Top 5 Big Ten Offensive Linemen For 2013

Top 5 Big Ten Offensive Linemen For 2013

When it comes to Big Ten football, you can basically pick out any year in the history of college football and you know you will find a top-level offensive lineman from one of the Big Ten teams.

The Big Ten has been notorious for producing NFL ready lineman for as long as they’ve been a conference. The quality of offensive lineman in the Big Ten is what has enabled the conference to be a dominant rushing league that produces great running backs year after year.

The alumni base of offensive linemen that have come from the Big Ten is impressive. You have players like Jake Long who played at Michigan and went on to become the number one overall draft pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2008.

Orlando Pace, who played for the Ohio State Buckeyes, was such a dominant player during his time in Columbus that he actually finished fourth among the Heisman Trophy candidates, which was something that has never been seen before.

Those are just two of many great lineman who have been All-Americans during their time in the Big Ten and also would go on to end up being first round draft picks in the NFL. The 2013 group of offensive linemen for the conference is no exception to the tradition. Many players are returning with many starts and loads of experience under their belts.

The Big Ten has two offensive linemen who were AP All-Americans in 2012 and a large number of players who were All-Big Ten also return. There should be at least two linemen taken in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft from the Big Ten.

5. Travis Jackson, Michigan State Spartans

Jackson was the starting center for the Spartans last year until he broke his leg midway through the season. During his redshirt freshman year, he started every game and was named a freshman All-American. He should be one of the top centers in the conference in 2013.

4. Andrew Norwell, Ohio State Buckeyes

Norwell is one of the senior leaders of the Buckeye offense and returns on a stacked Buckeye offensive line. He has started a ton of games during his career at Ohio State and is generating a lot of buzz from NFL Draft scouts too. He was an All-Big Ten selection last season.

3. Jack Mewhort, Ohio State Buckeyes

Mewhort has started a lot of games during his time at Ohio State and has shown great versatility, playing in numerous spots when needed. He enters his senior year at left tackle for the Buckeyes and should be one of the best tackles in the conference. Mewhort was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2012.

2. Spencer Long, Nebraska Cornhuskers

Long will be one of the top returning lineman in the entire country for 2013 when he suits up for the Cornhuskers. He was not only named to first team All-Big Ten in 2012, but he was also a second team AP All-American. He has started every game for Nebraska for two straight seasons.

1. Taylor Lewan, Michigan Wolverines

Lewan is the best lineman returning in all of football, and not one person disagrees with that. Lewan had the chance to likely be taken in the first top five picks of the 2013 NFL Draft but chose to return for his senior season. He has been dominant his entire career in Ann Arbor and should continue the dominance in 2013.