Everyone loves to talk about skill players. The star quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers always seem to be the buzz.

But what about the big guys?

You know, the players that do all the dirty work down in the trenches?

Football fans tend to forget about linemen because they don’t score touchdowns.

But that’s just a misconception. Offensive and defensive linemen are the backbone of every good team.

Coaches — both high school and college — know games are won and lost in the trenches. That’s why college coaches spend just as much time recruiting linemen as they do skill players.

Two local prep football stars may be able to use that as their ticket to college.

These players are Fairview offensive tackle Dex Sullivan and Cullman defensive end Jonathan Robertson — two of the area’s biggest college football prospects.

And when we say two of the biggest, we mean it literally and figuratively.

Sullivan and Robertson have both received positive reviews from multiple recruiting services. They’ve also garnered attention from multiple Division I programs.

Oh yeah. These rising seniors are huge.

At 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, Sullivan is the largest of the two. But that doesn’t mean Robertson is a little squirt, unless that’s what you call 6-foot-4, 252-pound defensive end.

Both players are talented, but Robertson is the most interesting. After all, there aren’t many 252-pounders that can run the 40-yard dash in 4.82 seconds.

A big frame with lots of athletic ability and tons of potential. That’s why multiple college programs — including Mississippi State, Troy and UAB — have shown interest in Robertson.

But even though he’s receiving attention, Robertson has yet to get a hard offer.

A strong start to his senior season could change that.

Robertson had a breakout season as a junior, recording 86 tackles. The Bearcats defensive end also had 53 solo tackles and seven sacks.

“J.R. (Robertson) has the ability,” Cullman coach Mark Britton said earlier this year. “He’s got what it takes to play at that level.”

Sullivan has also received a significant amount of attention from multiple Division I programs — including Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky and UAB.

But like Robertson, Sullivan has yet to receive a hard offer.

That doesn’t mean the offers aren’t coming. Fairview coach George Redding believes it’s just a matter of time.

“It’s like I’ve told him, he doesn’t need to get discouraged just because no one has offered yet,” Redding said. “Sometimes with linemen, it happens a little later. And I think it will.”

Redding is high on the rising senior, and for good reason. He was the focal point of an offensive front that helped Fairview roll up approximately 5,000 total yards last season.

Sullivan has gotten good feedback from different camps and combines he’s attended during the past year.

According to the college football recruiting page on ESPN.com, Sullivan is a player capable of being “a two year starter at the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) level with backup playing time occurring earlier in his career.”

That review comes with a slight critique, but what high school player doesn’t have areas that could use improvement?

Plus, it’s not like Sullivan is lacking the physical tools to play offensive guard — multiple recruiting services have said the Aggies rising senior will not play tackle in college.

Size definitely isn’t a problem. A 6-foot-4, 305-pound frame will cut it at most places — especially since Sullivan has quick feet to support his mass.

The only real concern is how Sullivan will handle defenders that are just as big and talented as he is.

Redding thinks his guy can handle the transition. Multiple recruiting services share his opinion.

Now the only question is what program is going to give Sullivan a shot, and the Aggies lineman should have that answer before National Signing Day.

As two of the area’s biggest prospects, Robertson and Sullivan could join a long line of local big men that went on to successful college careers.

Does that mean these guys are in the same category as Wesley Britt, Justin Britt and Zac Tubbs? Those local guys all starred in the SEC.

We’re not going to put these seniors in that category — at least not yet. But there’s always the possibility.

‰ Justin Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 257 or by e-mail at jgraves@cullmantimes.com.