It doesn’t really seem to matter whether it’s the NFL or college football as either way it is the skill position players that always seem to get the majority of the attention while the lineman get overlooked. The emergence of exotic offenses that feature creative vertical passing games has shifted even more attention to the wide receivers and running backs but in order for those players to succeed they need a talented offensive line to give them the time and space they need to make big plays. Here is a look at the four best offensive lines in the SEC East right now.
Tennessee Volunteers
Offensive line play was a major issue for Butch Jones in his first two years as the head coach at Tennessee but that changed last year when a relatively young unit came together with a solid performance. Jashon Robertson and Dylan Wiesman thrived at the guard positions while center Coleman Thomas bridged the interior with a strong season. All three of those players are back for 2016 along with right tackle Brett Kendrick. The lone question is who will start at left tackle with Drew Richmond the favorite to land the blindside protection role for quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Richmond has immense potential and if he performs at a high level this offensive line will be the best in the SEC East next season.
Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats ranked 10th in the SEC in sacks allowed and 10th in tackles for a loss but there is reason to expect them to be a lot better next season. First of all, Kentucky returns four of its five starters from a year ago. Second, another year of experience should really help a group of veterans who are all above 300 pounds. Jon Toth was one of the best centers in the SEC while junior college transfer Tate Leavitt and four-star tackle prospect Landon Young should push for playing time. The Wildcats struggled up front a year ago but the overall talent and added experience should mean Kentucky has one of the better offensive lines in the SEC East.
Georgia Bulldogs
Center Brandon Kublanow and guards Greg Pyke and Dyshon Sims should make up a strong interior for the Bulldogs and if they can make it work at the tackle spots their offensive line will be solid. Rhode Island graduate transfer Tyler Catalina is expected to slide in to the left tackle spot while Isaiah Wynn is projected to start on the right side. Head coach Kirby Smart talked openly about the lack of size across the line but the interior is tough and can play physical so if the tackles can hold their own Georgia’s offensive line should be fairly solid next season.
South Carolina Gamecocks
The fact that the Gamecocks get this final position despite just two returning starters on their offensive line is testament to the state of the rest of the SEC East heading in to 2016. As we’ve all come to find out, the strongest teams in the SEC are in the West, and that leaves a number of weaklings in the East.
Alan Knott is a solid center and senior Mason Zandi brings some experience to the left tackle position but South Carolina will be relying on a handful of young players to step up and bridge the gap. The good news is that they have plenty of size with Knott as the lone projected starter under 300 pounds with offensive coordinator Kurt Roper’s running a system that relies heavily on power and toughness up front. What the Gamecocks lack in experience they make up in talent and size and their offensive line projects to be more formidable than what Vanderbilt, Missouri and Florida are expected to field in 2016. If that’s the case, life could be easier than expected for Will Muschamp in his first year at head coach. There are a lot of things to rebuild on this team, so if the offensive line is strong, that would be a huge bonus.
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