College football position preview
Georgia’s Thomas leads offensive linemen
USA TODAY is getting ready for the season by breaking down the best players at each position in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Up next: the offensive line.
The deep group of standout offensive linemen has multiple contenders for the top spot that goes to Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, a returning All-American. It’s a pretty unsurprising group in terms of teams and conferences represented: Georgia, Wisconsin, Stanford, the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference.
1. Andrew Thomas, Georgia (Jr.)
The top-tier NFL draft prospect has started 28 games in two seasons, first at right tackle before shifting to the blind side in 2018. Thomas was a four-star recruit who has played like a five-star lineman in a conference typically unkind to teens in the trenches. Thomas will take his game to another level as a junior.
2. Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin (Jr.)
Biadasz is the nation’s top center, the heart of Wisconsin’s offensive line and one key reason running back Jonathan Taylor has gained more than 4,000 yards on the ground through his sophomore season. Once the unknown commodity on a line overflowing with size and experience, Biadasz is the Badgers’ unquestioned leader up front and a lock for preseason All-American honors.
3. Walker Little, Stanford (Jr.)
While Stanford struggled as a whole in creating a running game in 2018, Little did superb work protecting K.J. Costello’s blind side on passing downs. Little slid right into the starting lineup as a freshman in 2017 and only last season began tapping into his full potential. He’ll be a major draft prospect.
4. Ben Bredeson, Michigan (Sr.)
Bredeson plays left guard and therefore flies far under the radar, even in a conference with a soft spot for interior line play. But the multiple-time all-conference pick has been dependable and productive for an offense often stuck in neutral during his first three seasons. Bredeson is a building block for an offense set to shake things up.
5. Calvin Throckmorton, Oregon (Sr.)
If not the best lineman in the Pac-12 – he’s right alongside Little for the honor – Throckmorton is easily the most flexible, having started games at four positions in 2018 and earning high grades across the board. In a perfect world, Oregon would be able to slot Throckmorton in at tackle. His ability to play multiple spots at an all-conference level helps make Throckmorton so valuable.
6. Jedrick Willis Jr., Alabama (Jr.)
Overshadowed last season by exteammate Jonah Williams, Willis is ready to make significant national noise as a second-year starter. He held down the strong side of the line in 2018 by grinding down defenders in the running game and allowing one sack in 15 games.
7. Alaric Jackson, Iowa (Jr.)
After earning Freshman All-American honors in 2017 and all-conference accolades in 2018, Jackson is set to earn All-American consideration. He is the latest Iowa lineman to be largely overlooked by recruiting services and then quickly develop into one of the top starters in the Big Ten.
8. Trey Adams, Washington (Sr.)
Adams missed the second half of 2017 with a knee injury and all but the last few games of 2018 with a back injury. When on the field, he is one of the best in college football, as he proved during an outstanding sophomore campaign in 2016.
9. Ezra Cleveland, Boise State (Jr.)
The 2018 all-conference pick has the athleticism, size and experience to dominate the Mountain West and turn himself into a legitimate NFL prospect. Boise State saw huge potential despite his two-star recruiting label.
10. Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma (Soph.)
Humphrey enters his sophomore season as one of the clear leaders on an offensive front due for some tweaks after losing several high-level starters. With Humphrey at center, however, the Sooners remain strongest along the middle of the line.
Five just missing the cut
Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame; Penei Sewell, Oregon; Zach Shackelford, Texas; Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms, Missouri; John Simpson, Clemson.