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As the midseason point of the college football season unfolds, SEC offensive lines are getting the recognition they deserve.
Five SEC offensive lines were listed on the Joe Moore Award honor roll following Week 7 of the season. Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Ole Miss and Arkansas all were named as part of the 18 programs listed by the award.
The No. 1 Bulldogs remain in the driver’s seat as 1 of the top units in the sport. Quarterback Stetson Bennett has only been sacked 7 times this season, while the run game has averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 24 touchdowns. Through 7 games, Georgia ranks 4th in total offense, 10th in passing offense and 10th in scoring offense.
2022 Joe Moore Award Honor Roll
The members represent 8 conferences: ACC (1), BIG TEN (5), BIG-12 (2), CUSA (1), MWC (1), PAC-12 (3), SEC (5), SUN BELT (3), and NOTRE DAME (Independent).
Collectively, they have a record of 118-23 and include 14 ranked teams. #IAmBecauseOfUs pic.twitter.com/IodrLXSLnf
— Joe Moore Award (@JoeMooreAward) October 18, 2022
No. 3 Tennessee, which picked up its biggest win in over a decade against then-No. 3 Alabama, can thank its offensive line for giving Heisman hopeful Hendon Hooker a clean pocket. This season, the Vols have only allowed 9 sacks. Last weekend in a 52-49 win over the Crimson Tide in Neyland Stadium, Tennessee allowed just 1 sack.
The Vols’ offense has been one of the nation’s finest in scoring, averaging 47.7 points per game. Hooker and the passing attack rank 5th among all FBS schools through the air, averaging an SEC-leading 347.8 yards per game.
Alabama and Arkansas’ trenches perhaps aren’t at the same level as Tennessee and Georgia’s, but they’ve factored into their respective programs’ success. The No. 6 Crimson Tide’s front 5 has allowed 10 sacks in 7 games while the Hogs have allowed 11.
The No. 7 Rebels, perhaps college football’s most under-appreciated contender, have allowed 3 sacks on the season. Ole Miss also ranks 3rd among FBS teams in rushing, averaging 271.4 yards per game.
Cole Thompson is a freelance writer for Saturday Football who has covered college football and the NFL for multiple websites. Thompson is currently based in Houston, Texas, and also can be heard daily on SportsMap National Radio's 'Just Sayin It' from 3am-6am.
