PFF ranks Top-10 returning offensive tackles in college football

Every year at the NFL Draft, we see offensive tackles flying off the board. Besides quarterback and maybe edge rusher, no position is valued more at the next level. So when colleges have elite guys returning at the position, it’s a huge advantage to have.

Plenty have left college football but there are still a ton of quality tackles remaining. PFF decided to rank the top 10 offensive tackles returning for the 2023 season. Names come from across the entire country, ranging from USC on the West Coast to a couple of teams out east.

When breaking the top 10 down by conference, the SEC and Pac-12 both have three representatives. Both have quality players throughout but NFL-caliber tackles are continually coming out of both conferences.

However, the No. 1 spot goes to a Notre Dame player — something we should not be surprised about. If you are looking for a former Fighting Irish offensive lineman in the NFL, you likely would not have to go too far.

1. Joe Alt, Notre Dame
2. Graham Barton, Duke
3. JC Latham, Alabama
4. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
5. Jonah Monheim, USC
6. Will Campbell, LSU
7. Kelvin Banks, Texas
8. Javon Foster, Missouri
9. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
10. Jordan Morgan, Arizona

Penn State’s Olumuyima Fashanu returns to college despite being projected first-round pick

Had Fashanu entered his name in the 2023 NFL Draft, he likely would have been selected somewhere in the top 10. Scouts were giving the Penn State product praise and were eager to get the draft process underway with him.

However, it never materialized. Fashanu decided to come back to Happy Valley for another season of college football. The announcement came before the Rose Bowl, with Fashanu not giving any specific reason for his return.

“I mean, it was a pretty hard decision,” Fashanu said. “At the end of the day, there are multiple factors that led me to coming back. I don’t want to go into the details, there are many different reasons why I wanted to come back and I’m glad I made that decision. I’m looking forward to looking forward. I’m looking forward like to working with my teammates in the offseason and getting better.”

Fashanu now projects as one of the best players in the country at the position. And the best part is, he will find himself in a similar position next offseason. Once Fashanu decides to declare for the NFL, he will once again be projected as a high pick.