Nine Units Earn Semifinalist Honor Through Tough, Physical O-line Play
NEW YORK, New York – November 15, 2022 — The Foundation for Teamwork today revealed the nine semifinalists for the 2022 Joe Moore Award presented to college football's Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit. The Joe Moore Award has annually presented this unique award since 2015.
The nine semifinalists include (in alphabetical order): Air Force, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, Tennessee, UCLA, and USC.
For games played through November 12th, the 2022 Joe Moore Award semifinalists have a combined record of 76-14 and represent four FBS conferences: BIG TEN (2), MOUNTAIN WEST (1), PAC-12 (3), and SEC (3). Combined, these teams average 483.2 total yards per game (compared to national average of 394.2) and 231.1 rushing yards per game (compared to national average 159.8), and represent four of the Top 10 and seven of the Top 25 in the latest AP poll.*
“There is a noticeable improvement in O-line play this season as compared to what we saw last year,” said Cole Cubelic, lead sideline analyst for the SEC Network and the Chairman of the Joe Moore Award voting committee. “It’s been a pleasure to watch the effort and resilience of these O-lines over the course of the season, especially since many of them have really risen to the challenge over the last couple of weeks.”
The Joe Moore Award finalists will be named on Tuesday, December 6th. 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 years past, and in addition to the extensive film review and voting committee conference calls, we solicited the opinions of dozens of 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.”
“Once again the cream is rising to the top, and the committee strongly feels that the common thread with this year’s semifinalists is that their level of play has directly translated into the success of their teams,” 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 prove to be extremely important, and we can’t wait to see which units will be at their best when their best is needed down the stretch.”
2022 Semifinalists at a Glance
Air Force (7-3)
• The Diesel has paved the way for the Falcons to lead the nation in rushing with a 334.1 average and are the only team in the nation averaging 300-plus per game.
• The unit has allowed only .90 sacks per game which leads the MW and ranks eighth nationally.
• The Falcons lead the nation time of possession with a 35:51 mark.
• Air Force has topped the 400-yard mark in rushing five times this season, going 5-0 in those games.
• The unit has a mid-season All-American in former walk-on Issac Cochran.
What The Voting Committee Is Saying: “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, it’s over.”
Offensive line coach: Steed Lobotzke
Georgia (10-0)
• Georgia’s O-line unit has only allowed seven sacks this year. That leads the SEC and is tied for third nationally.
• Behind the protection of the O-line, the Bulldogs are averaging 40.6 points/game and 192.5 yards per game rushing during Georgia’s 10-0 start.
• Helped reigning national champions to a 10-0 (7-0 SEC) record and consensus No. 1 team ranking in the national polls.
• Georgia is tied for 1st nationally with 32 Rushing TDs.
• Bulldogs lead the country in Red Zone Offense, scoring 98 percent of the time with the nation’s third most rushing TDs (26) in Red Zone.
• Georgia ranks 3rd nationally in Total Offense (509.6 ypg) and 6th nationally in Scoring Offense (40.6 ppg).
• Georgia has been sacked just seven times in 10 games this season (ranks 3rd nationally at 0.70 sack/game).
• Paved the way for a season-high 292 yards (7.5 yards per carry) and six touchdowns in a 42-10 win over Auburn.
What The Voting Committee Is Saying: “Intimidating physical presence on every snap. Whether it's gap or zone scheme, they continue to find work and get movement at the POA (point of attack). After a sluggish start, they keep getting better and have finally found some continuity to provide some balance to their offensive success.”
Offensive line coach: Stacy Searels
Illinois (7-3)
• The Illinois offensive line has paved the way for the nation’s leading rusher, Chase Brown (1,442 rushing yards). Brown had 100+ rushing yards in the team’s first nine games this season, becoming the first Big Ten back to do so since Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott in 2015.
• The Illini OL has allowed only 12 sacks all season on 374 pass blocking snaps this season. Illinois’ starting tackles of LT Julian Pearl and RT Alex Palczewski have combined to allow only three sacks on 693 pass blocking sacks.
• The Illinois O-line has been one of the toughest and most dependable in the nation to date. The line’s five core starters have made 49 of 50 possible starts and finished the game in all 49 of those starts. Senior RT Alex Palczewski is the veteran of the group with a Big Ten record 62 career starts, which also ranks second in NCAA history.
What The Voting Committee Is Saying: “Solid group and getting better. This unit has Bielema’s fingerprints all over it. (RB) Brown is elite and helps, but the O-line is the engine that makes this machine go and the production is undeniable. Some nice physicality to them, like on Play 1 of the Purdue game when RG and LT get knockdowns right out of gate. Their LG had a couple pancakes on that drive as well. TE 89 got some nasty to him and rounds out a nice group. Gotta watch the neg(ative) plays and ending up on ground, but this group is what this award is about.”
Offensive line coach: Bart Miller
Michigan (10-0)
• Michigan ranks fourth nationally in rushing offense at 251.4 yards per contest and has the fifth-highest scoring offense in the country; carried the ball 447 times for 2,514 yards (5.6 avg.) and scored 31 rushing touchdowns (T-3rd in the NCAA)
• The Wolverines have rushed for more than 250 yards in four consecutive games and has surpassed 200 yards in seven games: Colorado State (234), Hawaii (268), Maryland (243), Penn State (418), Michigan State (276), Rutgers (282) and Nebraska (264)
• The line has yielded just 12 sacks and 44 total tackles for loss in 706 snaps this season; 21st nationally in sacks allowed (1.2 avg.) and 23rd in tackles for loss allowed (4.4 avg.)
What The Voting Committee Is Saying: “This group may be better than the group that won it last year by the time it’s all said and done. They work so well together. Hip to hip, shoulder to shoulder, and always on same page despite heavy pressure and movement. They sort stuff out so well. That offense, and maybe the entire team, runs thru that O-line room. They are the heartbeat of Michigan’s entire program. Strong and physical group that has added some ‘finishing sauce’ to their menu and are getting better by the week. Going to be fun to see them lead the way to showdown with OSU.”
Offensive line coach: Sherrone Moore
Mississippi (8-2)
• Block for one of the nation’s most prolific rush offenses that currently leads the SEC and ranks No. 3 FBS at 259.8 yards per game.
• Rebels are top 10 nationally in total rushing yards (No. 3, 2,598), rushing touchdowns (No. 7, 29) and total rushing attempts (No. 5, 479).
• Ranks second in the SEC and No. 23 in the FBS in fewest sacks allowed, yielding just 1.00 per contest.
• One of only five schools with three players over 500 yards rushing.
• Pushed Ole Miss to 448 rushing yards against Auburn on Oct. 15, the most by a Rebel rushing attack since 1962 and the fifth-most in school history (second-best against an SEC opponent); also ranks as seventh-best team performance in FBS for 2022 and the best against a Power-5 opponent.
• Has used three different starting lineups among six different starting offensive linemen, including two freshmen.
• 119 combined career starts, 153 combined career games played among six Rebel linemen to have started in 2022.
What The Voting Committee Is Saying: “The foundation of the Rebs success is their O-line. They’ve created one of the most unique run schemes in all of college football. Despite play call, tempo or formation, they continue to play a physical brand of ball and find ways to finish, which is extremely hard to do in a scheme like that. They’re asked to do a lot mentally and M/A’s (missed assignments) and M/E’s (mental errors) are rarely made. It is a group that has a great understanding of how to operate with one another to find success.”
Offensive line coach: Jake Thornton
Oregon (8-2)
• Leads the nation with just two sacks allowed and is the only team to allow fewer than five sacks this season.
• Zero sacks allowed in eight of 10 games.
• Tied for fourth nationally for the fewest tackles for loss allowed (36.0).
• Zero TFLs allowed vs. Arizona, the first time UO has not given up a TFL in a game since 2010.
• No. 9 nationally in rushing offense with 239.40 yards per game, surpassing 200 rush yards six times and 300 rush yards three times.
• Three Ducks have combined to win four Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week awards, most in the conference.
What The Voting Committee Is Saying: “A physically impressive unit that looks to dominate. Get some scheme help, but they execute what they’re asked to do. Solid pass pro fundamentals. Really good counter/duo reps from this group. Big reason why they’re having so much success on offense. C got a nice finish on 2nd play of UW. Work to sustain well on 2nd level. Play is never over for them. If they get beat or lose leverage, they track well and run defender where he wants to go. Some PP (pass pro) techniques too, but this group has a chance.”
Offensive line coach: Adrian Klemm
Tennessee (9-1)
• Tennessee is tied for 19th in the country with only 43 tackles for loss allowed.
• The Volunteers are No. 4 in the Southeastern Conference and No. 28 in the country in rushing, averaging 195.5 yards per game.
• Anchors the nation’s No. 1 total offense (543.7) and No. 1 scoring offense (47.4), which puts up 348.2 passing yards per game (second in FBS) and 195.5 rushing yards per game (28th in FBS).
• Tennessee is the only school this season with four different players having earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors: center Cooper Mays (once), right tackle Darnell Wright (twice), guard Jerome Carvin (once) and guard Javontez Spraggins (once). Five of the 11 weeks played have featured a Vol.
• Paved the way and protected for a school-record 725 yards of total offense vs. a Missouri team that came in ranked 13th in the nation in total defense (304.1), and was outstanding in wins vs. current No. 6 LSU and current No. 8 Alabama, helping the offense to over 500 yards in both.
What The Voting Committee Is Saying: “Strain, fight, physicality are all there. Technique isn’t
always what it will need to be to win this award, but they are a huge part of their offensive success.
Couldn’t stop watching RG76 vs LSU. He was there to do work, and he accomplished what he set
out to do.”
Offensive line coach: Glen Elarbee
UCLA (8-2)
• UCLA total offense is 5th in the nation with 504.1 yards per game.
• UCLA has only given up 14 sacks this season.
• UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet 3rd in the nation in rushing yards per game (143.1).
• UCLA ranks 8th in the nation in rushing offense (240.0) and the O-line has paved the way for running back Zach Charbonnet to lead the nation in rushing yards per carry (7.53) and all-purpose yards (176.88) while ranking third in rushing yards per game (143.1).
• UCLA is one of six schools in the NCAA FBS averaging over 500 yards of total offense this season (504.0). No previous UCLA team has ever averaged over 500 yards of offense for a season.
• UCLA is the only school in the FBS to have recorded at least 2,400 yards rushing and total at least 2,600 yards passing this season and earlier this season racked up 402 yards rushing in a game at Arizona State (most since 2010).
What The Voting Committee Is Saying: “This group gets after it. Their IOL (interior O-line) are big and heavy, but they get it done. LT is a big dog with strong hands...once they get on you the rep is done. LG is a sumo wrestler in pads! Pretty decent in space. The QB is the juice for the team, but the O-line helps him do the squeezing.”
Offensive line coach: Tim Drevno
USC (9-1)
• The USC offensive line has helped the Trojans average 499.4 yards of total offense per game, which ranks seventh in the nation.
• The USC O-line has paved the way for 182.5 rush yards per game, 5.42 yards per carry, and 21 rushing touchdowns.
• USC has scored 424 points through 10 games this season. The Trojan offensive line has been a critical factor in this. USC’s 424 points are the most by a USC team through 10 games in school history (the 2005 team scored 484 points through 10 games, but those wins were vacated due to NCAA penalty).
• USC now has 8 games this season in which it has scored 40 or more points which ties the school record for most 40-point games in a season, set in 2003 (USC did have 9 games with 40 points in the 2005 season, but those wins were vacated due to NCAA penalty).
What The Voting Committee Is Saying: “USC’s offensive line has been transformed and revitalized under new leadership this season. They are turning the corner. This group has been able to open up running lanes using a variety of schemes with multiple running backs. Riley’s offenses always have a toughness to them, like the 2017 unit that won it [the Joe Moore Award]. Willing to get dirty. Finally have some guys looking for work and keep themselves in front of defenders in passing situations. They are outstanding when asked to block in the play action pass game.”
Offensive line coach: Josh Henson
Voting Committee
The Joe Moore Award voting committee is comprised of 12 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 2022 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, Big Ten Network); Mike Golic, Jr. (Notre Dame, Draft Kings); 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 2022 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), the University of Alabama (2020 - first repeat winner), and the University of Michigan (2021).
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).
* AP Poll as of November 13th, 2022
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