals top 50. USC singed none
Offensive Tackle: Eight in the Rivals top 50. USC signed one
Guard: Six in the Rivals top 40. USC signed none
2017
Weak-side Defensive End: Seven in Rivals top 50. USC signed one.
Strong-side Defensive End: Five in the Rivals top 40. USC signed none
Defensive Tackle: Six in the Rivals top 50. USC signed three
Offensive Tackle: Nine in the Rivals top 50. USC signed four
Guard: Three in the Rivals top 40. USC signed none
2016
Weak-side Defensive End: Four in the Rivals top 45. USC signed none
Strong-side Defensive End: Five in the Rivals top 35. USC signed two
Defensive Tackle: Three in the Rivals top 50. USC signed none
Offensive Tackle: Six in the Rivals top 50. USC signed one
Guard: Five in the Rivals top 45. USC signed one
Although there may be some truth to this downturn from a macro perspective, it does appear high schools out West are in fact producing enough quality interior linemen to compete with the BIG BOYZ on the national stage.
That being the case one may infer the lack of interior play coming out of Pac12 schools (USC in particular) as stemming from coaching, training, nutrition and its recent irrelevance and NOT the lack of quality recruits out West.
Below are national numbers pulled from the Rivals rankings between 2016-2019 of interior linemen from Ca, Or, Wash, Ut, Az, Nv and Hi.
2019
Weak-side Defensive End: Five in the Rivals top 50. USC signed none (as of now)
Strong-side Defensive End: Six in the Rivals top 50. USC singed one (as of now)
Defensive Tackle: Seven in the Rivals top 50. USC signed none (as of now)
Offensive Tackle: Five in the Rivals top 50. USC signed one (as of now)
Guard: Three in the Rivals top 35. USC signed none (as of now)
2018
Weak-side Defensive End: Six in the Rivals top 40. USC signed one
Strong-side Defensive End: Four in the Rivals top 45. USC signed none
Defensive Tackle: Three in the Rivals top 50. USC singed none
Offensive Tackle: Eight in the Rivals top 50. USC signed one
Guard: Six in the Rivals top 40. USC signed none
2017
Weak-side Defensive End: Seven in Rivals top 50. USC signed one.
Strong-side Defensive End: Five in the Rivals top 40. USC signed none
Defensive Tackle: Six in the Rivals top 50. USC signed three
Offensive Tackle: Nine in the Rivals top 50. USC signed four
Guard: Three in the Rivals top 40. USC signed none
2016
Weak-side Defensive End: Four in the Rivals top 45. USC signed none
Strong-side Defensive End: Five in the Rivals top 35. USC signed two
Defensive Tackle: Three in the Rivals top 50. USC signed none
Offensive Tackle: Six in the Rivals top 50. USC signed one
Guard: Five in the Rivals top 45. USC signed one
