2023 JMA Finalists Announced
Field of Nation’s Top Collegiate O-Line Units Narrowed Down to
Georgia, LSU, Oregon, and Washington
NEW YORK – December 6, 2023 — The Foundation for Teamwork is pleased to announce the four finalists for the 2023 Joe Moore Award presented by Enovis ™ DonJoy brand, which annually recognizes the most outstanding offensive line unit in college football. In 2023 from the initial pool of all 133 FBS offensive line units, the award has recognized 23 units on the midseason honor roll, 12 semifinalists and today announces the four finalists in the running to be named the top collegiate O-line in the country. The finalists are (in alphabetical order) No. 6 Georgia , No. 13 LSU, No. 8 Oregon, and No. 2 Washington. For games played through Dec. 2, this year’s finalists have a combined record of 45-6, and average 506.6 total yards per game (compared to the national average of 385.6 total yards per game) and 175.0 rush yards per game (compared to the national average of 156.2 rush yards per game). In addition, three of the finalists are in the Top 10 for fewest sacks allowed and represent three of the Top 10 and four of the Top 13 Total Offenes, while three of the Top 10 and four of the Top 13 in the latest CFP poll.* The Joe Moore Award has annually presented the unique award since 2015.
The award’s voting committee will announce the recipient of the 2023 Joe Moore Award after a surprise visit to the winning university’s campus in late December.
“Each season seems to have a theme when it comes to O-line play, and each of this year’s finalists embody the toughness, physicality, effort, and strain that historically defines our position,” said Cole Cubelic, lead SEC Network sideline analyst, and Chairman of the Voting Committee. “These dudes are a bunch of cavemen that consistently “look for work”, enforce instead of watch, strain to finish, and work to eliminate their man on every play.”
“Like in year’s past, in addition to the extensive film review and voting committee conference calls, we also solicited the opinions of more than ninety FBS head coaches that had personally faced many of the O-line units under consideration,” said Phil Steele, analyst and founder of the popular preseason magazine Phil Steele's College Football Preview. “It’s been an honor to be a part of an award that matters so much to the O-line community, and we take that responsibility seriously.”
"This year's 12 semifinalists all had outstanding seasons, but after only two finalists last year, we now have a group of four finalists that the committee felt distinguished themselves through their effort, and consistently tough, physical play at the line of scrimmage,” 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.
“There is an undeniable relationship between excellence at our position and winning football,” said Lance Zierlein, NFL Draft analyst, and lead writer for NFL.com’s draft site. “The exciting thing this year is that we got to see some outstanding line play in a variety of offensive styles. We fully expect the voting to be close this year, and all four of these finalists are worthy candidates to be considered the most outstanding in college football.”
"The finalists for the Joe Moore Award are among the best of the best in college football, epitomizing the spirit of toughness and the value of teamwork to accomplish commonly shared goals," said Terry Ross, President of Enovis Bracing & Supports. "DonJoy is proud to partner with the Joe Moore Award and provide the technology that protects players so they can perform at their best and it’s our honor to protect those who help protect others."
To view a video spotlighting the Joe Moore Award finalists, please click here: https://joemooreaward.com/2023finalist
2023 Finalists at a Glance
Georgia (12-1)
Georgia's o-line leads the SEC and is ranked eighth nationally after allowing just 12 sacks in 13 games this season (0.92/g).
The Bulldogs rank ninth nationally in Scoring, averaging 38.4 pts/game en route to a 12-1 record, including an 8-0 mark against SEC competition during the regular season and in the process set the most consecutive SEC regular season victories mark at 27 that began in 2020
Ranks eighth nationally in total offense at 482.9 yards/game, including 7.1 yards/play
OL has helped the Bulldogs stand second nationally in 3rd Down Conversion Percentage (55 percent).
O-line helped Georgia complete its third straight undefeated regular season to become the first program to accomplish that feat since the Associated Press poll began in 1936.
O-line was part of the team that set an SEC record for Most Consecutive Weeks at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll at 24 weeks, which ranked second all-time.
What the committee is saying: “The Georgia O-line Machine rolls on. Not many units could lose their best player [RT Amarius Mims] in Week 3 and replace him with their LG [Xavier Truss] and not skip a beat. It looks a bit different this year, but the high level of production through all of the injuries on that side of the ball is remarkable. Searels does a great job and this may be the year they break through.”
What the committee is saying: “Georgia is so physical. Their pass blocking was outstanding this year despite the injury to Mims and moving Truss over to RT to replace him. They win with strength vs clean technique and consistent play. Their backs were good, but banged up and that negatively impacted their productions, but they are without question one of the most talented and consistent units in all of college football.”
What the committee is saying: “Georgia is a physical group in all their run schemes. They finish in both the pass and run games. No matter whether it's gap, zone, pin and pull…they get movement at the POA (point of attack) and get the play started and give the backs a chance.”
What the committee is saying:“I thought this group should’ve won it last year and I voted accordingly. They’re built a bit differently this year and the injuries certainly didn’t help, but they still played at an extremely high level in both the run and pass game, and were as good as anybody in college football. This may be their year.”
Offensive line coach: Stacy Searles
LSU Football (9-3)
LSU has started the same offensive line combination in 11 of 12 games.
LSU leads the nation in yards per rush at 6.33 and has scored 32 rushing TDs (tied for No. 7 nationally).
LSU has only been stopped for negative rushing yards on 2 designed run plays the entire season.
LSU’s O-line helped pave the way and provide protection for the only FBS team to average 200 rushing yards (No. 8 at 213.5) and 300 passing yards (No. 4 at 334.3) per game.
The Tigers’ O-line led the way for an offense that topped 40-points and the 500-yard mark nine times this year.
The Tigers lead the FBS in scoring (46.4), total offense (547.8), third-down conversions (68-of-120, 56.7 pct.) and plays of 20+ yards (102), 30+ yards (51), and 40+ yards (29).
The Tigers are the only team to rank in the Top 10 nationally in both categories.
LSU has rushed for 200+ yards in 6 straight games during one stretch of the season
What the committee is saying: “Interesting unit that plays with physicality and looks to finish whenever it gets the chance. Scheme and mobile QB help, but they have been consistent for most of the year and give that elite QB a lot of time to operate. Run their feet and strain well. All seem to anchor well in pass pro and they are expected to win 1 on 1 and usually do. Ain't always pretty, but always effective.”
What the committee is saying: “LSU is a bunch of bullies that plays with a tough, physical edge that is fun to watch. With all the attention on their QB, their incredible finish, strain, and effort often got missed. But it’s all over the tape. Everywhere.”
What the committee is saying: “This group attacks defenders and accelerates their feet on contact in a way that creates incredible movement at the point of attack. Very rare missed men, and I think I only saw one or two tackles for loss in the five games I watched. It wasn’t always as consistent across the board as they will be in the next year or two, but when they do it right it looks exactly like it's supposed to look.”
What the committee is saying:“These dudes like contact and look to set the tone out of the gate. They fight for four quarters and they play is never over with them.”
What the committee is saying: “Blunt force trauma, man. Holy smokes. There are some snaps where the defenders are getting ejected. Pass plays where three of the four rushers are on the ground. All look to finish. That is not natural, so it has to be taught and reinforced, and Brad Davis is doing an excellent job with the underappreciated group.”
Offensive line coach: Brad Davis
Oregon (12-1)
Oregon leads the nation with just five sacks allowed, four fewer than any other FBS team.
Multiple sacks allowed just once in 13 games this season. Zero sacks allowed in nine of 13 games, including six of the last seven.
Tied for fourth in the FBS with just 42 tackles for loss allowed.
Helped the Ducks rank second in the nation in scoring (44.2 PPG), total offense (526.6 YPG) and passing offense (342.8 YPG), and third in yards per rush (5.86).
Jackson Powers-Johnson is a finalist for the Rimington Trophy.
Powers-Johnson was a two-time winner of the Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week, and was also an Outland Trophy semifinalist.
Five-time winners of the Joe Moore Award Pancake of the Week, by three different players.
What the committee is saying: “Man, these guys play in a way where it looks like they want to break the spirit of their opponent and hurt people’s feelings. Like it's personal to them. They play with a physicality and finish to them that is equal parts caveman and blunt force trauma. They’ve become a JMA manistay due to their steady play and ability to grind on teams in the run game. They look to punish and pile drive in pass pro, and display a level of physicality that is rare in today’s college game. Fun unit with the goods to advance, if not win it.”
What the committee is saying: “Incredibly disciplined unit that embodies the “five playing as one” we celebrate. They see things well, and quickly communicate and pass things off pretty well, pretty consistently. Well, like they're all like the team consistency effort stuff like that's there with them.”
What the committee is saying: “This is a unit of enforcers, not watchers, and they play with the level of physicality that defines this award.”
Offensive line coach: A’Lique Terry
Washington (13-0)
Washington has allowed just 11 sacks in 13 games, and only 46 tackles for loss.
The Huskies’ O-line is also responsible for the team ranking No. 5 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed.
The Huskies, who are 13-0 and ranked No. 2, lead the nation in passing offense, and are No. 12 in total offense.
Washington is also No. 10 in scoring offense, No. 11 in third-down conversion percentage, and No. 9 in fourth-down conversion percentage.
Washington has used, primarily, six players on its o-line, with four of those starting every game. LT Troy Fautana and RT Roger Rosengarten have started every game, while RS-Fr. Parker Brailsford has started all 13 games – 2 at RG and 11 at center; while Nate Kalepo has 12 starts at LG and one at RG. Additionally, Julius Buelow has made one start at LG and 6 at RG, while Geirean Hatchett has four starts at RG.
What the committee is saying: “Washington's group plays with a relentless effort and enjoys finishing blocks. It matters to them. They have an internal “knockdowns" competition in the room where the right side tried to outdo the left side and vice versa. This group that looks to punish opponents and it shows with them being one of the best in the country at yards before contact for their running backs, highlighted by Dillion Johnson's 199 yards before contact against USC.
What the committee is saying: “While they do not rush the ball as often as other teams, they get the job done when they do, like in the Pac 12 Championship Game. They took over and successfully ran it on a very good Oregon front when it mattered.”
What the committee is saying: “Pass pro is certainly not passive with this group. Reminds me a bit of the 2019 LSU winning unit. Nasty, nasty group that’s got a real chance to prove they are this year’s best.”
What the committee is saying: “It’s not just what they do, it's how they do it. They try to punish when they play. I realize a lot of people are going to excuse it with quick game and but look when they needed to like late in that game. Friday night. They needed Dylan Johnson and be the hammer and they and they hammered it down. They won that game. He had to run for 200 Whatever it was a couple of weeks ago. And they were able to do that.”
Offensive line coach: Scott Huff
Looking Ahead
After the finalists have been selected, a vote will be held to select the 2023 recipient of the Joe Moore Award by a voting body of over 200 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 Joe Moore, and select media members. Following the voting, there will be a surprise on campus announcement on the winning unit’s campus in mid to late December 2023.
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.
Voting Committee
The Joe Moore Award voting committee comprises 9 individuals who are highly knowledgeable about offensive line play, including former linemen, O-line 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 offensive line performance. In addition to the full season of film evaluation, a review of advanced data and analytics provided by Sports Info Solutions is conducted after the conference championship games are completed.
The 2023 voting committee includes Chairman Cole Cubelic (Auburn, SEC Network); Charles Arbuckle (UCLA, Indianapolis Colts); Randy Cross (UCLA, San Francisco 49ers); Mike Golic, Jr. (Notre Dame, ESPN); Duke Manyweather (Humboldt State, player and coach); Geoff Schwartz (Oregon, Carolina Panthers); 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).
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), the University of Alabama (2020 - first repeat winner), and the University of Michigan (2021 and 2022 – the first back-to-back winner).
Joe Moore Award Credo
Teamwork. It’s what defines football as a sport and it is displayed in its greatest glory – in its most profound necessity – in the play of the offensive line. For it is there that individual achievement only matters if the entire unit is performing. When we execute together, great things happen. But if one player missteps, the rest of the team pays the price. That idea – along with hard work and the willingness to strive to be your best – embodies what Coach Joe Moore instilled in his players.
But it’s about more than football. It’s about how we live our lives, how we contribute to society, how we participate in the realization of great things. Teamwork is a bond. It’s a promise. And it’s a commitment to put the greater good above ourselves. It’s the greatest form of individual achievement because it requires total sacrifice – of focus, of effort, of ego. The road to success requires an unwavering commitment to purpose that creates an unbreakable bond between each of us. And it makes that success one of the greatest achievements on the planet.
“I AM BECAUSE OF US.”
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 7 feet and weighing in at over 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 bringing that spirit of collective achievement to athletics, education, and organizations.
Learn More or Follow Us
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 3rd, 2023
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