JOE MOORE AWARD ANNOUNCES MIDSEASON HONOR ROLL
Twenty-two O-Line Units Gain Attention of Voting Committee
NEW YORK (Nov. 23, 2020) — The Joe Moore Award for the Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in College Football today revealed the twenty-two members of its 2020 midseason honor roll, announced The Foundation for Teamwork, which has presented the unique award since 2015.
Earning a spot on this year’s midseason honor roll are the O-lines of Air Force, #1 Alabama, Army, #8 BYU, #7 Cincinnati, #16 Coastal Carolina, #13 Georgia, Iowa, #15 Iowa State, Kentucky, #23 Louisiana, Louisville, Mississippi, North Texas, #2 Notre Dame, #3 Ohio State, #9 Oregon, San Diego State, #5 Texas A&M, UCLA, Virginia Tech, and #18 Wisconsin.
This year’s honor roll members represent nine conferences and two independents (in alphabetical order): AAC (1), ACC (3), BIG TEN (3), BIG-12 (1), CUSA (1), MWC (2), (PAC-12 (2), SEC (5), SUN BELT (2), and Army and BYU. For games played through Nov. 21, teams on this year’s honor roll have a combined record of 100-38, and includes twelve ranked teams, including seven of the Top 10.*
These units have gained the attention of the Joe Moore Award voting committee as it moves closer to announcing the selection of semifinalists on Dec. 7 and finalists on Dec. 21. Selection of the 2020 Joe Moore Award winner will be made public in late December or early January after a surprise announcement on the winning unit’s campus, as mutually agreed upon and circumstances allow.
“In a season like none other, the units on the 2020 Midseason Honor Roll should be commended for finding ways to display many of the fundamental characteristics of winning O-line play under such challenging circumstances,” said Aaron Taylor, CBS college football analyst and 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 bar will quickly raise from here, and the consistent display of the award criteria and being at your best in the “gotta have it” situations will be what separates the elite units moving forward.”
“This year’s evaluation process has been the most difficult yet,” said Cole Cubelic, chairman of the Joe Moore Award voting committee. “O-lines are taking a bit longer to lather up this year, so we’ve all had to consider context and circumstance to a degree that’s never occurred before. In the end, however, like always, the consistency, finish, and performance in the “gotta have it” moments will be the only factors that matter.”
Units of Interest:
In addition to the O-line units listed above, committee members also took note of the play and production of Buffalo, Clemson, Colorado, North Carolina State, Oklahoma, Toledo, and Washington.
Honor Roll Criteria and Selection Process
The Joe Moore Award voting committee judges on six criteria that historically proven to distinguish winning O-line play: toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique and finishing.
Evaluations for the midseason honor roll were made solely through weekly review of actual game film and offensive line coach-provided cut-ups on XOS Thundercloud.
2020 Honor Roll at a Glance
Air Force (2-2)
Air Force leads the nation in rushing with a 336.5 per-game average.
Air Force has allowed just one sack this season, including zero the last three games.
Air Force has had a 100-yard rusher in three of four games this season.
What the committee is saying: “Have found a way to lead the country in rushing under extremely challenging conditions and injuries to key players. Tough and physical at point of attack and look to finish whenever they can. Play with tight bases and run off the football and accelerate on contact. People movers. Scrappy. Well coached triple team that runs a fair amount of outside zone, power, lead, and it’s all fun to watch.”
Offensive line coach: Steed Lobotzke
Alabama (7-0)
The Crimson Tide O-line have paved the way for RB Najee Harris, who leads the nation in rushing touchdowns (16) and is second in the SEC in rushing yards (797). The Crimson Tide has rushed for 23 touchdowns in just seven games this year.
The line has provided time for quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Mac Jones to throw for 2,426 yards (346.6 ypg) and 18 touchdowns posting a passer efficiency rating of 205.1, which leads the SEC and ranks third nationally.
According to the tape, Alabama’s O-line is only responsible for six of the eleven sacks through seven games.
What the committee is saying: “Once again, Alabama’s offensive line is a good combination of size, strength, and technique. They play with consistency and are doing a nice job of working their double teams and battling with strain in single blocks. Starting center, Landon Dickerson, is playing at an incredibly high level and that energy and attitude is showing up with the entire unit. This is a group that functions together at a very high level. They are consistently looking to be great beyond what was asked on a particular play.
Offensive line coach: Kyle Flood
Army West Point (7-2)
Army ranks third in the nation in rushing with a 296.7 per-game average.
Army leads the nation in rushing touchdowns with 31.
Peyton Reeder, Offensive Lineman on what it's like to play for Army West Point: "It's about toughness. You don't come here because it's going to be easy. You don't come here because you want to play football, you come here because you want to be a part of a successful program and you want to be on a team where you love your teammates. You come here if you want to be a part of something bigger than yourself."
What the committee is saying: “Army’s O-line represents all that is good about the sport of football. Tough, gritty, together, and a willingness to finish and look for work. Come off the rock with narrow stances and flat backs. All beef with some pancakes on the side versus Louisiana-Monroe. LG gets chippy and seems to love to finish. I really like their effort level and want-to.”
Offensive line coach: Saga Tuitele and Brent Davis
BYU (9-0)
BYU’s experienced and talented offensive line boasts a combined 160 starts.
BYU ranks No. 4 in scoring offense (47.6 ppg) and No. 7 in total offense (535.8 ypg).
The Cougars have only allowed 8 sacks and have protected is a Heisman Trophy candidate Quarterback Zach Wilson who ranks No. 1 in points responsible for (208), No. 2 in passing touchdowns (26), No. 2 in passing efficiency (205.3), No. 3 in passing yards (2,724), No. 3 in passing yards per attempt (11.49) and No. 4 in completion percentage (.743) among his many top rankings. sRunning back Tyler Allgeier has used the holes provided by the offensive line to rank No. 8 nationally in rushing yards (851), rushing yards per attempt (7.21) and total touchdowns (11).
What the committee is saying: “Big physical unit that likes to bully its opponents. Mature, thick frames are perfectly suited for their zone run schemes. Work well in pass pro and see it together. Good anchors and stay square fairly well in pass pro. Leave center on island a lot and trust him. QB is mobile and gets the ball out quick which helps, but they are a well-coached bunch that is a big reason why their scheme and skill players are so successful.”
Offensive line coach: Eric Mateos
Cincinnati (8-0)
UC has averaged 5.9 yards per carry this season and currently leads the American in rushing offense, grinding up 234.2 yards per game on the ground.
The offensive line starts a true freshmen, C Jake Renfro, and has allowed just nine sacks, fewest in the American Athletic Conference.
The offensive line has started the same five, LT James Hudson, LG Dylan O'Quinn, C Jake Renfro, RG Vincent McConnell and RT Darius Harper, in the past five games as the Bearcats have played some of their best offensive football of the season, rushing for an average of 268.0 yards on the ground, 519.4 of total offense and surrendering only five sacks.
What the committee is saying: “Not overly talented, but make up for it with a lot of fight. 55 (left tackle) is technically savvy and probably had three touchdown or “spring” blocks against SMU. Used great technique, loves the game, celebrates with teammates, and talks the talk and walks the walk. Love watching this dude and his teammates.”
Offensive line coach: Ron Crook
Coastal Carolina (8-0)
They lead the way for the No. 1 scoring offense in the Sun Belt at 37.4 points per game (25th nationally).
Rank 25th nationally having allowed just 1.25 sacks per game this season.
“Unofficially” the smallest O-line unit in FBS. Biggest starter is 6-3, 275 pounds.
What the committee is saying: “Undersized scrappy bunch that plays with intensity and strain. Very good initial footwork. Physical on combos. OL work to stay square. Feet and initial steps look good. Consistent. The center is getting after it and he’s built like a fire hydrant. I wish I could have reached a nose like he does. Also as this award reflects the coach, I see nearly every player with the exact same technique. The only limitations of this unit are biological, not technical or mental.”
Offensive line coach: Bill Durkin
Georgia (5-2)
What the committee is saying, Part I: “Despite losing a variety of starters and their offensive line coach (Sam Pittman) to a head-coaching job with Arkansas, the Dawgs offensive line keeps chugging along. They’ve hit 189 yards rushing or more in five of their seven games and they don’t have any glaring holes up front with the entire five playing at a solid level. They play with good hand placement and grit in the run game and the O-line is responsible for less than half of their season sack total according to the tape over their first seven contests.”
What the committee is saying, Part II: “Display physicality on a regular basis in 2020. With a new offense, a new offensive line coach & four starters gone from last year’s group the expectations were not very high. But the Bulldogs O-line has consistently exceeded those expectations while seeing multiple QBs start games. The finish & attitude of this group has set them apart, and will continue to elevate as consistency rises.”
Offensive line coach: Matt Luke
Iowa (3-2)
Iowa has won its last three games, outscoring its opponents 125-35 and averaging 41.6 points per game during the winning streak. The Hawkeyes points per game is the highest three-game stretch since 2002, when they scored 127 points (42.3 ppg) in consecutive wins against Wisconsin (20-3), Northwestern (62-10) and Minnesota (45-21).
Iowa ranks second in the Big Ten with 15 rushing touchdowns. RB Tyler Goodson leads the Hawkeyes and ranks second in the Big Ten with 453 rushing yards.
The Hawkeyes are averaging 33.0 points per game this season through all five games, their highest total since 2002 (36.5).
What the committee is saying: “One of the subjective metrics used to evaluate O-line play is ‘Does it look familiar’? This unit ‘looks familiar’ and has gotten better each week. First steps are synced in the zone run schemes. Good anchors and usage of hands in pass sets. Finish when they can. Iowa always performs well regardless of talent level, but this year they have above average talent with above average technique. Keep an eye on this group.”
Offensive line coach: Tim Polasek
Iowa State (6-2)
One of four schools nationally to rush for at least two TDs in every game played (minimum 5 games played).
Paved holes for the nation’s leading rusher Breece Hall, who has the most rushing yards (1,169), 100-yard rushing games (8) and multi-TD rush games (6) in the nation.
Leads the Big 12 in fewest sacks allowed (9) and yards per rush (5.6).
What the committee is saying: “Fun, gritty, physical unit that leads the way for the conference’s best rushing attack. Have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Not a terribly high ceiling, but consistency, grit, and effort are all there.”
Offensive line coach: Jeff Myers
Kentucky (3-5)
Behind Kentucky’s “Big Blue Wall,” the Wildcats are fourth in the SEC in rushing at 178.0 yards per game.
The Big Blue Wall has paved the way for Kentucky’s top three running backs (Chris Rodriguez Jr., A.J. Rose and Kavosiey Smoke) to average 5.9 yards per rush (1,058 yards and seven touchdowns), while Rodriguez leads the SEC and ranks 18th nationally at 6.39 ypc.
The Wildcats have 124 combined starts on the offensive line. Seniors Drake Jackson and Landon Young have started in a combined 62 consecutive games.
What the committee is saying: “What makes the play of Kentucky’s offensive line even more impressive this season is how they have handled the sickness and then passing of their beloved offensive line coach John Schlarman. After a two-year battle with cancer, Schlarman passed away on Nov. 12, 2020. Despite battling extensive treatments, he rarely missed a game or practice, serving as an example to “finish.” When asked why he never wanted to miss he simply stated, “for the team.” He coached his final game in UK’s upset over Tennessee on Oct. 17, 2020. The former Wildcat and All-SEC lineman returned to his alma mater to join Mark Stoops’ staff in 2013, slowly building the “Big Blue Wall’ that would become his legacy. His offensive lines were semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award in 2016 and 2019.”
Offensive line coach: John Schlarman
Louisiana (7-1)
Louisiana currently ranks 10th nationally and first in the Sun Belt in sacks allowed (1.00).
Louisiana also ranks 8th nationally and first in the Sun Belt in tackles-for-loss allowed (3.62).
The interior of the line has been solid all year, with Ken Marks (LG), Shane Vallot (C) and O’Cyrus Torrence (RG) not missing a game in 2020.
What the committee is saying: “Above average O-line that works to play ‘big’ and ‘physical’. Clearly take pride in the grind and grit. Both guards seem long, especially RG who is a mauler that is solid in PP (pass pro). All work to be physical in run game and not scared to throw hands in pass pro. Will take shots if there. Fun group.”
Offensive line coach: Rob Sale/D.J. Looney**
Louisville (3-6)
Averaging 194.1 yards rushing this season
Averaging 5.1 yards per carry
Have had four 200 yard rushing games, including a season high 317 yards versus Virginia.
What the committee is saying: “Really enjoyed watching Louisville. Ledford does a great job with his outside zone stuff. They move in unison after the snap and do a nice job of hustling to pass off play side and backside blocks to the man next to them when climbing up to the next level. Their center is a mother in pass pro and they all do a nice job of finding twists and snapping them off quickly.”
Offensive line coach: Dwayne Ledford
Mississippi (3-4)
Set the tone for a Rebel offense that ranks No. 3 in FBS in total offense (565ypg).
Have paved the way for a Rebel rushing attack that leads the SEC in rushing yards per game (212.7ypg).s
Pass protect for QB Matt Corral, who ranks top 10 in FBS in passing yards (2,359), passing TDs (22), passing efficiency (189.4) and total offense (380.0ypg).
What the committee is saying: “I never thought I’d see a Mississippi O-line give an Alabama def front a run for its money, but that’s exactly what happened on 60%+ of the run plays during that game. The hurry up style of their offense usually hurts physicality, but that’s not been the case with this unit that’s only given up 13 sacks so far this year.
Offensive line coach: Randy Clements
North Texas (3-3)
The Mean Green offensive line has been instrumental in anchoring the fifth-ranked total offense in the nation, averaging 559.5 yards per game.
A much-improved group under new co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Mike Bloesch, the Mean Green offensive line has helped pave the way for the seventh-ranked rushing attack in the country, averaging 257.3 yards per game.
UNT has significantly cut down on sacks allowed in 2020, surrendering just seven through the first six games, and their 1.17 sacks allowed per game rank 22nd nationally. Conversely, in 2019 the Mean Green allowed 26 sacks in 12 games (2.17 per game), which ranked 74th nationally.
What the committee is saying: “A unit that values physicality. Heavy feet and work to shoot, lift, and strain nicely in run game, work to shoot hands in pro. Right tackle seems to be alpha dog and accelerates on contact well and has a ton of nasty: great example vs MTSU on the scoop and score where he sent a message to one of the defenders that he did not appreciate the celebration. All play a little high, but they are a fun watch and are not scared to get after it.”
Offensive line coach: Mike Bloesch
Notre Dame (8-0)
The Irish lead the ACC in sacks allowed (13) and are also tied for second in the ACC in rushing offense (233.5 yards per game) with a 208-yard rushing performance vs. Clemson and 274 yards at Boston College.
Four of Notre Dame’s five starting lineman have been named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week this season.
Behind its stellar offensive line, Notre Dame is one of three Power 5 teams to post three performances of 36:15 or more possession time this season, and the Irish have won the time of possession in seven of eight games.
What the committee is saying: “This unit seems to be the gold standard of steady weekly improvement. They have come so far since that first out vs Duke. Technically sound unit with consistent sets and fierce punches in pass pro. Footwork and combos in run game are what it should look like. LT playing really well, and the right side playing well together. If they can stay healthy, they’ve got a real chance.”
Offensive line coach: Jeff Quinn
Ohio State (4-0)
Ohio State leads the Big Ten Conference and ranks 16th nationally with 233.2 rushing yards per game.
Ohio State also ranks Top 10 nationally (8th) and first in the Big Ten in total offense with 535.2 yards per game.
Buckeyes are balanced offensively. The team is coming off a hard-fought Top 10 win over No. 9 Indiana, 42-35, in a game where we had our first ever game with a 300-yard passer (300, Justin Fields), 150-or-more yard rusher (169, Master Teague) and 150-or-more yard receiver (169, Garrett Wilson).
What the committee is saying: “Typical unit for what we’ve come to expect from OSU. Look for work. RG52 is a junk yard dog and could be the best guard in the country. He served up a rib sandwich out of the gate on the 1Q INT versus IU. Unit carries and ID stunts well, stay square and on the same level. Run and lift and pads pop in run game with sustained leg drive across the board. Stud [Coach Studrawa] has got himself another good one and doing his thing once again. They’re not there yet, but it’s still early. ”
Offensive line coach: Greg Studrawa
Oregon (3-0)
Oregon is one of three Power 5 programs averaging over 275 yards passing and 200 yards rushing this season (minimum two games played).
In the season opener, Oregon rushed for 269 yards which was the most by a Pac-12 team and the seventh most nationally that week. All five offensive linemen made their first career start and it marked the first time since 1997 that Oregon had a starting offensive line with zero combined starts.
Oregon knows how to finish and ranks fourth in the nation with 152 rushing yards per game in the second half.
What the committee is saying: “A bunch of young pups that are raw, but jelling quickly and learning on the fly. Youth showed versus UCLA, but in the first two games they played really well. Number 71 is gonna be a monster. He started at RT and played inside. Pack power and punch and physicality is their preferred calling card. Considering these are five new starters with no spring and interrupted Fall, Ducks O-line def a unit to keep an eye on.”
Offensive line coach: Mario Cristobal/Alex Mirabal
San Diego State (3-2)
The Aztec offensive line backs an offense that ranks 11th in the nation in rushing offense (246.00) and 21st in time of possession (32:46).
The SDSU offensive line has blocked for running back Greg Bell, who became the first Aztec in program history to start his SDSU career with three (and four) 100-yard rushing games.
The Aztecs also rank 19th in the nation in yards per carry (5.3) and have 13 rushing touchdowns through five games.
What the committee is saying: “Big, physical group of shade makers that enjoy moving people out of the way. Different scheme this year and there seems to be more misdirection and RPO’s to the offense, but the bread-and-butter zone plays and gap schemes and are still there. Look for work in both run and pass, and will take shots if provided the chance. Consistency will help this unit advance, but their good looks real good.”
Offensive line coach: Mike Schmidt
Texas A&M (5-1)
Texas A&M’s offensive front, long known as the Maroon Goons, have not allowed a sack since the second quarter of the season-opener against Vanderbilt (22 quarters, 171 pass attempts), despite battling No. 2 Alabama, No. 4 Florida since then.
For the season, Texas A&M has allowed 2.0 sacks and is allowing a national-best 0.3 sacks per game among teams having played more than four games.
The Goons have also only allowed a total of 21 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, which ranks third nationally among FBS schools that have played more than four games.
What the committee is saying: “The Aggies had good success on the ground with a very competitive unit in 2018 but saw a big drop-off last season. This year they have been the catalyst for an offense that has shown a new level of toughness. In the second half of the Florida game, they battered the Gators on the ground and have been able to ride that run with strong efforts on the ground ever since. They are a physical unit who work well together and get up on linebackers. Right tackle Carson Green has been exceptional at clearing out space for his runners.”
Offensive line coach: Josh Henson
UCLA (1-2)
UCLA has rushed for at least 200 yards as a team in seven of the last 11 games, including the last two of this season at Oregon (267) and vs. Cal (244).
The Bruins are rated 17th nationally in rushing offense this season (228.7 YPG) and are attempting to be the first UCLA team to average over 200 yards per game since the 2014 campaign.
The Bruins have allowed just 1.0 sack per game to rank 10th nationally in the category.
What the committee is saying: “Interesting group that started a bit of a slow but just got after Oregon. Athletic, undersized, and scrappy unit that strains and plays to whistle across the board. Effort looks to be coached into them. Pretty in the screen game and in space. Had a couple of really nice blitz pick-ups early vs Ore. OC scans well and makes them right. A fun group to keep an eye on for sure.”
Offensive line coach: Justin Frye
Virginia Tech (4-5)
Lead the ACC with 250.89 rush yards per game.
Tech has posted 24 rushing TDs through nine games in 2020 after scoring just 22 in 13 games in 2019.
Tech owns five 250-yard rushing games in 2020, the team’s most since doing it seven times in 2000.
C Brock Hoffman has been named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice this season. T Christian Darrisaw and G Doug Nester have each claimed the honor once.
What the committee is saying: “Big, physical group that leads an extremely productive run game. Looked pretty good against UNC from a run blocking standpoint and do a decent job with inside zone and ace blocks. Movement and better athletes upfront gave them some issues against Miami, and their lack of athleticism showed up a bit. Overall, the unit sees it pretty well though and leverages plenty of RPOs and friendly box counts to get the job done.”
Offensive line coach: Vance Vice
Wisconsin (2-1)
The Badgers are third in Big Ten with 219.7 rush yards per game.
Wisconsin is T-2 in conference play with just six sacks allowed.
The six players who have started on the O-line for Wisconsin this season have a combined 196 games played and have combined to make 97 starts in their careers.
What the committee is saying: “They got after a disappointing Michigan team and rushed the ball well with a variety of ball-carriers. They come off in sync with steps and pad level and it looked like Wisconsin looks. Really like the center's strength and think he's better than the kid they had last year who was drafted by Dallas. Guard to guard they are solid. Tackles are okay but pass pro is something to keep an eye on. Have flashed at times, but must continue to improve moving forward to win it this year.”
Offensive line coach: Joe Rudolph
Voting Committee
The Joe Moore Award voting committee comprises 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 2020 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); Dave Harding (Duke, Blue Devil Network); Pat Hill (head coach at Fresno State, O-line coach at Atlanta Falcons); Barrett Jones (Alabama, St. Louis Rams); Duke Manyweather (Humboldt State, player and coach); Geoff Schwartz (Oregon, Carolina Panthers); Sam Schwartzstein (Stanford, XFL rules creator); Phil Steele (publisher or 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 2020 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) and the University of Notre Dame (2017), University of Oklahoma (2018), and LSU (2019).
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 Nov. 22
** D.J. Looney passed away suddenly of a heart attack on August 1, 2020 and is missed by all who knew him during his college football athletic and coaching career.
###
