Top SEC Offensive Lines

As the old saying goes "The game is won and lost in the trenches" and in the SEC nothing is more true. The college football season is drawing near 21 days to be exact. Today I look at the "Hoggies" of the SEC and break down which team has the best O-line unit.

  Top SEC Offensive Lines

14. Ole Miss: This offensive line will struggle to open up holes or provide much time for Bo Wallace. Their best lineman Matt Hall left the team in the spring, and they will have to rely on some JUCO help. Huge Freeze will have his work cut out for him as he rebuilds that group.

13. Vanderbilt: The 2012 recruiting class for the Commodores brings in six linemen who will provide some much needed depth up front, but the Dores will have an experience problem this season. 

12. Kentucky: The Wildcats offensive line was horrible like the rest of the offence in 2011. Replacing three of them for 2012 might not be such a bad thing. The bright spot is Larry Warford who is one of the best lineman in the SEC and with a good center Matt Smith next to him should make for a solid interior line. 

11. Georgia: If the Bulldogs don't make a return trip back to the SEC Championship then the offensive line could be one of the reasons why. I think this unit will progress overtime, but Aaron Murry might be forced to hurry some of this throws as they try to figure things out up front.  

10. Mississippi State: This line will get better as they go though the season, but they will have to bring in three new starters in 2012. The line will be lead by 6'4" 320 Gabe Jackson who is a beast up front.

9. Missouri: The Tigers lose three experienced lineman from 2011, but their backups still have a lot of playing experience that will help this group make their transition into the SEC. The reason I'm not ranking them higher is I don't think they are built to handle SEC defensive lines just yet.

8. Auburn: The Tigers are really young and have lots of depth up front, but I think they are a year away from becoming one of the top lines in the SEC. They return three starters from last season, but they will still be mixing in a lot of Freshman as they try to figure out the best combinations.  

7. Florida: The Gators struggled up front in 2011, but I think they will be the most improved O-line in 2012. They return four starters who will benefit greatly from another year under belt.

6. Tennessee: They have a lot of depth and experience, but the talent hasn't always been that good. Their run blocking was horrific in 2011 and I'm not sure it will improve all that much, but the The Vols will have a pass first attack, and I think this group will allow Tyler Bray just enough time.

5. South Carolina: The Gamecocks will have solid run blocking to open up holes for Lattimore and Shaw again in 2012. They do lose a couple of guys from 2011, but I think will be able to build around the big 6'6" 331lbs RS Freshman Brandon Shell. 

4. Arkansas: Its only natural for the Razorbacks (Hogs) to have some really good hoggies up front. Alvin Bailey is one of the best guards in the league, and Knile Davis will surly be running behind him in 2012. If this unit can jail together and stay out of jail like their starting Jason Peacock then they should be one of the best groups in the SEC. 

3. Texas A&M: I think the Aggies un like Missouri enters the SEC with a offensive line that is built to handle SEC defencive lines. A&M has two of the top lineman in Jake Matthews and Luke Joeckel who will hold their own while making the transfer into the league. They have experience everywhere else on the line, but are a little lacking in depth. 

2. LSU: Once again LSU and Alabama seem to be on a whole different playing field than everyone else. The Bayou Bengal Tigers are loaded up front returning four starters from the world movers of last year. Both 6'6" 325 Chris Faulk and 6'6" 340 Alex Hurst are two of if not the two best OT in the SEC.

1. Alabama: With three Pre-Season All SEC lineman one could make the argument that this unit has the potinal at being the best O-Line in SEC history. The 2011 Outland Trophy winner (Top O-Lineman) Barrett Jones turned down the NFL and returned for another year at Alabama; Jones will move to center for his senior year. Chance Warmack is rated by most to be the top SEC guard, and the big guy 6'6" 335lbs DJ Fluker has finally lived up to his five star hype. The only spot where experience is lacking is at the other tackle spot where former five star Cyrus Kouandjio will be looking to make it back from his season ending knee injury from 2011.

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13