2013 College Football Rankings: Top 5 Offensive Lines – Stanford Tops in the Nation

2013 College Football Rankings: Top 5 Offensive Lines – Stanford Tops in the Nation: While skill positions players tend to get a majority of the credit and attention whenever an offense is successful, the underlying root of most potent scoring attacks is a dominant offensive line. A strong group of blockers up front can create more time for a quarterback to scan the field and deliver the ball and more running lanes for backs to exploit, and since six straight national champs have ranked 16th or better nationally in rushing, an effective offensive line can lead to a lot more than just gaudy scoring totals. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the top offensive lines in the country heading into the 2013 college football season.

1.      Stanford Cardinal

Senior guard David Yankey leads a massive unit that is going to own the line of scrimmage in 2013. The beauty of Stanford’s offensive line is that it is as talented as it is nasty. Opponents know that the Cardinal want to line up and run the ball straight ahead, but they still can’t stop Stanford’s ground game. The physical dominance of Yankey and company give the Cardinal offense an identity, and more importantly, it allows them to control the clock and wear down opposing defenses.

2.      Oklahoma Sooners

Star center Gabe Ikard is one of three returning starters for a unit that is used to being put to the test. After all, quarterback Landry Jones has been under center the past few years, and despite possessing the mobility of a concrete block and throwing the ball nearly 600 times, he was only sacked 15 times. The 15 sacks were actually the fewest for any team that ranked in the top 10 nationally in passing attempts. The Sooners line will be blocking for a dual-threat QB this year in Blake Bell, and his ability to extend plays with legs combined with the already-excellent blocking could lead to some memorable plays.

3.      Tennessee Volunteers

While the Volunteers certainly have plenty of holes, the offensive line isn’t one of them. After all, four of the five starters are currently on pace to be picked in the NFL Draft with tackles Tony Richardson and Ja’Wuan James both ranking among the best at the position. The Volunteers probably aren’t going to have a great record or impressive statistics, but their offensive line is going to take care of its business. At the very least, the experienced unit is going to give Tennessee’s young skill position players a fighting chance to succeed in the rugged SEC.

4.      Ohio State Buckeyes

Although Urban Meyer has brought in a ton of talent in his first two recruiting classes with the Buckeyes, he had a stout offensive line already waiting for him. This year’s unit features four returning senior starters that helped Ohio State rank in the top 20 nationally in yards per rush and in the top 15 in rushing scores. Meyer has brought in enough firepower to build an offensive juggernaut, but the big guys up front are the ones that will let dual-threat quarterback Braxton Miller and the rest of the skill position players work their magic and pile up points.

5.      Florida State Seminoles

Center Bryan Stork is the lone senior on Florida State’s offensive line, but he is one of four returning starters from a unit that helped the Seminoles rank fourth in the country in yards per rush and ninth nationally with 40 rushing scores. Coach Jimbo Fisher’s overhaul of the Seminoles’ program the past couple of years has started in the trenches, and this year’s offensive line has the talent and experience to control the line of scrimmage. Not to mention the fact that the big guys up front will help ease the transition for first-year starter Jameis Winston.

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