The countdown to the college football season continues with fans across the country doing their absolute best to remain patient until September. It’s only a couple of months away now. The focus will remain on the top projected contenders over the next couple of months, but we took the time to break down the rosters and build the best possible offense by drawing from every conference. This is the first part in a series of articles where we look at the ideal perfect starting college football lineup across the lines of scrimmage, the skill positions and defense. Check back to see the other articles in the set.
Here is a look at the choices for our optimal offensive line in our perfect college football lineup.
Left Tackle: Cam Robinson Jr. Alabama Crimson Tide
Junior
Robinson returns as one of the top offensive linemen in the entire country and while he was involved in some issues off the field this offseason, the Crimson Tide will do everything in their power to make sure he is ready to go for the start of the season. At 6’6’’ and 327 pounds, Robinson is an outstanding anchor in pass sets and has demonstrated an ability to make impact plays in the run game as well. The one thing we know about Alabama is they do the fundamentals very well, including protecting the quarterbacks blindside. In recent years, they have become a factory for NFL first-round picks and Robinson Jr. is in that same classic. The projected first round pick for 2017 NFL Draft is the perfect anchor on the left side of our college football lineup .
Left Guard: Pat Elflein, Ohio State Buckeyes
Senior
Elfein isn’t as big as Robinson but he has a lower center of gravity and has done an excellent job in both pass and run sets at Ohio State. The Buckeyes could experiment with him at the center position this year but for our purposes, we are keeping him at guard. The one thing we do know about Buckeyes linemen is that they have to be versatile and athletic. Urban Meyer’s offense is very dynamic with a heavy emphasis on running, so the five lineman have to be in great shape. Elflein fits that mold. At 6’3’’, 300 pounds, the guard is an absolute beast and he is the ideal compliment to the mammoth Robinson to solidify the left side of our line.
Center: Ethan Pocic, LSU Tigers
Senior
Pocic is one of the most intriguing linemen in the country heading into this season because of his massive height. The 6’7’’, 309 pound-center does an excellent job getting low and leveraging his size against opposing defenders. He is a tower of a man and opposing defensive linemen don’t look forward going up against him. He is also a tremendous leader that can call out protections as the captain of this group. With running back Leonard Fournette running wild and possibly gunning for a Heisman Trophy, look for Pocic to get plenty of acclaim as one of the people who facilitates that.
Right Guard: Dan Freeney, Indiana Hoosiers
Senior
Our second offensive line entry from the Big Ten is the Indiana guard Freeney, who is expected to dominate heading in to his senior season. He has shown he can do an outstanding job both in run and pass situations as well as play multiple positions if need be. Freeney has ideal size at 6’4’’ and 310 pounds, and he has spent the past couple of years developing his technique to emerge as one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the country.
Right Tackle: Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Junior
The final spot on our optimal offensive line belongs to the Fighting Irish tackle McGlinchey, who is also among the projected first round picks for the 2017 NFL Draft. McGlinchey is an absolute monster at 6’7’’ and 310 pounds, and he will be relied on heavily to step up this year to lead a group that will undergo some significant changes this offseason. The one constant will be the play of McGlinchey on the offensive line as the junior tackle will lead the way up front for Notre Dame once again this season.
