Riley Mahlman

Riley Mahlman grew up outside of Minneapolis with his parents (Jason and Kim). His older brother (Tyler) spent time in the Army National Guard. A bigger kid, Mahlman’s first love was basketball before football became his focus in high school. He earned all-state honors as a junior defensive lineman and blocking tight end in Lakeville’s option offense, while helping the team to 11 wins in 2019 and an undefeated 8-0 record in 2020. A four-star recruit, he was the top-ranked recruit in Minnesota and committed to Wisconsin (his first offer) over Ohio State, Minnesota and other Big Ten programs. Aside from when he was dealing with a knee injury as a redshirt freshman, he rarely left the field over the past four years and finished his career with 42 consecutive starts. Mahlman has a towering, narrow frame, which can lead to leverage issues when he sets tall with his long legs and torso. He has an athletic lower half, with quickness out of his stance to answer the pass rush or reach in the run game. He needs to be more consistent with his hand placement in all phases, as he relies more on his size to cover up defenders. For a veteran blocker, he can be late to diagnose and react to blitzes and games. His durability and versatile experience at both tackle spots work in his favor. Overall, Mahlman is a high-cut blocker with inconsistent body control and handwork in space, but the size and foot quickness are worth developing.