Field of Nation’s Top Collegiate O-Lines Narrowed Down to Four Units

 NEW YORK (Dec. 9, 2021) — The Joe Moore Award for the Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in College Football today revealed the selection of three finalists for this year’s national honor, announced The Foundation for Teamwork, which has presented the unique award since 2015. Finalists in the running to be named the best collegiate O-line unit in the country include (in alphabetical order): Air Force, #22 Kentucky*, #2 Michigan*, and Oregon State.

 For games played through Dec. 4, this year’s finalists have a combined record of 18-6 and represent four conferences: BIG TEN (1), MOUNTAIN WEST (1), PAC-12 (1), and SEC (1). Combined, these teams average 437.4 total yards per game (compared to the national average of 395.5 total ypg), 39.8 tackles for loss allowed (compared to the national average of 70.8 TFLs allowed), allow an average of .98 sacks per game (compared to the national average of 2.19 sacks/gm), and average 247.3 rushing yards per game (compared to the national average of 162.9 rushing ypg). Combined, these units include one Playoff team, one conference champion, and two of the Top 25 in the latest College Football Playoff poll. This is the first appearance as a finalist for each of the four units. Additionally, Air Force is the first ever Group of Five representative in the seven-year history of the award.

“What an incredibly interesting year this has been for offensive line play,” said Cole Cubelic, lead sideline analyst for the SEC Network and the Chairman of the Joe Moore Award Voting Committee. “In a year defined by inconsistency along the lines of scrimmage, this year’s finalists separated themselves by their physical play, incredible production in the run game, and by being the unquestioned heart and soul of their respective teams. This proved to be an important factor for the committee this year, as their team successes were a direct reflection of their noteworthy efforts up front.”

The award’s voting committee will announce the recipient of the 2021 Joe Moore Award in conjunction with a surprise visit to the winning university’s campus in late December.

“Nothing about O-line play is easy, and that includes the selection process for this year’s finalists,” said Aaron Taylor, CBS college football analyst and co-founder of the Joe Moore Award. Taylor played guard at the University of Notre Dame for the award’s namesake, the legendary offensive line coach Joe Moore. “This was a year where we things seemingly changed by the week, and we had some pretty thorough and heated debates as a result. However, that process and additional level scrutiny once again revealed the essence of what makes O-line units special: toughness and teamwork. Specifically, we noted how efficient Air Force was at coming off the ball and accelerating through defenders after contact, and how efficient Kentucky was at fitting up their inside zone read concepts and getting blockers to the point of attack on pull plays. Michigan impressed with a noteworthy ability to see it through one set of eyes [correctly pick up stunts, movement, and blitzes] as well as with their consistent use of hands in both the run and pass games, while Oregon State shined by how well they routinely put defenders on the ground and eliminated them from their gap responsibilities in the run game.”

“I’m not sure there was a complete unit that did everything perfectly this year, but it undeniable that our four finalists were exceptionally good at what they were asked to do, and all found ways to be at their best when their best was needed, and that really stood to the committee.”

 2021 Joe Moore Award Finalists at a Glance

Air Force (9-3)

· Air Force’s offensive line, nicknamed Diesel, entered the season with the most inexperienced offensive line in the nation with just three games started on its roster. No other team had less than 25.

· The Diesel has been outstanding this season, as the team has had eight different starting lineups up front, including three different centers starting.

· The Diesel has helped the Falcons lead the nation in rushing (340.8), lead the MW and rank second nationally in sacks allowed (.75) and rank second nationally in time of possession (36:41).

· The group also helped set an Air Force record for consecutive weeks leading the nation in rushing, as this week is the 10th straight week, breaking the record of eight set in 2010.

· Air Force’s 340.8 average is the best in program history since averaging 356.0 in 1989. The average is the fourth best overall at Air Force

· Air Force has run 91 consecutive running plays, gaining 600 yards and an average of over 6.0 yards per carry entering its bowl game

· Air Force has out-rushed its opponent in every game this season

· Air Force has rushed for 400 or more yards five times this season, including two straight games. The Falcons have averaged 498 yards the last two games, rushing for a season-high 511 vs. UNLV and 485 at Nevada.

· Air Force’s option offense is making things difficult on opponents, as the Falcons have run 205 more plays than its opponents, which is an average of 17.1 per game, and held the ball for an average of 13:24 more per game.

· The team ranks second in the nation in time of possession with a 36:41 mark. Air Force has won the time of possession battle in 11 of 12 games this season and run more plays 11 times.

What the committee is saying: “These dudes are so dang good at coming off the football. And this is despite the revolving door at multiple positions that saw ten different players play significant snaps. Their offense is so diverse, and I’m not sure people understand how well versed they are at blocking the wide variety of traditional run schemes they utilize. A true unit that plays together, and with an edge and physicality despite circumstance or situation. The effort and production versus UNLV with their backup QB and new faces along the line was ridiculous. They execute what they are asked to do as well as anybody in college football.”

Offensive line coach: Steed Lobotzke

Kentucky (9-3)

· Kentucky averages 5.51 yards per carry which led the SEC and ranks fourth nationally.

· The Wildcats are averaging 2.6 rush yards before contact, 24th-most in the country.

· Kentucky has a “Gotta Have It” rate of 66.7%, converting two thirds of the time they are in a 3rd and 3 or less or 4th and 3 or less situation.

What the committee is saying: “I’m in on Kentucky. First play of Vandy and you see it immediately. Body bag games aside, I think they see things well through ‘one set of eyes’ [sorting out assignments] and are great with run combos. Versus Tennessee they initially struggled with movement, but from play 9 on, where the C violently threw the NT down on a screen release, and plays 10 thru 12 which are riddled with pancakes, it started to show back up. I like that they got it sorted out on sideline and got it figured out so quickly. Have to be well coached and together to do that. Soft edges in pass pro at times, but these guys build a wall and pry dudes out. Consistently fly up to the second level with bad intentions. They’re enforcers, not watchers. Losing Cox for the home stretch will be tough, but I think they’ve earned their place based on what we’ve seen.”

Offensive line coach: Eric Wolford

#6 Michigan (12-1)

· Michigan leads the Big Ten and lists 10th nationally in rushing (223.8 yards per game).

· The Wolverines have surrendered 40 negative rushing yards all season on 520 non-quarterback carries.

· All five positions earned all-conference honors, with four of the five starters earning first or second-team accolades: Stueber (1st team), Hayes, Vastardis and Zinter (2nd) and Keegan (honorable mention).

· As a unit, the offense ranks top 20 nationally in 10 categories: tackles for loss allowed (1st), sacks allowed (3rd), red zone offense (7th), rushing offense (10th), scoring offense (13th), fumbles lost (13th), turnovers lost (15th), total offense (18th), first downs (22nd) and third down conversions (23rd).

· The Wolverines are one of the nation’s most balanced offenses this season, averaging 223.8 rushing yards and 228.1 passing yards per contest; gained 2,910 rushing yards and 2,965 passing yards this season.

· U-M leads all FBS programs with 39 rushing touchdowns this season.

· U-M leads the nation in fewest tackles for loss allowed per game (2.08 avg.) and is third in fewest sacks allowed (0.77 avg.)

· Michigan has allowed just 27 tackles for loss and nine sacks in 906 snaps this season.

· The Wolverines are second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in scoring at 37.7 ppg.

What the committee is saying: “This group plays old school football with a physical edge. They faced stacked boxes as much as any group in the country, but still run with solid efficiency. They’re a big, Neanderthal type group that engulfs and prevents penetration. Initial aiming points are consistent whether they can maintain or not. TFLs are rare and adjust to blitz well. They seem to play their best ball in the fourth quarter when it matters most They rose to the occasion in their two most important games of the season against Ohio State and Iowa in the championship games rushing for 508 yards and 10 TDs. They epitomize what an O-line unit should mean to the success of the team. A bit surprised it took Harbaugh so long to get back to his DNA, but there’s no mystery as to why they just won their first Big Ten championship game and are suddenly competing for a national championship.”

Offensive line coach: Sherrone Moore

Oregon State (7-5)

· The offensive line has helped pave the way for the team’s rushing attack, which averages a Pac-12 best 217.3 yards per game and ranks T-12th nationally.

· The Beavers O-line have given up just 10 sacks, which leads the Pac-12 and is T-2nd nationally.

· Oregon State’s O-line is paving the way for an incredible 2.9 rush yards before contact, 2nd-most in the nation.

· The Beavers offensive line has allowed just 40 tackles for loss this season, the second-fewest in the nation.

· What the committee is saying: “In a season dominated by inconsistency, these guys can be relied upon for their ‘familiarity’. You don’t have to watch long to see their technique, effort, strain and finish. It looks like its supposed to look with them. This unit plays ‘as one’ and appear to be the unquestioned soul of the team. They lead the country in ‘Gotta Have It’ moments (3rd Down 3 or less or 4th Down/3 or less) converting 78% of the time when they need to convert. The fact that they have a linebacker playing wildcat on 4th down and are still unstoppable is just icing on the cake. This unit has everything we’re looking for.”

Offensive line coach: Jim Michalczik

Voting Committee

The Joe Moore Award voting committee is comprised of 13 individuals who are highly knowledgeable about offensive line play, including former linemen, coaches, talent evaluators and media analysts. This group conducts in-depth analysis by reviewing game tape every week of the season to assess both the fundamentals and subtleties of overall O-line performance.

The 2021 voting committee includes Chairman Cole Cubelic (Auburn, SEC Network); Charles Arbuckle (UCLA, Indianapolis Colts); Randy Cross (UCLA, San Francisco 49ers); Gerry DiNardo (Notre Dame, head coach at LSU); Mike Golic, Jr. (Notre Dame, ESPN); Harry Hiestand (Joe Moore disciple, NFL and College O-line Coach); Barrett Jones (Alabama, St. Louis Rams); Duke Manyweather (Humboldt State, player and coach; founder of OL Masterminds); Geoff Schwartz (Oregon, Carolina Panthers); Sam Schwartzstein (Stanford, XFL rules creator); Phil Steele (publisher of Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, ESPN); Aaron Taylor (Notre Dame, Green Bay Packers); and Lance Zierlein (NFL draft analyst, NFL.com).

 Looking Ahead

After the finalists have been selected, a vote will be held to select the 2021 recipient of the Joe Moore Award by a voting body of 200-plus members. This voting body includes all of the current offensive line coaches at the Division I/FBS level, as well as former players, coaches, colleagues of Coach Moore and select media members.

In addition to reviewing game tape every week of the season, the Joe Moore Award voting committee will later go through each of the finalists’ season-long highlight reels and multiple back-to-back quarters of game film.

Past Award Recipients

Past recipients of the Joe Moore Award include the offensive lines of the University of Alabama (2015), the University of Iowa (2016), the University of Notre Dame (2017), Oklahoma University (2018), LSU (2019), and the University of Alabama (2020 - first repeat winner).

 About the Joe Moore Award

The Joe Moore Award is named after Joe Moore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history, most notably for his work at Notre Dame and the University of Pittsburgh. Coach Moore sent 52 players on to the NFL, including Bill Fralic, Mark May, Russ Grimm, Jimbo Covert and others. The Joe Moore Award trophy, crafted by legendary sports sculptor Jerry McKenna, is the largest trophy in college football, standing at a height of 6 feet and weighing in at 800 pounds. The perpetual trophy is made available for display by the winning university until the conclusion of the following college football season.

 About The Foundation for Teamwork

The Foundation for Teamwork is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering teamwork in all societal endeavors and bring that spirit of collective achievement to athletics, education, and organizations. Find out more at joemooreaward.com and follow the Joe Moore Award on Twitter (@joemooreaward), Instagram (@joemooreaward), and Facebook (facebook.com/JoeMooreAward).

 * CFP Poll as of December 5, 2021.

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