Ranking the Big Ten: Offensive Tackle
As the 2024 college football season quickly approaches, it is time to look at the top players in the Big Ten Conference.
We continue our Ranking the Big Ten series by ranking the top five offensive tackles in the conference. Both tackles from a new Big Ten team made the list as well as one of the best tackles in the country.
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1. Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
Offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery was a second-team All-Big Ten pick in 2023 but is projected to be the best returning tackle in the Big Ten. In fact, Lindy’s selected Ersery as the No. 3 tackle in college football. The left tackle has played 1,662 snaps for the Gophers over the last two seasons.
The 6-foot-6, 325-pound tackle jumped from 2022, his first starting season, to 2023. His overall offense score jumped 23 points on PFF and 26 points in run blocking. He has the third-highest run-blocking grade of returning tackles.
Ersery allowed two sacks, five quarterback hits and eight quarterback hits in 2023. Phil Steele selected him as a third-team preseason All-American.
2. Ajani Cornelius, Oregon
Oregon’s Ajani Cornelius is the best returning right tackle in the conference. Before transferring to the Ducks, he spent three seasons at Rhode Island. Cornelius was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2023. Cornelius is expected to make a huge jump. PFF selected him as the best right tackle in the country in their Way-Too-Early 2024 All-America team.
Last season, Cornelius didn’t allow a sack and only let one quarterback hit through. He played 889 snaps during his first season as a Duck. His pass-blocking grade (85.3) was the third highest in the new Big Ten last season.
3. J.C. Davis, Illinois
J.C. Davis hasn’t played a down of Big Ten football, but he is expected to make a huge impact on Illinois’s offensive line. Davis transferred to Illinois after two seasons and 1,533 snaps at New Mexico. He started 24 games at left tackle and was a First-Team All-Mountain West selection in 2023.
Davis is the No. 3 returning pass-blocking tackle and the No. 2 run-blocking grade in the new Big Ten. He scored an 82.1 pass-blocking grade and an 84.7 run-block grade. Davis will anchor Illinois’s deep offensive line.
4. Riley Mahlman, Wisconsin
Wisconsin right tackle Riley Mahlman has one full season of starting each game under his belt. At right tackle in 2023, the 6-foot-8, 313-pound lineman played 944 total snaps over 13 games. Mahlman has the third highest offensive grade of the Big Ten returning tackles. He scored a 74.4 offense grade, a 73.1 run block and 76.6 pass block grade according to PFF.
Pro Football Focus picked the Lakeville, Minn. native on their 2023 All-Big Ten team as the right tackle. He is the only returning player on the list. Mahlman was a preseason fourth-team All-Big Ten pick by Phil Steele.
5. Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon Ducks
Oregon will have two strong bookends on their 2024 squad. Josh Conerly Jr. protects the left edge while Cornelius takes care of the right. In 901 snaps in 2023, Conerly allowed one sack, two QB hits and 14 total pressures.
The left tackle has the second best pass block grade of returning Big Ten tackles who played a significant amount in 2023. His 78.8 pass block grade is second to Cornelius, who has a 85.3 grade. The ends of Oregon’s offensive line will make it very difficult on opponents.
