Area representation in the NFL heavy on offensive linemen

Here is a look at a group that is heavy on offensive linemen, including a trio who have signed lucrative second contracts in the past two years:

Jackson Carman, offensive lineman, Fairfield High School

After winning a national championship and starting for two seasons at Clemson, Carman is heading back to the 513.

The Bengals chose him in the second round of the draft last week and have penciled him in at guard for this season with the hope he could develop into a tackle over time.

Taylor Decker, offensive tackle, Vandalia Butler High School

The Detroit Lions made Decker a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and signed him to a four-year, $60 million contract extension prior to last season.

He recently told reporters he hopes to retire as a Lion despite the team getting ready to enter a rebuild after trading away franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Decker was an All-American at Ohio State and won a national championship with the Buckeyes.

Darius Harper, offensive lineman, Springfield High School

A Miami University basketball player who moved to football two years ago, Harper was a two-year starter at tackle for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

He signed with the Los Angeles Chargers after not being picked in the draft.

Jordan Hicks, linebacker, Lakota West High School

The University of Texas product is halfway thorough a four-year, $34 million contract he signed with the Arizona Cardinals two years ago. He reportedly agreed to restructure the deal to save the team some money against the salary cap this spring.

Hicks had 110 tackles and broke up four passes with an interception last season after logging a career-high 140 stops in 2019. He has 11 career interceptions and 6.5 sacks.

Hicks spent his first four seasons in Philadelphia, where he won a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles.

Ryan Kelly, center, Lakota West High School

Kelly has logged 66 games for Indianapolis the past five years.

Last year, he signed a new contract worth more than $14 million annually that made him the highest-paid center in the league (since eclipsed by fellow Ohio native Linsley’s free-agent deal with the Chargers this year according to OverTheCap.com).

After winning three national championships at Alabama, Kelly was a first-round pick of the Colts in 2016.

Wes Martin, offensive guard, Milton-Union High School

Martin has started 10 games in his first two seasons in the league - five games in each year for the Washington Football Team.

He started 43 games at Indiana and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick twice before Washington drafted him in the fourth round two years ago.

Josh Myers, center, Miamisburg High School

A captain and two-year starter at Ohio State, Myers was drafted by the Packers in the second round last week.

He is expected to compete for the starting center role vacated when fellow Buckeye Corey Linsley left Green Bay via free agency.

Ifeadi Odenigbo, defensive end/linebacker, Centerville High School

A pass-rush specialist at Northwestern, Odenigbo bounced around the NFL a bit before landing with the Vikings, who drafted him initially then let him go.

In 32 NFL games, he has 10.5 sacks and 57 tackles.

Odenigbo signed with the Giants as a free agent in March.

Adam Pankey, offensive lineman, Hamilton High School

A four-year veteran, Pankey played in four games for the Miami Dolphins last year and remains on their roster.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported prior to the draft the team has a high opinion of Pankey, and he could be in line for a larger role after re-signing with the team for one year and $1.065 million.

The West Virginia product was not drafted in 2017 but signed with the Packers and began the season on their practice squad. He joined the Dolphins late in the 2019 season.

Josiah Scott, cornerback, Fairfield High School

A fourth-round pick out of Michigan State last year, Scott logged 11 tackles in six games last season for the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie.

He had an immediate impact at MSU, where he was third-team All-Big Ten as a freshman and went on to start 30 games for the Spartans and defend 32 passes, including seven interceptions.

Simon Stepaniak, guard, Ross High School

Stepaniak is still waiting to make his NFL debut. The Packers drafted him in the sixth round last year, but he spent most of the year rehabbing a knee injury suffered while he was still playing at Indiana.

Stepaniak was a third-team All-Big Ten pick for the Hoosiers.

Joe Thuney, guard, Alter HIgh School

Thuney’s time to get paid came this year when he hit the free agent market after five seasons in New England, where he played in three Super Bowls and won two.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed Thuney for $80 million over five years in March.

Thuney has played in and started all 80 games possible since entering the league as a third-round pick out of N.C. State, and he was a second-team All-Pro pick in 2019.