You hear about it all the time: running backs want big lanes to run through, wide receivers want someone who can get them the ball, and quarterbacks need a clean pocket and time to step up in. So it’s no secret that any team’s offense literally runs through and starts up front. Although it’s not a sexy topic in the game, without a cohesive and talented line your offense will struggle. Whether you run an option-style scheme or have a “spread-‘em-out” game plan without protection from your offensive line, your production will fall far below expectations. On the other hand, a good offensive line can mask a lack of talent elsewhere and give the playmakers on the team more quality and quantity opportunities to shine. With that said let’s look at the top ten offensive lines in college football based on talent, cohesiveness, depth, and how they are projected to play in 2013.
1. Tennessee
Due to last year’s 5-7 record this may surprise you, but don’t think twice that it was the offensive line’s fault. This group averaged 160 rushing yards per game while allowing only eight sacks the entire year. With a new quarterback and group of receivers they will rely heavily on, it’s offensive line to help carry the offense. They have four of five starters returning including future NFL first-round pick Antonio Richardson who started all 12 games and was second-team ALL-SEC. Collectively, this line has 123 starts under their belt and average 316 pounds. New head coach Butch Jones will undoubtedly use the best offensive line in the nation to his advantage.
2. Texas
The Longhorns have talent up and down their roster and its starts with their offensive line. All five starters are back this year including three seniors and two juniors. All members were very highly touted recruits coming out of high school and even their backups are all four and five star recruits. Texas surprisingly hasn’t had an offensive lineman drafted since 2008 (Tony Hills) and they don’t have one guy that is head and shoulders above the rest. It’s their cohesiveness that makes them so dominant. They now have a NCAA best 124 career starts as they averaged 171 yards per game on the ground and only allowed 16 sacks last year. Look for Texas to be a surprise team this year with their offense able to move the ball effortlessly.
3. Texas A&M
A mobile quarterback like Johnny Manziel often can inflate the offensive lines sack numbers as, it’s not an easy task to hold blocks for a long period of time as they scramble. With that said, the Aggies still only allowed 23 sacks and helped pave the way to average 5.9 yards per carry during the year. It’s true they lost possibly their best piece in Luke Joeckel to the NFL however; they have his replacement All-American Jake Mathews waiting in the wings as he slides from right tackle over to left tackle. Texas A&M has plenty of other talent as well. Former guard Cedric Ogbuehi will move to right tackle and top recruits Jarvis Harrison and German Ifedi will start at the guard positions. Want cohesiveness? New center Mike Mathews is the brother of Jake Mathews so rest assured those family dinner table conversations are filled with Xs & Os. Sorry mom.
4. Georgia
Last year, this inexperienced unit (31 career starts) underachieved, yet they still improved to 183 yards per game rushing and allowed 27 sacks. Those stats aren’t bad when you realize they had an immobile quarterback who amassed -68 yards rushing. Their offense has fire power with running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall along with receiver Malcolm Mitchell and highly touted quarterback Aaron Murray. This offense however, will only go as far as their line will let them. Good news is they have all five starters back and jump to a collective 101 career starts. Of the three starting seniors Kenarious Gates is a NFL prospect along with promising sophomore tackle John Theus. Considering the depth, talent, and experience returning to the Bulldogs they should do nothing but excel in the 2013 season.
5. Florida State
Although they fall to five in this ranking don’t be surprised if the Seminoles were at the top of this list when it’s all said and done. This group has the type of potential to be dominant and help their team win a lot of games this upcoming season. Last year they averaged 5.6 yards per carry and allowed 26 sacks. Two years ago in the Champs Sports Bowl against Notre Dame they started four freshmen due to injuries. Although tough at the time, that move continues to pay dividends for this unit. All four returning starters are labeled NFL prospects as their only loss was Menelik Watson who was drafted in the second round by the Raiders, who will now be in filled in by highly touted JUCO transfer. This squad averages 318 pounds and has 96 career starts and will be a force to be reckoned with this year.
6. Oklahoma
Their might not have been a unit that underachieved more than their spring expectations last year than the Sooners offensive line. But, it’s not all their fault. Expected to be one of the best in the country, Oklahoma lost four linemen over the summer dropping them from 102 career starts to a dismal 43. Persevering through the tough losses they still put up solid numbers with only 15 sacks and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. This spring dealt them another low blow losing Tyler Evans to an ACL injury however; they still have four talented starters coming back. Assuming they don’t go through the same summer meltdown as last year the Sooners now with a more mobile quarterback will put up even better numbers and continue to improve as one of the nation’s best.
7. Florida
This unit isn’t lacking any talent. The story in Gainesville is how quickly can all the new faces come together and play as one because, the cohesiveness is as raw as it gets. Seniors Jonathan Harrison and guard Jon Halapio are the two returning starters. Then comes a big boost from transfers Tyler Moore from Nebraska and Max Garcia from Maryland. Arguably the most talented yet youngest piece to the puzzle is left tackle D.J. Humphries. Humphries was ranked third overall in 2012 recruiting. If he and the two new transfers can get acclimated quickly this will be one of the most improved units in the NCAA this year and should be vastly improved in sacks allowed from a year ago (39) and rushing yards per carry.
8. Ohio State
As much emphasis I earlier put on; having a good offensive line is a necessity for your quarterback, in Columbus it may be a rare case of the latter. Braxton Miller is one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the nation. He ran for over 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns while tossing over 2,000 yards with 15 touchdowns. He is a rare breed that makes everyone around him better including his linemen specifically on the stat sheet. Last year they averaged 242 yards per game rushing while allowing 30 sacks. The Buckeyes have four returning senior starters and will plug one of their many highly touted recruits in at the vacant position. All in all this team went undefeated last season and on paper only got better. Their offensive line will continue to get credit and be one of the best in the nation even without the top talent that other teams on this list possess.
9. Alabama
Hard to imagine a team that loses three linemen, two of which were first team All-Americans (Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker) and the third (Barrett Jones) who you could argue was one of the best linemen over the past couple of years could still be on this list. While I don’t want to know what Nick Saban is doing on his recruiting trips (because it’s probably not PG-13) the bottom line is it’s working. He’s been keeping the fridge fully stocked with his next batch of big boys upfront. Starting with left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio who is emerging as one of the top lineman in the nation, and senior Anthony Steen anchoring the right side at guard. Sophomore Ryan Kelly will fill in for Jones at center while the other two spots will most likely have an open competition. However, the heavy favorites (no pun intended) is Austin Shepard and Arie Kouandjio. The Tide in a similar situation had to replace three starters in 2009 and actually improved their numbers. While I won’t go that far I see this unit being a premier group leading there team back to another national title game.
10. Cincinnati
Last but not least the Bearcats are a bit of a surprise on this list but look a little closer and you’ll see they shouldn’t be. Last year Cincinnati only had two returning starters but still only allowed 15 sacks and averaged an astounding 201 yards rushing per game. This year they have all five returning starters back climbing there career start total to 83 games which ranks in the top 25 statistically. Two of those five starters are first team All-Conference players in Eric Lefeld and Austen Bujnoch. This unit should improve not only from a statistical stand point but should mesh together even more now that all five starting faces remain the same.