Getting Offensive: Best Linemen in College Football

By Joseph Barry on August 12, 2013

The most underrated position in college football has to be that of the offensive line. Shoot, even kickers get a nice 15 seconds of fame if they hit a game-winning field goal. The big uglies are fighting in the trenches for 60 minutes and seem to only get recognized when they miss an assignment, resulting in their quarterback lying on his back. Football purists know how important offensive linemen are, as do the businessmen of the NFL. In 2012, offensive tackles were the third highest paid position in the NFL. In the 2013 NFL Draft, half of the top 10 picks were offensive linemen. College football’s top contenders have solid foundations up front, guy who will be counted on to protect their QB and open lanes for the running backs. Here are five of the top O-Linemen who will lineup on Saturdays this college football season.

Cyrus Kouandjio

Alabama has thrived off of two constants over its half-decade of dominance: a strong run game and a stronger defense. Bama’s defense looks like it will be near the top of the college football once again with players like CJ Mosley and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix returning; however, things could be a little different on the offensive side of the ball. It is simply ignorant to say that the Crimson Tide offense is starting all over; with experienced and explosive players like QB AJ McCarron, RB TJ Yeldon, and WR Amari Cooper returning, this offense has big play written all over it. However, losing three starters on the O-line, two of which were taken in the first round of the NFL Draft (Chance Warmack and DJ Fluker) and one who starred at a different line position each year (Barrett Jones), it is important the next guys up learn and learn fast. (Side note: Kouandjio is good enough that he kept DJ Fluker on the right side of the line; Fluker was taken #11 overall in the NFL Draft.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIHKWAhMvKc

This makes Cyrus Kouandjio arguably the most important player for Alabama this season if they hope to three-peat as national champions. He was considered the best lineman on the line last year, but he wasn’t necessarily looked to for leadership. This year, he and senior RG Anthony Steen will be asked to lead the offensive line. Seeing that Kouandjio is the left tackle (arguably the most important position on the line, since it protects the QB’s blindside) and the lineman with highest NFL potential, he will be looked to by Nick Saban to be vocal, pick up the line’s spirits, and teach the younger guys so they are ready for Virginia Tech. An offensive line is the mortar of a foundation, and Alabama can only go as far as their foundation holds them.

Cyrus Kouandjio’s leadership will be key in Alabama continuing their domination in college football

Taylor Lewan

Michigan will be breaking in a new QB in 2013 (well, technically Devin Gardner started the last five games of 2012, but this is his first season as the unquestioned leader and starter); it doesn’t hurt having one of the top left tackles in college football protecting your QB for the season. With the graduation of do-everything QB Denard Robinson Michigan will now focus on running the pro-style offense, but the Wolverines have been planning this change for a year or so. Michigan lost about 53% of its total rushing production from 2012 in the graduation of Denard Robinson alone; the running game struggled, and Fitz Toussaint will look to return to his 2011 form after a rough 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cpIkjW-CY4

It is hard to find a better tackle to get your running game back on track in all of college football than Taylor Lewan. Lewan has stepped up as a true leader for Brady Hoke’s squad. The most exciting part for UM fans is that Lewan clearly wants to be there; he isn’t thinking ahead to the riches he will make come April next year. Lewan could have been a first round pick in 2013, but decided to return to Michigan in order to become a true Michigan Man and lead his team to a Big 10 title.

Lewan’s leadership could be even more important than his play. He and fellow senior Michael Schofield anchor the line at each tackle position as the only two returning starters on the line; however, in between them will be talented, yet unexperienced, youth. Lewan has been praised by his coaches as teaching the young guys during spring ball and summer workouts; however, only time will tell once the Wolverines take the field in 2013.

Jake Matthews

When your QB is the returning Heisman Trophy winner and most electric player in college football, there is a lot of pressure on you to protect him and make sure he gets close to repeating his numbers from the prior season. This is the position Jake Matthews finds himself in for 2013, as he slides over from the right to the left to fill a void left by #2 overall pick Luke Joeckel. Here you can see how dynamic the duo was in 2012, anchoring down the line for the 11-2 Aggies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMqmLiUtSTU

Now the limelight has shifted to just Matthews, but he seems ready to step up. Though Texas A&M’s record may not suggest it, they should be just as good if not better than a season ago. A year of experience in both the SEC and with Johnny Manziel as QB definitely helps, but as Matthews noted during SEC Media Day, you have to keep your blocks and play until the whistle is dead. With a QB that can improvise like Manziel, linemen have to be on full alert until they know the play is over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgM5SdYQAXc

Matthews was named to the 2012 All-SEC first team in 2012 and received the second most votes for a lineman for the 2013 first team at SEC Media Day. Another successful season could see Matthews be the second Texas A&M lineman to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft in as many years.

Antonio ‘Tiny’ Richardson

Tiny Richardson will hold down the left tackle position on what should be the best offensive line in college football along with the Stanford Cardinal. Don’t let the possible lack of points that the Tennessee offense could put up fall on the offensive line. The Volunteers lost their starting quarterback (Tyler Bray), their top two receivers (Cordarrelle Patterson and Justin Hunter, who were drafted in the first and second rounds, respectively) and a first team All-SEC tight end (Mychal Rivera). Primary leadership for the offense will come from the offensive line. Richardson may not be the most vocal of linemen, since the other three returning starters are seniors; however, Richardson has the most potential and projects as a first round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, despite being a true junior. Richardson definitely isn’t quiet, though, as he stirred some feathers at Media Day by saying he thinks Jadeveon Clowney is overrated (gasp!). New head coach Butch Jones obviously thinks highly of him, as Richardson was one of the Vols’ representatives at SEC Media Day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EosODY9UVg

The biggest matchup for Tennessee’s line this season will be when South Carolina and Jadeveon Clowney come to town. You better believe that Richardson has this game marked on his calendar; last season, despite playing incredible against Clowney, the best player in college football regardless of position, Richardson is still haunted by the sack he gave up in the fourth quarter, where Clowney blew past the left tackle, sacked Bray, forcing a fumble and clinching the game for the Gamecocks.

Antonio Richardson and the UT offensive line will be the strength of the offense in 2013, vying to be the best in college football

The Vols’ success on offense starts up front. The more time they give the first year starter at QB (who has yet to be named) and the bigger gaps they create for Rajion Neal and Marlin Lane, the closer the Volunteers will be to returning to national prominence.

David Yankey

The casual observer might say that Stanford’s recent ascension in college football has to do with having a once in a generation QB under center (Andrew Luck), a coach who could end up in the Hall of Fame laying the foundation (Jim Harbaugh), and talented running backs year in and year out (Toby Gerhart/Stepfan Taylor). Not to take away from any of the aforementioned, but the biggest factor in the Cardinal’s success is arguably their strong line play on offense. Shoot, even a majority of their passing game involves tight ends, who line up on the offensive line. David Yankey just happens to be the next great Stanford lineman to step in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS2Zw-CbBho

Since Stanford will be looking to replace the school’s most prolific running back in Stepfan Taylor using a by-committee approach this year, strong line play is even more critical. Nothing gets a young back’s confidence up quicker than seeing huge gaps opened up by his offensive line. Stanford has two games against San Jose State (who went 11-2 last season but must replace their head coach who led them there) and Army before starting conference play against Arizona State. However, Yankey will lead a line that returns four starters, so expect them to be in midseason form within a few weeks of the opener. They will be the strength of the offense, protecting sophomore QB Kevin Hogan in addition to opening holes for the backs. In a league known for quick-scoring offenses, Stanford takes pride in its SEC-approach to the game: pounding out yard after yard on the ground.

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