Introducing the CFB Saturdays College Football OG/C Rankings

Over the next few weeks we will be unveiling our College Football player rankings by position. Today we will take a look at our College Football OG/C rankings. A few notes before we discuss the rankings themselves.

• The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
• Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
• Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
• We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the college football OG/C rankings here.

Battle at the Top

Ohio State‘s Wyatt Davis got the nod at number 1 but the next four guys on the list were also in discussion for the top spot. Davis (6’4″ 313 lbs) is a monster of an offensive lineman. He punishes defenders in the run game with his explosiveness off the ball and excellent strength. He is a good athlete who can pull out in front of the play and deliver a devastating block on a smaller defender. Davis’ pass blocking is not a concern either, he performed well in 1 on 1 situations and gets into his sets quickly. As a unit the Buckeyes struggled some with stunts last year so Davis and his fellow linemen will need to get that cleaned up. Davis is everything you look for in a guard and will be a star next season.

Trey Smith of Tennessee was a close 2nd when the dust settled and he is a fantastic player as well. Smith has excellent size at 6’6″ 325 lbs. He missed time in 2018 with a serious health issue but worked his way back and was an excellent guard for the Vols in 2019. Smith is strong at the point of attack and creates holes for the running game. He is an excellent pass blocker who uses his length and footwork to neutralize defenders. He returned to school to hone his skills but also show that his health issues are in the past. Smith is an excellent guard but with his length and agility could probably play tackle as well. He will be the leader on a good offensive line for the Volunteers in 2020.

Ranked 3rd on our list is Deonte Brown from Alabama. He returned from suspension during the 2019 season but quickly showed why he was one of the best guards in the country. Brown has incredible strength in his 6’4″ 338 lb build and uses it to maul defenders. He uses his size and strength to generate a good push at the point of attack creating running lanes for the Tide RBs. Brown is a solid pass blocker and is practically unmovable when he get his feet under him and locks onto the defender, but he needs to continue to work on his footwork and quickness as a blocker. With game experience and without the distraction of a suspension look for Brown to grow into a top guard in 2020.

Oklahoma‘s Creed Humphrey came in 4th on this list but if we used just his 2018 film he may have been higher. Humphrey (6’5″ 316 lbs) had a good 2019 but was even better in 2018. Sometimes the running style of a QB can make it harder for the lineman to anticipate where he is going to be so Jalen Hurts could have factored into this some. Humphrey has great feet at the center position and is quick enough to get off the ball and into his pass sets quickly. He is an intelligent player who picks up blitzes fairly well. In the run game Humphrey get out of his stance quickly and engages defenders effectively. He does everything well and should be a leader for the Sooners in 2020 as they break in a young QB.

Josh Myers of Ohio State checks in at number 5 in the college football OG/C rankings. Myers has good length at 6’5″ 310 lbs and excellent feet as well. He has the ability to get out on the edge or downfield as a run blocker. He is an intelligent player and a leader on the Buckeye’s offensive line. Myers locks on to defenders and drives them out of the hole creating long runs for the backs and QB Justin Fields. Myers has sound technique as a pass blocker but needs to work on adjusting to different blitzes and stunts quickly so he can set his feet and engage the pass rushers. With a year of experience under his belt Myers will make a push to be the best center in the country in 2020.

Just missed the Top 5

Placing 6th on the list is Trey Hill from Georgia. Hill is massive for a center at 6’4″ 330 lbs but still has good mobility for a guy so big. Hill uses his size to open up holes in the run game but is also effective against interior pass rushers in the pass game. Hill became more consistent as the season went on and is on the cusp of being one of the very best interior offensive lineman in the country. He will be asked to take a leadership role on a Georgia offensive line that lost three starters to the NFL this past season. Hill arrived at Georgia as a highly touted recruit, he will leave a top NFL draft prospect.

Kentucky‘s Drake Jackson holds the number 7 spot. Jackson (6’2″ 313 lbs) is an ideal college center. He is a leader in the position group and on the football field. Jackson has been a consistent performer for three seasons now, performing well as a run blocker and a pass blocker. Kentucky was forced to switch to a run heavy offense midway through the season in 2019, but the line transitioned flawlessly. The ease of such a transition is a credit to the center who has to make the line calls and adjust to what he is seeing on the field. Jackson is the type of player who will be a steady performer week in and week out, whether someone notices or not. Take notice Wildcats fans and opponents, Jackson is a top center in 2020.

Alijah Vera-Tucker from USC fills the 8th spot in the college football OG/C rankings. Vera-Tucker is a strong player at 6’4″ 310 lbs. He was recruited as a player who could play guard or tackle but settled in at guard in 2019 and made 13 starts. He was a 2nd team all conference selection but decided to return for another season in college. Vera-Tucker has great feet for an interior lineman and uses them well in pass protection. He needs to work on his run blocking but is not a liability in that regard either. As he learns to come off the ball with good pad level he will progress in this area as well. USC QB Kedon Slovis (#5 QB) will be glad to have Vera-Tucker to protect him from pass rushers in 2020.

In the number 9 spot is Penn State‘s Michael Menet a 6’4″ 313 lb center. Menet is a great run blocker, he finds defenders and clears running lanes. He drives well off the snap and uses good leverage to clear defenders out of the way. He is also a good pass blocker but this part of his game is not as strong as his run blocking. He needs to be more consistent in his technique to maximize his pass blocking but the tools are there to excel in this area as well. There is no real weakness in Menet’s game however, and the Nittany Lions will look to him to lead their offensive line this season.

Watch Out For These Guys

Iowa‘s Tyler Linderbaum closes out the top ten. Linderbaum is a typical Iowa offensive lineman which should be description enough for people who follow the Hawkeyes’ program. Linderbaum (6’3″ 286 lbs) is not as big as the other lineman on this list but he is very athletic. He was a defensive tackle who switched to center before the 2019 season. There were a couple hiccups along the way but as the season went on Linderbaum learned to use that athleticism to his advantage. By the end of the season he was sound pass blocker and a good run blocker. There is so much room for Linderbaum to continue to improve, if he learns the nuances of the position he will make a case to shoot up the college football OG/C rankings.

Doug Kramer of Illinois is the 13th ranked player on this list. Kramer (6’2″ 300 lbs) excels as a pass blocker. He has good feet and good technique, allowing him to handle interior pass rushers well. He needs to improve on his run blocking but is adequate in this area as well. Normally, interior lineman are better run blockers and need to polish their pass protection, but Kramer is the opposite. He is a coachable kid and should continue to improve in this area, how much he improves will determine how high he can get on this list.

Our 15th ranked player is Pittsburgh center Jimmy Morrissey. The 6’3″ 305 lb blocker is someone you do not want to bet against. Morrissey began his career as a walk-on but has been a starter for the Panthers for three seasons. He is a very good pass blocker and a great leader on the field. He is consistent and steady rarely having a play where he was out of position or made a mistake. Morrissey earned 1st team All ACC honors in 2019 as one of the top blockers in the conference. He is the type of kid who will outwork the competition, and just when you think he has reached his ceiling, he raises it higher.

Notre Dame’s Aaron Banks is one of three Notre Dame players on the list checking in at number 19. Banks has excellent size at 6’6″ 325 lbs, and uses that length well in pass protection. He is a tackle playing guard in a lot of ways and excels in pass protection. He has been a mainstay on the Notre Dame offensive line for a season and a half now and gets better every time you watch him. He has the tools to translate into a great run blocker as well, and if he adds that to his pass blocking prowess, the sky is the limit for Banks. The Notre Dame offensive line will be good in 2020, but if Banks progresses like he can they could be great.

Click here for the Top 25 OG/C Rankings.

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