2023 Opposing Offensive Line Unit Rankings

Written by: Ethan Roberts (@usaEthanRoberts)

We are ranking each position groups for all of IU’s 2023 opponents. Today, we focus on the offensive line.

1. Michigan Wolverines

The top spot on this list belongs to Jim Harbough and the Wolverines. Their potent offense steamrolled through a mediocre schedule in 2022 averaging 40.4 points per game, which slots them at 6th in the country. Michigan’s offensive line created a viable pocket for quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who completed 64% of his passes. Their ground game also proved to be elite ranking seventh in the country with 239 yards per game. Their projected starters are: LaDarius Henderson, Trevor Keegan, Drake Nugent, Zak Zinter and Karsen Barnhart. They also have brought in strong recruiting and portal classes, tallying five four-star offensive linemen and four three-star offensive linemen from the 2022 and 2023 classes.

2. Penn State Nittany Lions

The Nittany Lions under James Franklin managed to average 35.8 points per game in the 2022 season which slots them in at 40th in the country. Sean Clifford managed to complete 64% of his passes while the rushing attack averaged 181 yards per game, which ranked 40th in the country. The Nittany Lions are hopeful to improve their rushing offensive attack with highly touted quarterback Drew Allar and stud running back Nick Singleton. Their projected starters are: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Landon Tengwall, Hunter Nourzad, Sal Wormley and Caedan Wallace. They have also recruited at an elite level with one five-star and five four-star linemen coming from the last two classes.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes and Ryan Day went through a rollercoaster ride in the tail end of 2022. With the low of losing to rival Michigan and the high of being one play away from punching their ticket to the National Championship game. First round pick C.J. Stroud and company averaged a whopping 44.2 points per game which slots them in at 2nd in the country. Stroud managed to put up Heisman caliber numbers behind their offensive line and their rushing attack averaged 192 yards per game, which ranked 27th in the country. Their projected starters are: Josh Fryar, Donovan Jackson, Carson Hinzman, Matthew Jones and Tegra Tshabola. The Buckeyes also recruited well in the last two classes with six four-star linemen and four three-star linemen.

4. Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin commences the second tier of offensive line groups. This tier consists of a combination of quality coaching and an above average recruiting blueprint. Wisconsin struggled offensively in 2022, only amounting to 26.3 points per game. Their average offense rushed for 180 yards per game, which ranked 45th in the country. New head coach Luke Fickell has brought in two offensive linemen from Cincinnati to rebuild the offensive line. Their projected starters are: Jack Nelson, Tanor Bartolini, Jake Renfro, Michael Furtney and Riley Mahlman. They have utilized the portal and recruiting effectively, acquiring two four-stars and three three-star linemen in the last two classes.

5. Michigan State Spartans

Mel Tucker and the Spartans disappointed just about everyone in East Lansing with a 3-6 conference record. Their offense averaged 27.4 points per game. Losing Kenneth Walker to the NFL rendered their run game horrible last year, averaging 113 yards per game, which was ranked 104th in the country. Tucker has added two four-stars and five three-stars from the last two classes to rebuild their offensive line. Their projected starters are: Brandon Baldwin, J.D. Duplain, Nick Samac, Geno VanDeMark and Spencer Brown.

6. Purdue Boilermakers

The Boilermakers capped off their 2022 campaign going 8-5 with current Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm (more on them Louisville later). The Boilermakers averaged 26.6 points per game. Eventual draft pick Aidan O’Connell completed 64% of his passes. Their rushing attack was abysmal and amounted to 121 rushing yards per game, which ranked 105th in the country. Their projected starters are: Mahamane Moussa, Jalen Grant, Gus Hartwig, Marucs Mbow and Daniel Johnson. New head coach Ryan Walters hopes to recruit well and utilize the portal to improve their rushing attack. In the last two classes, they have acquired ten three-star offensive linemen.

7. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The Scarlet Knights begin the third tier of this list. The bad news is that the Scarlet Knights are coming off an atrocious 4-8 season and only averaged 17.4 points per game. The good news is that they are beginning to rebuild the trenches. In the last two classes they have acquired three four-star linemen and fourteen three-star linemen, so they have plenty of camp competition to build a solid line. Their projected starters are: Hollin Pierce, Mike Ciaffoni, Ireland Brown, Curtis Dunalp Jr. and Tyler Needham. In 2022 they averaged 141 rushing yards per game, which ranked above a few teams in the second tier of teams.

8. Maryland Terrapins

The Terrapins went 8-5 last season while averaging 28.2 points per game and played their toughest opponents to close games. Their rushing attacked amounted to 141 yards per game, which is on par with Maryland. The reason the Scarlet Knights offensive line gets the edge over Maryland is found in the recruiting and portal category. Maryland have acquired one four-star lineman and twelve three-star linemen. In terms of quantity, Maryland and Rutgers compare evenly, but the two extra four-star players can be the difference between winning and losing football games. The Terrapins projected starters are: Gottlieb Ayedze, Amelio Morꞻn, Aric Harris, Corey Bullock and Delmar Glaze.

9. Louisville Cardinals

The first out of conference opponent for the Hoosiers finally placed in at nine. The Cardinals averaged 26.9 points per game under previous head coach Scott Satterfield and went 8-5. Their rushing attack posted just over 200 yards per game, which ranked 17th in the country. While their rushing was above average, they could only average 205 passing yards per game. Their projected starters are: Eric Miller, John Paul Flores, Bryan Hudson, Michael Gonzalez and Renato Brown. They have recruited and utilized the portal like Maryland, adding one four-star linemen and twelve three-star linemen.

10. Illinois Fighting Illini

Bret Bielema and company also went 8-5, averaging 24.2 points per game. Their rushing attack featured eventual draft pick Chase Brown and averaged 166 yards per game, which ranked 55th in the country. They were unable to get a special prospect in the last two classes, tallying twelve total three-star offensive linemen. Their projected starters are: Julian Pearl, Isaiah Adams, Josh Kreutz, Zy Crisler and Josh Gesky. Bielema hopes to continue developing the trenches with three offensive linemen currently committed in the class of 2024.

11. Akron Zips

The Zips narrowly avoided a zip in their win column, going 2-10 on the season. Head coach Joe Moorhead will hope to find his footing in the MAC after averaging 21.8 points per game. Their group of five level recruiting class warrants the number eleven spot on this list. Their projected starters are: Ronan Chambers, Brian Kilbane, Tyhler Williams, Keylen Davis and Nate Williams.

12. Indiana State Sycamores

The Sycamores went 2-9 last season as part of the Missouri Valley Conference. Their FCS status warrants their position group to be featured last on this list. They averaged 130 rushing yards per game and averaged 16 points per game.