The top offensive line units in college football ranked by Phil Steele

The offensive line is one of the most important pieces of any good football team. You could put the second coming of Peyton Manning behind a bad offensive line and it wouldn’t make a difference. The big boys up front need to do their jobs effectively in order for teams to move the football.

College football expert Phil Steele recently released his rankings of who he thinks will be the top ten offensive line units in America. Which road graders made the cut? Let’s get into it!

Top offensive line units per Phil Steele

10. North Carolina Tar Heels

Last season, the UNC offensive line opened up holes for star running backs Michael Carter and Javonte Williams, both of whom have moved onto the NFL. The Heels had one of the best running attacks in the country in 2020.

They averaged 236 rushing yards per game; while averaging 6.4 yards per carry. All five starters from the 2020 offensive line return for UNC. They average 6-5 and 325 pounds tackle to tackle and boast 111 career starts between them. Mind-blowing numbers.

9. Boston College Eagles

The Boston College offensive line unit returns four NFL prospects in the starting lineup, according to Steele. Their offensive line allowed 28 sacks in 2020, but they’ve had a full season of playing together; so they should be much improved. Ben Petrula is one of the best guards in the nation.

8. Oregon Ducks

In 2020, the Ducks offensive line had to replace five starters from the previous season but still managed to perform admirably. The Ducks averaged 4.9 yards-per-carry on the ground, while only allowing 11 sacks. This season the unit returns six players from 2020 that started.

7. Georgia Bulldogs

Four starters are expected back for this Georgia offensive line that was good last season. They should be even better in 2021 with the experience coming back. Jamaree Salyer earned pre-season honorable mention All-American honors from College Football News and is one of the nation’s best tackles.

6. Alabama Crimson Tide

Even though they lost plenty of talent to the NFL Draft, Alabama just reloads like they do every year. The next great in Tuscaloosa is preseason First Team All-American Evan Neal. The junior is a 6-7, 360-pound behemoth. He’s moving to left tackle this season but projects as a guard in the NFL.

5. Utah Utes

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham told Steele the 2021 version of his offensive line is the best he’s had in 17 years of coaching at Utah. That’s saying a lot because some of the offensive lines in Salt Lake City have been very good over the years. Nick Ford can play a variety of positions and was named preseason second team All-American by College Football News.

4. Iowa State Cyclones

Even though the unit returned one starter in 2020, they still finished as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s top offensive line. Senior Colin Newell is among the nation’s very best centers and earned pre-season honorable mention All-America honors by College Football News. The Cyclones return all seven starters from the 2020 group and they have 93 starts between them.

3. Washington Huskies

The Huskies’ offensive line allowed just one sack in 2020. They return their whole offensive line from last season. The size of this unit is absolutely massive, averaging 6-5, 323 pounds tackle to tackle.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes return an offensive line that has six starters coming back from 2020. They’re a massive group, averaging 6-5, 315 pounds tackle to tackle. Tackle Thayer Munford is one of the nation’s very best and earned preseason Honorable Mention All-America honors from College Football News.

1. Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners’ offensive line is usually among the nation’s best and this year is no different. It’s a big reason why many people are picking the Sooners to win the National Championship this year. They return all five starters from 2020, with the unit boasting 126 career starts between them. Guard Marquis Hayes is a 6-5, 324-pound mammoth that earned preseason First Team All-America accolades from College Football News.