OG/C Rankings: A Closer Look At #1 OG/C Tyler Linderbaum

With the off-season upon us we will be removing the players that have moved on to the NFL from our player rankings and re-ranking for the 2021 season. Before we jump into Tyler Linderbaum being ranked number one, here’s a few reminders about 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.

Iowa center, Tyler Linderbaum takes the top spot in our rankings to start the 2021 season after finishing the 2020 season in the third spot. Linderbaum has been a force on the interior of the offensive line the past two seasons. His continued development and the fact that the other nine players in the top ten to close the season moved on to the NFL made Linderbaum an easy pick to lead the rankings. Linderbaum will be a leader for the Hawkeyes’ offense in 2021 and should become the next great offensive lineman at Iowa.

The Switch Worked

Tyler Linderbaum was recruited as a defensive tackle in Iowa’s 2018 recruiting class. He saw minimal action at defensive tackle as a true freshman and made the switch to offensive line after the 2018 season. He had a few hiccups early in the year but earned an All Big Ten honorable mention honors during the 2019 season. Linderbaum adjusted well to his new position and proved he would be the center of the future for Iowa.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season, Linderbaum continued his development and starred at center for the Hawkeyes. He was even better than 2019 and appeared to be comfortable on the offensive side of the ball. Linderbaum made first team on a couple of All American lists and was a first team all conference pick in the Big Ten as well. Linderbaum had developed into the best interior offensive lineman returning to college football and will anchor the Iowa offensive line in 2021.

Linderbaum’s Ability

At 6’3″ 289 lbs Linderbaum is an athletic center. He is quick off the ball and can drive defenders off the ball before they are able to react. His athleticism is also effective on plays where he has to pull or get downfield and make blocks at the second level. Linderbaum has the agility to handle quicker defenders in space and make key blocks downfield. He is an asset in the run game at the point of attack and in space.

Linderbaum has plenty of power in his frame as well. He is well built and has good strength for his size and maximizes that by playing with good leverage. That power helps him against bigger defenders in the run game, but also allows him to deliver an effective punch as a pass blocker. Linderbaum displays the functional strength to be an elite interior offensive lineman.

Linderbaum has quick feet and good balance in pass protection. He can get into his sets quickly and neutralize interior pass rushers effectively. He has improved his technique and hand placement over the past two seasons and is now a good pass blocker at the college level. Linderbaum will continue to improve his technique with repetition and get even better in 2021.

Tyler Linderbaum is an excellent athlete on the offensive line. He has developed his technique and understanding of offensive line play to excel as a pass and run blocker in 2020. Linderbaum will look to take his game to new heights and be Iowa’s next great offensive lineman in 2021.

Leading The Way Up Front

Iowa closed the season strong, winning their last 6 games after starting 0 – 2. Those two losses were by a combined 5 points so the Hawkeyes were not far from an undefeated season. Spencer Petras will return at quarterback with a year of experience under his belt. Iowa also returns RB Tyler Goodson and TE Sam LaPorta, who were productive in 2020. The team does lose talent at receiver and on the offensive line, but with Linderbaum back to lead the way, Iowa should be solid up front again.

Tyler Linderbaum will lead an offensive line that does return Cody Ince at guard and players like Mark Kallenberger, Jack Plumb and Kyler Schott who started at times during 2020. He is the starting center and the clear leader up front, so he will have to make sure the line gels and develops well together to lead the way for Iowa’s offense. With a second year starter at quarterback and a talented duo at running back and tight end, the offensive line will be the key to determining how good Iowa’s offense can be. Fortunately, Iowa could not have a better player anchoring that line in 2021.

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