My summer scouting series kicks off with the unheralded big fellas up front. It's one of my favorite positions to scout because I find it to be one of the least understood. Interior line play is far more about consistency than highlight-reel ability. Give me balance and coordination over pure strength and speed all day for interior linemen.
After seeing Vega Ioane and Keylan Rutledge get taken in the first round in April, the 2027 class has a good chance of adding two more to that mix. While there hasn't been a true center taken in the first round since Tyler Linderbaum went 25th overall to the Ravens in 2022, the No. 1 player on this list has a good chance of changing that in 2027. With each offseason positional series, I'll give a class strength rating, my top 10 prospects, three intriguing prospects to watch and quick superlatives for the class.
Positional rankings: IOL • S • LB • DT • TE • OT • RB • CB • EDGE • WR • QB
Note: ⭐️ represents each player's 247Sports star rating as a high school recruit
Class strength rating: 7.5/10
Kade Pieper IOWA • OL • #58 6-3, 298 | Redshirt junior | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ View Profile - Player type: Moveable Center
- Early grade: Late Round 1
Kade Pieper broke into Iowa's starting lineup last season at right guard, but only because second-rounder Logan Jones already had center locked down. With a relatively thin frame and short arms for an offensive lineman,
Pieper is a center through and through. He's a true "freak" at the position and arguably the most athletic offensive lineman I've ever scouted. He moves as well as many of the linebackers he's trying to find in space. With athleticism at a premium in today's NFL, Pieper could very easily end up a first-rounder.
Kade Pieper locating linebackers He has a good chance of becoming the 1st C drafted in R1 since former Hawkeye Tyler Linderbaum in 2022 pic.twitter.com/mmaZ6Tczrt
— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) July 28, 2026
Greg Johnson MINN • OL • #65 6-6, 325 | Senior | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ View Profile - Player type: All-around guard
- Early grade: Late Round 1
Greg Johnson is the cleanest returning guard in college football. He checks every physical box you want to see, and he's shown consistent improvement since breaking into the starting lineup as a true freshman in 2023. He could have come out last season and been a Day 2 pick but returned for his senior campaign to work his way into the first-round mix.
They're not built exactly the same, but I get Steve Avila vibes from Minnesota OL Greg Johnson. The position profile tracks too: 28 starts across 3 years at OC, OG & OT. For his height, he plays with good knee bend & leverage. High-IQ, strong, physical, w/ square power & anchor. pic.twitter.com/HG8ks17adG
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) July 15, 2026
Luke Montgomery OHIOST • IOL • #51 6-5, 312 | Senior | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ View Profile - Player type: Versatile guard/center
- Early grade: Day 2
It doesn't take more than a quarter of the Texas game in Week 1 to see that Luke Montgomery plays with the kind of nastiness NFL coaches covet. He loves finishing blocks and plays every snap through the whistle. He has the body type to play either guard or center at the next level. While his hands need to become more consistent, that's to be expected from a first-year starter.
Ohio State LG Luke Montgomery is an absolute maniac in the run game. First play of the game DUMPING #9 pic.twitter.com/1V9eYhhITi
— LandonTengwall (@LandonTengwall) October 1, 2025
Jesse Perry TENN • IOL • #72 6-6, 320 | Redshirt sophomore | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ View Profile - Player type: Gap-scheme Guard
- Early grade: Late Day 2
Jesse Perry split time between right tackle and right guard for the Volunteers last fall, and it looks like the latter will be his home in 2026. A quick look at the end-zone angle on the All-22 tells you that's a smart move.
Perry is a thickly built dude who has no problem going toe-to-toe with 300-plus-pounders. His ability to move people as a redshirt freshman was outstanding. I'm excited to see how his game progresses this fall with a greater focus on the interior.
Anthony Boswell HOU • IOL • #52 6-2, 301 | Redshirt sophomore | ⭐️⭐️ View Profile - Player type: Zone center
- Early Grade: Late Day 2
One of the biggest surprises for me while watching tape this summer was a plucky redshirt freshman center at Toledo. He played with incredible balance and leverage in an outside zone-heavy scheme.
Anthony Boswell hit the portal to Houston, where he'll get a nice bump in competition. While the undersized center may not be ready to make the leap after his second season as a starter, it's already evident on tape that he possesses high-end NFL potential.
One of the surprises of summer scouting for me was watching Houston C Anthony Boswell (Toledo transfer) Showed outstanding body control, balance, and hand usage on tape. Only a redshirt sophomore so doubt he comes out this year, but looks like a future NFL starter pic.twitter.com/Wizt2Zj8Va
— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) July 28, 2026
Austin Siereveld OHIOST • IOL • #67 6-5, 325 | Redshirt junior | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ View Profile - Player type: Zone guard
- Early grade: Late Day 2
Austin Siereveld will kick inside to right guard this season after serving as Ohio State's left tackle last year. That's probably in his best long-term interest if you saw what Miami's first-round defensive end duo did to him in the playoffs. Siereveld wins more with technique and body control than quickness and play strength. That skill set should translate well to guard.
Evan Tengesdahl CINCY • IOL • #50 6-3, 323 | Redshirt senior | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ View Profile - Player type: Gap-scheme guard
- Early grade: Late Day 2
Evan Tengesdahl was one of the biggest bright spots in Cincinnati's disappointing 2025 season. In his first year as a starter, he was easily the Bearcats' best offensive lineman, allowing only 11 pressures all season.
His upper-body strength stands out in a big way, as he's able to manipulate large defenders with little more than a shove. That comes in especially handy when clearing out pockets in pass protection. His tape was so good that it's hard to believe he couldn't crack Cincinnati's starting lineup sooner.
Cincinnati left guard Evan Tengesdahl is a smooth mover who reaches and scoops with ease. Despite a bit of a slender frame, his hands carry a thunderous pop. The core is strong to anchor out of some funky looks, too. pic.twitter.com/hDoMXaOxYO
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) May 1, 2026
Anthonie Knapp ND • IOL • #54 6-4, 300 | Junior | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ View Profile - Player type: Versatile guard
- Early grade: Late Day 2
Yet another tackle-to-guard convert this season, Anthonie Knapp always looked a bit like a fish out of water filling in at left tackle for the oft-injured Charles Jagusah. He was forced into the starting lineup in Week 1 of 2024 as a true freshman, and the only game he missed over the next two seasons was the national championship after suffering a high ankle sprain in the semifinal against Penn State.
Knapp will kick inside to what looks like his more natural NFL position at left guard this season as redshirt freshman Will Black takes over at left tackle.
Tipping the scales at only 300 pounds, power has never been an issue for the true junior, as he delivers impressive pop on contact. He just doesn't have the ideal length or movement skills to stick at tackle.
Anthonie Knapp (6’4 300) Notre Dame ✅ Good technique for a young player ✅ Effective blocking at second level ✅ Athletic as a linebacker and tight end as a freshman in high school ✅ Over 1,500 snaps played entering 2026 in just 2 seasons on campus ✅ Allowed just 11… pic.twitter.com/rXMNkOdrZS
— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) June 3, 2026
Iapani Laloulu OREG • IOL • #72 6-2, 329 | Senior | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ View Profile - Player type: Gap-scheme center
- Early grade: Early Day 3
Iapani Laloulu is a gap-scheme center who excels at caving in defenders on ace blocks. His pear-shaped build is perfect for displacing bigger nose tackles out of the A-gap to pave the way for his running backs. He may not be the fleetest of foot, but Oregon's scheme doesn't ask him to be.
I'd recommend watching his tape before the foot injury he suffered against USC late in the season, as he looked hampered by it throughout the playoff run.
Biggest mismatch in PSU/Oregon was Iapani Laloulu vs. Penn State's DTs pic.twitter.com/61Uj9aZCj0
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) September 30, 2025
Braelin Moore LSU • IOL • #61 6-2, 301 | Redshirt senior | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ View Profile - Player type: Reliable center
- Early grade: Early Day 3
Braelin Moore is the quintessential "effort over talent" center. Despite a small frame and average athletic traits, he treats every rep like a wrestling match. He started for two years at Virginia Tech before transferring to LSU last season.
While he started at left guard in 2023, Moore projects as a center only in the NFL. At that position, he rarely gave an inch in pass protection for the Tigers, allowing only seven pressures all season.
Ranking all 191 first-round NFL Draft picks since 2020: Best, worst selections of the decade Mike RennerBraelin Moore (6’2 300) LSU ✅ Allowed just 7 pressures in 2025 ✅ Over 2,000 career snaps played entering the 2026 season ✅ Smooth mover in space ✅ Football intelligence ✅ 81.8 pass block grade in 2025 pic.twitter.com/JwkLU29Gm2
— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) June 16, 2026
Three names to watch
Note: These aren't necessarily the next three players in my rankings, but rather three prospects who caught my eye for one reason or another.
Clinton Richard, G, Wake Forest
Clinton Richard looked like he was on his way to becoming a star after a dominant performance in his first collegiate game against Kennesaw State last year. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken foot and didn't return until the final few games of the season. The rising redshirt sophomore has the kind of wide base and long arms that make life difficult for defensive tackles in pass protection.
Brock Riker, C, Penn State
With nimble feet and quick hands, Brock Riker made easy work of the competition at Texas State last season, earning a move to Penn State this fall. We'll see if the 291-pound center can maintain that level of play against Big Ten competition.
Alani Noa, G, USC
After Kade Pieper, Alani Noa is the best athlete I watched in this interior offensive line class. Technically, though, he's all over the map. NFL teams will always give high-end athletes every chance to succeed if they show signs of development.
Superlatives
- Most NFL-ready: Greg Johnson, Minnesota
- Most versatile: Jesse Perry, Tennessee
- Strongest: Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati
- Most athletic: Kade Pieper, Iowa
- Top Non-Power-5: Tristan Smith, Arkansas State
- If only they were bigger: Shadre Hurst, Houston (6-foot-2, 295 pounds)
- Most experienced: Noah Josey, Virginia (2,927 snaps)
