Thirteen Units Earn Semifinalist Honor Through Tough, Physical O-Line Play
NEW YORK, New York – November 23, 2021 — The Foundation for Teamwork announced today thirteen semifinalists for the 2021 Joe Moore Award, given to the top offensive line unit in college football. The Joe Moore Award has annually presented the unique award since 2015.
The thirteen semifinalists include (in alphabetical order): Air Force, #25 Arkansas, Appalachian State, #9 Baylor, #1 Georgia, Kentucky, #23 Louisiana, #2 Ohio State, #6 Michigan, #12 Michigan State, #11 Oregon, Oregon State, and #18 Wisconsin.
For games played through November 20th, the 2021 Joe Moore Award semifinalists have a combined record of 115-28 and represent six FBS conferences: BIG TEN (4), BIG-12 (1), MOUNTAIN WEST (1), PAC-12 (2), SEC (3), and SUN BELT (2). Combined, these teams average 439.7 total yards per game (compared to national average of 399.4) and 218.9 rushing yards per game (compared to national average 163.9), and represent four of the Top 10 and nine of the Top 25 in the latest AP poll.*
“Due to unprecedented inconsistency for many teams and units, this has been a challenging year for our evaluation process,” said Cole Cubelic, lead sideline analyst for the SEC Network and the Chairman of the Joe Moore Award Voting Committee. “Several units that played well one week, struggled the next. And vice versa. This sort of inconsistency has made it more difficult than usual, but this year’s semifinalists have earned their inclusion through the sort of elevated play that excellence at our position requires.”
The Joe Moore Award finalists will be named on Tuesday, December 7th. The eventual winner will be recognized in the ensuing weeks during a surprise, on campus visit to the winning unit’s school (TBD as per the winning school’s schedule).
“Like in year’s past, in addition to the extensive film review and voting committee conference calls, we solicited the opinions of more than sixty-five 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.”
“Although it has been a challenging year to evaluate O-line units, what’s proven to hold true is the undeniable relationship between excellence at our position and winning football,” 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. “The exciting thing this year is that it’s still wide open, and these last few weeks will be extremely important, and we can’t wait to see who will be at their best when their best is needed.”
2021 Semifinalists at a Glance
Air Force (8-3)
Air Force, nicknamed The Diesel, has had eight different starting lineups this season, including starting three different centers.
The Diesel has helped the Falcons lead the nation in rushing (325.4).
Air Force leads the MW and ranks fifth nationally in sacks allowed with 10 (.82/game).
Air Force ranks second nationally in time of possession (36:18).
The Diesel set an Air Force record for consecutive weeks leading the nation in rushing, as this week is the ninth straight week, breaking the record of eight set in 2010.
The Falcons are averaging 2.7 rush yards before contact, 11th-most in the country.
What the committee is saying: “You guys were right, these guys get after it! They finish and strain better than anyone I've seen. I had to make myself look past their physical limitations, but they come off the ball with bad intentions. They do get assistance from other bodies on offense, but even the tight ends and wideouts get after it. Physicality and effort and teamwork and toughness are baked into their cake, so you better ‘buckle your junk’ when you play Air Force because if they get under your pads, its over.”
Offensive line coach: Steed Lobotzke
#25 Arkansas (7-4)
The Hogs’ o-line has paved the way for 20 rushing plays of 20+ yards, which ranks third in the SEC and is tied for 22nd-most in the country.
Arkansas is averaging 222.3 yards per game rushing, the program’s best average since setting a school record when two-time Doak Walker Award winner Darren McFadden led the way in 2006.
The Razorbacks’ o-line is one of two offensive lines in FBS to have paved the way for four rushers to gain 400+ yards this season. It’s the first time an Arkansas offense has had four 400+ yard rushers since 1975.
The Arkansas offense has been explosive, especially on the ground leading the SEC and ranking second in FBS with 92 runs of 10+ yards this season.
Through 11 games this year, the Hogs’ o-line is allowing just 2.0 sacks per game down from 3.4 last season.
What the committee is saying: “This is a physical group with some limited athleticism that consistently wins with effort and strain. It’s got Sam’s [Pittman] fingerprints all over it. These guys attack defenders, ‘look for work’ and are willing finishers. If they stalemate, they still strain and will accelerate when defender comes off to make the tackle and they get movement or pancake. Rare to see that. Solid combination blocks both play side and backside on zone schemes. Play 42 of Mississippi State LG 62 get crumpled on a pull, but keeps coming and still tries to finish the guy off on his knees like he’s in that Monty Python scene. Will throw hands in pro, especially OT’s. All five usually win with hands, although they lost the hand leverage battle vs a very good Bama front, but still fought and competed. They’re the essence of what this award is about.”
Offensive line coach: Cody Kennedy
Appalachian State (9-2)
Appalachian State has allowed eight sacks in 11 games, which leads the Sun Belt and is tied for third nationally.
App State is 10th in the country in lowest pressure percentage allowed.
What the committee is saying: “App State continues to put themselves in the conversation by having an edge and chippiness to their style of play. They seem to excel in the “Gotta Have Its” and goal line plays, and work combos with a consistency that is fun to watch. They admittedly struggled with Louisiana, but their collective body of work warrants their inclusion this year.
Offensive line coach: Nic Cardwell
#9 Baylor (9-2)
Baylor’s offense ranks 2nd nationally with 5.69 yards per rush and 14th nationally with 6.71 yards per play.
The Bears lead the Big 12 and rank 8th nationally with just 1.00 sacks allowed per game in 2021, including just five sacks allowed over the last six games.
Baylor has increased its rushing production by 157% from last season, raising its rushing average from 90.3 ypg (123rd nationally) to 231.7 ypg (5th nationally).
The Bears O-line has paved the way for 26 rushing plays of 20+ yards, tied for 3rd-most in the country.
What the committee is saying: “This have been a fun unit to watch. Jeff Grimes is their OC and you can definitely see some of the same stuff we saw from the BYU units he coached. They even call their offense an RVO - a Reliable, Violent Offense, so you know what they’re trying to do and you see it.”
Offensive line coach: Eric Mateos
#1 Georgia (11-0)
Georgia’s o-line unit has only allowed seven sacks this year. That leads the SEC and ranks second nationally.
The Bulldogs are 5th in the country in lowest pressure percentage allowed.
Behind the protection of the o-line, the Bulldogs are averaging 40.4 points/game and 201.2 yards/game rushing during Georgia’s 11-0 start.
The line has had quarterbacks Stetson Bennett and JT Daniels behind it this season and eight-game starter Bennett is on pace for the sixth-best single season completion percentage (64.4 percent) in school history thanks to the line’s protection.
What the committee is saying: After and up and down start, they seem to be finding themselves. This group has been taking people’s lunch money lately. They come off the ball well, play hard, and give very good effort, and really understand hand leverage and seem to reset if they initially lose placement. Want to see more finish. Pass pro looks good but had some individual breakdowns when Tennessee defenders went to secondary moves, but its definitely getting better when it needs to. The TE crew, especially 86, is also laying the hammer. In fact, I almost feel like if Georgia wins the award, TE 86 needs to be in the picture for the Auburn game alone.”
Offensive line coach: Matt Luke
Kentucky (8-3)
Kentucky averages 5.28 yards per carry, fourth in the SEC and T-16th nationally.
The Wildcats are averaging 2.5 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 4thand 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 through ‘one set of eyes’ [sorting out assignments] really well and are great with run combos. I put on Tennessee and 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. Soft edges in pass pro at times off the edges, 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 so far.”
Offensive line coach: Eric Wolford
#23 Louisiana (10-1)
Louisiana ranks third in the Sun Belt and 28th nationally in sacks allowed (1.50) and fourth in the Sun Belt in tackles-for-loss allowed (5.67).
Louisiana’s rushing offense is 47th nationally behind the offensive line.
Louisiana has been included on the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll the last two seasons and were semifinalists a season ago.
What the committee is saying: “I was worried what was going to happen to this group when Rob [former o-line coach, Sales] went to the [NY] Giants, but their tradition of stellar OL play continues. Teamwork and tenacity are still their calling card. They ‘give each play a chance’ and do a good job on doubles and working backside. Clean in pass pro, led by their RT. I felt like their goal line and gap scheme stuff was their best tape when compared to the RPO stuff because it displayed their strain and effort the best. They dominated in their biggest game of the year versus App State and it was a fun watch. Deserving group.”
Offensive line coach: Jeff Norrid / Darnell Stapleton
#6 Michigan (10-1)
Michigan has carried the ball 472 times for 2,402 yards and scored 28 rushing touchdowns.
The Wolverines are one of the nation’s most balanced offenses, averaging 447.9 yards of offense per game; gaining 218.4 yards on the ground and 229.5 passing yards per contest
U-M has run 783 plays and gained 4,927 yards for an average of 6.3 yards per play.
The Wolverines have yielded just nine sacks, which leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth nationally.
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. We should learn all we need to know in Week 13 for a chance at a playoff spot vs a steadily improving Buckeye front.”
Offensive line coach: Sherrone Moore
#12 Michigan State (9-2)
Michigan State’s offensive line has helped pave the way for Heisman Trophy candidate Kenneth Walker III, who ranks second in the FBS with 136.2 rushing yards per game and fourth with 17 rushing TDs.
MSU has allowed just 1.64 sacks per game, fifth in the Big Ten and 34th in the FBS.
Michigan State is 27th in the country in lowest pressure percentage allowed.
MSU regularly rotated nine offensive lineman during the first half of the season. Due to injuries, that regular playing group is now down to six.
What the committee is saying: “This group strains to put their technique on tape. They hunt contact in pass protection and set a physical tone with the way they finish downfield. They are a steady unit that relies on their technique and understanding of the scheme to succeed. They maximize their talent with their effort, which is noteworthy.
Offensive line coach: Chris Kapilovic
#2 Ohio State (10-1)
Ohio State has the number one offense in the country in both total offense – 559.9 ypg – and scoring offense – 47.2.
The offensive line has allowed just 35 TFLs this season, which is tied for seventh-best nationally.
The line has also allowed just 13 quarterback sacks, which is second in the Big Ten and tied for 13th-best nationally.
What the committee is saying: “Toughness and teamwork caught my attention. In an offense that thrives on deep developing play action passes, this unit does an outstanding job of making pass protection physical and sustaining blocks for the duration. In addition to athleticism, this unit's best trait is the way they see and read defenses through one set of eyes. In both the run and pass game, this group tracks linebackers and redirects as well as any unit I've seen. Against PSU they displayed a very good and consistent understanding of fronts, movement, and responsibilities vs an active DL and LB group that likes to stem/stunt/run blitz. They sorted really well in both run and pass, especially in 4 min at end of 4Q in run game. Feel like they can step it up when it matters. Very clear this staff believes in and expects this unit to perform in the ‘Gotta Have It’ situations, and repeatedly display this through the year with empty pro, with multiple runs in a row on GL, and in 4 min at the end of games."
Offensive line coach: Greg Studrawa
#11 Oregon (9-2)
The Ducks O-line is averaging 2.7 rush yards before contact, 10th-most in the country.
31st in the country in lowest pressure pct allowed
What the committee is saying: “This Ducks O-line is about consistency and finish. They lost their starting RB and have played 20 plus O-line combinations this season due to injury and none of that has seemed to slow them down. They do a very good job building double teams and working to the second level, and really seem to love leaning on opponents. They rarely get stuffed, and consistently show up in the coveted ‘Gotta Have It’ moments. They also create a ton of room for backs to operate before they’re touched which my eye appreciates.”
Offensive line coach: Alex Mirabel / Mario Cristobal
Oregon State (7-4)
The offensive line has helped pave the way for the team’s rushing attack, which averages a Pac-12 best 229.4 yards per game. That is also tied for the ninth-best mark nationally.
The Beavers O-line have given up just 10 sacks, which leads the Pac-12 and ranks sixth 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 37 tackles for loss this season, the third-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
#18 Wisconsin (8-3)
Wisconsin’s average of 229.4 rushing yards per game this season leads the Big Ten and tied for fourth among Power Five teams.
No team has run for more yards (1,870) than Wisconsin since Oct. 9. The Badgers are averaging 267.1 yards per game on the ground during their 7-game winning streak.
UW has allowed just 4 sacks over the last 7 games – including just 1 over the last 4 games.
Wisconsin has allowed the fifth-fewest TFLs in the country (38.0).
The Badgers have (19) rushing plays of 20+ yards, tied for 31st in the country.
What the committee is saying: “We figured we’d see some units come on strong at the end, and Wiscy is definitely one of them. After a pretty rough start, the Badgers offensive line has played much better over the second half of the season and are a big part of Wisconsin’s resurgence. Their confidence seemingly rises by the week.”
Offensive line coach: Joe Rudolph
* AP Poll as of November 21st, 2021.
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 semifinalists and 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).
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