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C&C previously took a look at the top 2028/2029 offensive line class several months back with the full article here, but here is the full breakdown.
Looking back at the 2029 group, several young linemen flashed promising traits early, including Xavier Smailes (Huntington), Mateo Swayne (Spring Mills), Grayson Tilley (Cabell Midland), Keenan Brown (University), and Zion Pitts (Capital), all showing developmental upside and encouraging physical tools.
The KEEP AN EYE ON group featured Sam Dyer (Sissonville), Dylan Via (Woodrow Wilson), Ben Fitzwater (Woodrow Wilson), Tommy Conner (Huntington), Max Winters (Tyler Consolidated), Nasir Jeffries (Capital), and Liam Foote (Hedgesville), all linemen who could see their profiles rise with another year of development.
The JUMPERS tier included Ethan Thompson (Bluefield), Peyton Wade (Independence, formerly Bluefield), Jaidyn Shuck (Independence), and Andrew Sweeney (Woodrow Wilson), all identified as prospects capable of making major jumps entering the 2026 season.
The top five rankings were led by Evan Miller (North Marion) at No. 1, followed by Tyler Avery (Huntington), Jacob Britton (Doddridge County), Colby Justus (Princeton), and David Browning (Chapmanville), each recognized for their combination of size, athleticism, physicality, and long-term college potential.
Updates
There is plenty to track within the 2028–2029 offensive and defensive line group, with both transfer movement and offseason development shaping the landscape.
Transfer activity was relatively limited, but two notable additions stand out. Peyton Wade (Shady Spring) has transferred to Independence, adding size and versatility to their front. Zion Pitts also confirmed his move from Capital to Bluefield, strengthening Bluefield’s physical presence up front.
Significant progress was made across the showcase and camp circuit. Xavier Smailes (Huntington) was one of the top 2029 performers overall, showing advanced athletic traits and strong upside for his age group. Several other linemen also turned in strong days, including Dylan Via (Woodrow Wilson), Sam Dyer (Sissonville), Jaidyn Shuck (Independence), David Browning (Chapmanville), and Jacob Britton (Doddridge County), all of whom demonstrated noticeable development in both movement skills and positional technique.
Among the biggest stock risers was Colby Justus (Princeton), who elevated his profile more than most in the group through a strong combination of testing numbers and drill work. His overall athletic improvement stood out as one of the most complete performances of the event.
Recruiting momentum has also started to build. Nasir Jeffries (Capital) earned an offer from West Virginia State, while Ben Fitzerwater (Woodrow Wilson) received an offer from Concord. Evan Miller (North Marion) added an offer from Glenville State, and Tyler Avery (Huntington) landed the most notable offer of the group from Grambling State (FCS level), marking a significant step in his recruiting trajectory.
New Names
Several new offensive and defensive line prospects have begun emerging across the state.
Isaac Workman (Elkins) stood out as one of the more intriguing performers, showing strong athleticism and promising intangibles that translate well to long-term development. Adarian Pauley (Sissonville), a transfer from Texas, also impressed at multiple showcase events and brings added experience and polish to the group.
Charles Acord (Independence) adds notable size to the class, while Colin Jones (Williamstown) stands out more for his athletic profile and movement skills. Both are players to monitor as their development continues.
Other names beginning to gain traction include Linkin Taylor (Brooke), Miles Kidder (East Fairmont), Caleb Robinette (Chapmanville), and Deacon Nguyen (Musselman), all of whom have shown enough flashes to move onto regional watch lists.
Two additional notable additions to the broader group include Steven Kinney (Herbert Hoover, transfer from Nitro) and Brody Faircloth (Martinsburg, transfer from Hedgesville), both of whom bring added depth and experience to already competitive programs.