Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Historical Debate ... O-Line U.
By Pete Fiutak
Unlike Richard Cirminiello, I don't care a lick about pro production when it comes to schools producing great wide receiver. All I care about is college production in college careers.
Also forget about NFL-type talent and go by what actually happened on the field. Go back to 1970 and knowing what you know now, which schools had the best offensive line production at the highest level?
So without further ado, here are the 20 schools that produced the best college offensive linemen since around 1970 along with the five greatest linemen for each team. Once again, this is based on production and not just talent. Only college players from, roughly, the past 35 years have been considered.
[SIZE=14pt]1. Nebraska[/SIZE]
Really, what other school could it be considering the combination of legends and quantity of great players? Despite slipping a wee bit recently, no program has consistently cranked out dominant linemen like Nebraska with a who's who of All-Americans and some standard-bearers for college football greatness.
Nebraska's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Dave Rimington - You know you had a good career when the annual award for the nation's best center is named after you. Rimington won the Outland Trophy in 1981 and 1982 along with the Lombardi in 1982.
2) Dean Steinkuhler - One of the greatest guards of all-time, Steinkuhler led the way for Mike Rozier and the juggernaut 1983 offense. He won both the Lombardi and the Outland.
3) Aaron Taylor - The only Husker to earn All-America honors at two different positions starting out at center before winning the Outland as a tackle in 1997.
4) Zach Wiegert - The three-time all-conference performer only allowed one sack in three seasons. He won the Outland in 1994.
5) Will Shields - The 1992 Outland winner paved the way for the best rushing offenses in America in 1989, 1991 and 1992.
2. Michigan
The Wolverines haven't just cranked out high-profile players like Dan Dierdorf and Jumbo Elliott, they also boast several unsung All-Americans like Rod Payne, Joe Cocozzo and Dean Dingman that few college football fans will remember. Few schools have had more top-level linemen.
Michigan's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Dan Dierdorf - The All-American wasn't just a powerful run blocker, he was outstanding when he got on the move combining strength with athleticism.
2) Stefan Humphries - The two-time All-American and All-Academic selection was considered one of the most dominant guards of the 1980s.
3) Steve Hutchinson - The two-time All-American started 45 games and didn't allow a sack in his final two seasons. He was the fourth player in Big Ten history to earn first-team honors in four years.
4) John Elliott - Jumbo was a two-time All-American playing for four years paving the way for several very good Wolverine backs.
5) Greg Skrepenak - If you want to say that Reggie McKenzie deserves this spot you won't get an argument. Skrepenak was the biggest Michigan player ever and set a record starting 48 straight games. He was a two-time All-American.
3. Ohio State
The Buckeyes have had one of the best running games in college football over the last several decades and it's all due to the great linemen upfront. Orlando Pace, John Hicks were the most decorated, but there were plenty of All-Americans with a first-teamer from 1970 to 1977 and at least one from 1993 to 1998. Unsung stars like Rob Murphy and Chris Ward only help to boost the ranking.
Ohio State's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Orlando Pace - One of the greatest offensive linemen of all-time, Pace won the Lombardi Award in 1995 and 1996 and the Outland in 1996. He also finished fourth in the 1996 Heisman race after not allowing a sack in his last two seasons. He made the Pancake Block a common term.
2) John Hicks - The leader of a great Buckeye running game featuring a young Archie Griffin, Hicks finished second for the 1973 Heisman.
3) Korey Stringer - The late NFL star was a two-time All-American earning the honors in 1993 and 1994.
4) Jim Lachey - More known for his pro career, Lachey didn't get much playing time until his senior year when he led the way for Keith Byars in 1984.
5) LeCharles Bentley - The 2001 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and All-American also won the Rimington Award.
4. USC
Someone had to pave the way for all of the great USC running backs over the years. Generally Trojan linemen turned out to be better pros than college players, but there were still some legends in the college game.
USC's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Brad Budde - Everyone assumes Anthony Munoz is the greatest USC offensive lineman of all-time, and he might have been, but knee injuries kept him down in his All-America career. Budde was USC's first Lombardi Award winner and an All-American in 1979 .He was a four-year starter and a dominator for several fantastic Trojan teams.
2) Anthony Munoz - O.K., so there probably isn't another player you'd want to run a key play behind, but those knee injuries kept his college career from being everything it should've been.
3) Marvin Powell - Powell was an All-American in 1975 and 1976 and was on the 1974 national championship line. He was a three-time All-Pac 10 performer.
4) Tony Boselli - The standard for offensive linemen in the 1990s, Boselli was a two-time All-American and a three-time first-team All-Pac 10 performer.
5) Bruce Matthews - The two-time All-Pac 10 honoree also earned All-America honors in 1982 as the dominant guard on the early 1980s Trojan teams.
5. Alabama
Start with possibly the greatest college football lineman of all-time, John Hannah, and it's easy to find other great Bama players to fill to get the Tide in the top ten. Alabama's dominance in the world of college football has started with the O line.
Alabama's five greatest offensive linemen
1) John Hannah - Considered by many to be the greatest offensive linemen ever, Hannah is in the College Football Hall of Fame. He led the way to a 21-3 record and SEC championships in 1971 and 1972.
2) Chris Samuels - The All-American was Alabama's first ever Outland Trophy winner starting 42 consecutive games earning All-SEC honors in 1998 and 1999.
3) Dwight Stevenson - One of the greatest centers to ever play college and pro, Stevenson was an All-American in 1979 and was named the SEC's best blocker.
4) Sylvester Croom - The Mississippi State head coach was the top blocker on Bama team that went 32-4 in his career winning the 1973 national title. He was an All-American in 1974.
5) Buddy Brown - This is very debatable. The Bearcat was named to the Tide team of the decade for the 1970's as the top tackle combining with Croom to make a fantastic line in the early 1970s.
6. Pittsburgh
While there aren't the massive number of great linemen over the years that many of the top programs can boast, Pittsburgh has a few of the best ever. It's hard to beat the trio of Bill Fralic, Jimbo Covert and Mark May.
Pittsburgh's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Bill Fralic - Pittsburgh's only three-time All-American was so dominant that the term "pancake block" was (arguably) started by the sports information department. He entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
2) Jimbo Covert - The two-time All-American entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
3) Mark May - May's great career finished up with an All-America and Outland Trophy winning 1980 season.
4) Mark Stepnoski - The 1988 All-American was one of the top student-athletes in college football. He was one of the three finalists for the Outland Trophy.
5) Ruben Brown - Brown came to Pittsburgh as a defensive tackle and ended up starting for four years on the offensive side earning All-America honors in 1994..
7. UCLA
It's hard to think of UCLA as a big-time school for offensive linemen with those baby blue uniforms, but some great players have come through Westwood with some great all-around blockers.
UCLA's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Jonathan Ogden - The two-time All-Pac 10 performer won the Outland Trophy and was the runner up in 1995. He allowed only one sack in his final two seasons and was a starter for three-and-a-half years.
2) Kris Farris - Farris started all 35 games in his career winning the Outland Trophy in 1998.
3) Luis Sharpe - A four-year fixture at tackle, Sharpe was an All-American in 1981. .
4) Irv Eatman - Eatman started for three seasons and was a two-time first-team All-Pac 10 performer.
5) Randy Cross - Known more for his work with the San Francisco 49ers and on CBS, Cross was a great college player starting his final 23 games seeing time at center and guard. He was an All-American in 1975.
8. Texas
Texas linemen don't get too much credit as there haven't been many great NFL players in the bunch, but there were several high draft picks. This is a case of a program having far more college talent than pro.
Texas' five greatest offensive linemen
1) Jerry Sisemore - The two-time All-American was the dominant blocker on the 1971 and 1972 Longhorns. He was also a top player as a sophomore helping to lead the Longhorns to a national title.
2) Bob Simmons - The three-time All-SWC performer and two-time All-American was the lead blocker for a young Earl Campbell and for Roosevelt Leaks.
3) Bobby Wuensch - Yeah, I'll count Wuensch's 1969 season. He was a mainstay on two national championship lines.
4) Leonard Davis - He only had one really strong year, but that 2000 season was a great one becoming of the nation's elite tackles.
5) Mike Williams - The two-time All-Big 12 selection came into his own as one of college football's top blockers in 2001.
9. Penn State
I admit to being somewhat stunned by this as Penn State offensive linemen don't immediately come to mind when thinking of the best ever. The Nittany Lions have had a slew of tremendous ones, but few real standouts.
Penn State's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Jeff Hartings - Hartings was the unsung star of some of Joe Paterno's highest octane teams. He started at guard earning All-American honors in 1994 and 1995 and was a three-time All-Big Ten selection.
2) Steve Wisniewski - The two-time All-American started for three years in the late 1980s as the anchor of a few solid Nittany Lion lines.
3) Keith Dorney - A fixture on the line of the dominant teams of the late 1970s, Dorney was a two-time All-American.
4) Sean Farrell - Farrell was a finalist for both the Lombardi and Outland Awards along with earning All-American honors in 1981.
5) Dave Joyner - Mike Munchak probably belongs here, but he didn't earn All-America honors. Joyner was the key to the explosive 1971 team.
10.Miami
I struggled with the number ten team as there were several that were all about the same. I went with Miami because of greatness of Bryant McKinnie and Dennis Harrah.
Miami's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Bryant McKinnie - Harrah probably deserves this, but an argument could be made that McKinnie was the best offensive player in college football in 2001 when he won the Outland. He was a two-time All-American. He didn't allow a sack in his Miami career.
2) Dennis Harrah - The two-time All-American's 1974 season made him the last Hurricane All-America offensive lineman until Leon Searcy in 1991.
3) Brett Romberg - The dominant offensive lineman won the Rimington Award in 2002.
4) Joaquin Gonzalez - There have been more talented Miami linemen, but few were as steady for as long. He was a two-time All-Big East and All-America selection.
5) Leon Searcy - Searcy was the best offensive lineman Miami had seen in a few decades earning All-America honors in 1991.
Honorable U.
The next ten greatest offensive line schools over the last 35 years (remember, based on college production)...
11. Wisconsin - The main man: Aaron Gibson
12. Oklahoma - The main man: Greg Roberts
13. Colorado - The main man: Andre Gurode
14. Michigan State - The main man: Tony Mandarich
15. Iowa - The main man: Robert Gallery
16. Notre Dame - The main man: Aaron Taylor
17. Tennessee - The main man: Antone Davis
18. Florida State - The main man: Alex Barron
19. Arkansas - The main man: Shawn Andrews
20. Florida - The main man: Mike Pearson
By Pete Fiutak
Unlike Richard Cirminiello, I don't care a lick about pro production when it comes to schools producing great wide receiver. All I care about is college production in college careers.
Also forget about NFL-type talent and go by what actually happened on the field. Go back to 1970 and knowing what you know now, which schools had the best offensive line production at the highest level?
So without further ado, here are the 20 schools that produced the best college offensive linemen since around 1970 along with the five greatest linemen for each team. Once again, this is based on production and not just talent. Only college players from, roughly, the past 35 years have been considered.
[SIZE=14pt]1. Nebraska[/SIZE]
Really, what other school could it be considering the combination of legends and quantity of great players? Despite slipping a wee bit recently, no program has consistently cranked out dominant linemen like Nebraska with a who's who of All-Americans and some standard-bearers for college football greatness.
Nebraska's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Dave Rimington - You know you had a good career when the annual award for the nation's best center is named after you. Rimington won the Outland Trophy in 1981 and 1982 along with the Lombardi in 1982.
2) Dean Steinkuhler - One of the greatest guards of all-time, Steinkuhler led the way for Mike Rozier and the juggernaut 1983 offense. He won both the Lombardi and the Outland.
3) Aaron Taylor - The only Husker to earn All-America honors at two different positions starting out at center before winning the Outland as a tackle in 1997.
4) Zach Wiegert - The three-time all-conference performer only allowed one sack in three seasons. He won the Outland in 1994.
5) Will Shields - The 1992 Outland winner paved the way for the best rushing offenses in America in 1989, 1991 and 1992.
2. Michigan
The Wolverines haven't just cranked out high-profile players like Dan Dierdorf and Jumbo Elliott, they also boast several unsung All-Americans like Rod Payne, Joe Cocozzo and Dean Dingman that few college football fans will remember. Few schools have had more top-level linemen.
Michigan's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Dan Dierdorf - The All-American wasn't just a powerful run blocker, he was outstanding when he got on the move combining strength with athleticism.
2) Stefan Humphries - The two-time All-American and All-Academic selection was considered one of the most dominant guards of the 1980s.
3) Steve Hutchinson - The two-time All-American started 45 games and didn't allow a sack in his final two seasons. He was the fourth player in Big Ten history to earn first-team honors in four years.
4) John Elliott - Jumbo was a two-time All-American playing for four years paving the way for several very good Wolverine backs.
5) Greg Skrepenak - If you want to say that Reggie McKenzie deserves this spot you won't get an argument. Skrepenak was the biggest Michigan player ever and set a record starting 48 straight games. He was a two-time All-American.
3. Ohio State
The Buckeyes have had one of the best running games in college football over the last several decades and it's all due to the great linemen upfront. Orlando Pace, John Hicks were the most decorated, but there were plenty of All-Americans with a first-teamer from 1970 to 1977 and at least one from 1993 to 1998. Unsung stars like Rob Murphy and Chris Ward only help to boost the ranking.
Ohio State's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Orlando Pace - One of the greatest offensive linemen of all-time, Pace won the Lombardi Award in 1995 and 1996 and the Outland in 1996. He also finished fourth in the 1996 Heisman race after not allowing a sack in his last two seasons. He made the Pancake Block a common term.
2) John Hicks - The leader of a great Buckeye running game featuring a young Archie Griffin, Hicks finished second for the 1973 Heisman.
3) Korey Stringer - The late NFL star was a two-time All-American earning the honors in 1993 and 1994.
4) Jim Lachey - More known for his pro career, Lachey didn't get much playing time until his senior year when he led the way for Keith Byars in 1984.
5) LeCharles Bentley - The 2001 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and All-American also won the Rimington Award.
4. USC
Someone had to pave the way for all of the great USC running backs over the years. Generally Trojan linemen turned out to be better pros than college players, but there were still some legends in the college game.
USC's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Brad Budde - Everyone assumes Anthony Munoz is the greatest USC offensive lineman of all-time, and he might have been, but knee injuries kept him down in his All-America career. Budde was USC's first Lombardi Award winner and an All-American in 1979 .He was a four-year starter and a dominator for several fantastic Trojan teams.
2) Anthony Munoz - O.K., so there probably isn't another player you'd want to run a key play behind, but those knee injuries kept his college career from being everything it should've been.
3) Marvin Powell - Powell was an All-American in 1975 and 1976 and was on the 1974 national championship line. He was a three-time All-Pac 10 performer.
4) Tony Boselli - The standard for offensive linemen in the 1990s, Boselli was a two-time All-American and a three-time first-team All-Pac 10 performer.
5) Bruce Matthews - The two-time All-Pac 10 honoree also earned All-America honors in 1982 as the dominant guard on the early 1980s Trojan teams.
5. Alabama
Start with possibly the greatest college football lineman of all-time, John Hannah, and it's easy to find other great Bama players to fill to get the Tide in the top ten. Alabama's dominance in the world of college football has started with the O line.
Alabama's five greatest offensive linemen
1) John Hannah - Considered by many to be the greatest offensive linemen ever, Hannah is in the College Football Hall of Fame. He led the way to a 21-3 record and SEC championships in 1971 and 1972.
2) Chris Samuels - The All-American was Alabama's first ever Outland Trophy winner starting 42 consecutive games earning All-SEC honors in 1998 and 1999.
3) Dwight Stevenson - One of the greatest centers to ever play college and pro, Stevenson was an All-American in 1979 and was named the SEC's best blocker.
4) Sylvester Croom - The Mississippi State head coach was the top blocker on Bama team that went 32-4 in his career winning the 1973 national title. He was an All-American in 1974.
5) Buddy Brown - This is very debatable. The Bearcat was named to the Tide team of the decade for the 1970's as the top tackle combining with Croom to make a fantastic line in the early 1970s.
6. Pittsburgh
While there aren't the massive number of great linemen over the years that many of the top programs can boast, Pittsburgh has a few of the best ever. It's hard to beat the trio of Bill Fralic, Jimbo Covert and Mark May.
Pittsburgh's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Bill Fralic - Pittsburgh's only three-time All-American was so dominant that the term "pancake block" was (arguably) started by the sports information department. He entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
2) Jimbo Covert - The two-time All-American entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
3) Mark May - May's great career finished up with an All-America and Outland Trophy winning 1980 season.
4) Mark Stepnoski - The 1988 All-American was one of the top student-athletes in college football. He was one of the three finalists for the Outland Trophy.
5) Ruben Brown - Brown came to Pittsburgh as a defensive tackle and ended up starting for four years on the offensive side earning All-America honors in 1994..
7. UCLA
It's hard to think of UCLA as a big-time school for offensive linemen with those baby blue uniforms, but some great players have come through Westwood with some great all-around blockers.
UCLA's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Jonathan Ogden - The two-time All-Pac 10 performer won the Outland Trophy and was the runner up in 1995. He allowed only one sack in his final two seasons and was a starter for three-and-a-half years.
2) Kris Farris - Farris started all 35 games in his career winning the Outland Trophy in 1998.
3) Luis Sharpe - A four-year fixture at tackle, Sharpe was an All-American in 1981. .
4) Irv Eatman - Eatman started for three seasons and was a two-time first-team All-Pac 10 performer.
5) Randy Cross - Known more for his work with the San Francisco 49ers and on CBS, Cross was a great college player starting his final 23 games seeing time at center and guard. He was an All-American in 1975.
8. Texas
Texas linemen don't get too much credit as there haven't been many great NFL players in the bunch, but there were several high draft picks. This is a case of a program having far more college talent than pro.
Texas' five greatest offensive linemen
1) Jerry Sisemore - The two-time All-American was the dominant blocker on the 1971 and 1972 Longhorns. He was also a top player as a sophomore helping to lead the Longhorns to a national title.
2) Bob Simmons - The three-time All-SWC performer and two-time All-American was the lead blocker for a young Earl Campbell and for Roosevelt Leaks.
3) Bobby Wuensch - Yeah, I'll count Wuensch's 1969 season. He was a mainstay on two national championship lines.
4) Leonard Davis - He only had one really strong year, but that 2000 season was a great one becoming of the nation's elite tackles.
5) Mike Williams - The two-time All-Big 12 selection came into his own as one of college football's top blockers in 2001.
9. Penn State
I admit to being somewhat stunned by this as Penn State offensive linemen don't immediately come to mind when thinking of the best ever. The Nittany Lions have had a slew of tremendous ones, but few real standouts.
Penn State's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Jeff Hartings - Hartings was the unsung star of some of Joe Paterno's highest octane teams. He started at guard earning All-American honors in 1994 and 1995 and was a three-time All-Big Ten selection.
2) Steve Wisniewski - The two-time All-American started for three years in the late 1980s as the anchor of a few solid Nittany Lion lines.
3) Keith Dorney - A fixture on the line of the dominant teams of the late 1970s, Dorney was a two-time All-American.
4) Sean Farrell - Farrell was a finalist for both the Lombardi and Outland Awards along with earning All-American honors in 1981.
5) Dave Joyner - Mike Munchak probably belongs here, but he didn't earn All-America honors. Joyner was the key to the explosive 1971 team.
10.Miami
I struggled with the number ten team as there were several that were all about the same. I went with Miami because of greatness of Bryant McKinnie and Dennis Harrah.
Miami's five greatest offensive linemen
1) Bryant McKinnie - Harrah probably deserves this, but an argument could be made that McKinnie was the best offensive player in college football in 2001 when he won the Outland. He was a two-time All-American. He didn't allow a sack in his Miami career.
2) Dennis Harrah - The two-time All-American's 1974 season made him the last Hurricane All-America offensive lineman until Leon Searcy in 1991.
3) Brett Romberg - The dominant offensive lineman won the Rimington Award in 2002.
4) Joaquin Gonzalez - There have been more talented Miami linemen, but few were as steady for as long. He was a two-time All-Big East and All-America selection.
5) Leon Searcy - Searcy was the best offensive lineman Miami had seen in a few decades earning All-America honors in 1991.
Honorable U.
The next ten greatest offensive line schools over the last 35 years (remember, based on college production)...
11. Wisconsin - The main man: Aaron Gibson
12. Oklahoma - The main man: Greg Roberts
13. Colorado - The main man: Andre Gurode
14. Michigan State - The main man: Tony Mandarich
15. Iowa - The main man: Robert Gallery
16. Notre Dame - The main man: Aaron Taylor
17. Tennessee - The main man: Antone Davis
18. Florida State - The main man: Alex Barron
19. Arkansas - The main man: Shawn Andrews
20. Florida - The main man: Mike Pearson
Last edited by a moderator:
