Size Matters: College Football’s Biggest Offensive Linemen of 2021

We once again take our annual trek through the FBS to determine who are the real heavyweights in the game. What we mean by that is the teams with the biggest offensive line units.

We’ll also take a look at who are the biggest and smallest blockers nationally as well as in Louisiana, where teams have experienced shrinkage recently.

When it’s all said and done, we’ll look closer at the preseason top 25 teams and if size correlates with success.

The average starting offensive lineman in college football’s top division entering the 2021 campaign is 6’4.3″ and 309 pounds per starter. In 2014, the average height was exactly the same but linemen weighed in at 302.1. In 2020, the average was 6’4.3″ again with 306.6 pounds per man. So you can see the numbers have climbed as the masses continue to bulk up.

Teams that have experienced shrinkage since ’14 though. North Texas averaged 316.6 pounds per starter then but now the Mean Green have slimmed to 297.2 for an eye-catching drop of 19 lbs. per man. Buffalo averaged 316.4 up front in ’14 but this year the Bulls are an even 300 each.

Louisiana Tech’s average dropped 16 pounds from 313.2 per starter in 2014 to the current 297.6. Tulane’s 313.2 pounds per starting offensive lineman has come down to 300.4 right now under Willie Fritz.

Teams that have hit the diet line since last fall include West Virginia (averaged 318.4 lbs.) to 306.4 per starter. Kansas State averaged 317.2 lbs. one year ago but just 305 per man right now. Tulane, once again watching the calories, goes from 309 per starter in ’20 to 300.4 entering 2021.

Programs who have expanded over time are headlined by Oregon State (was 292 lbs. in 2014, now 322.6) while UNLV has jumped in that time from 294 to 316, New Mexico from 283.6 to 304.6. In just one year, Rice jumped from 288.8 to 307 and Arizona State from 291 to 307 lbs. now.

So which teams hold bragging rights to the real HEAVYWEIGHT champions? These are the top 15 heaviest programs in the country, starting with a Big Ten program that holds the title for the second straight season.

1 – Minnesota – 6’6″ – 336 lbs.
2 – Florida – 6’5.4″, 334.4 lbs.
3 – LSU – 6’4.8″, 325.4
4 – Morth Carolina – 6’5″, 325
5 – Tulsa – 6’3.6″, 323.6
6 – Auburn – 6’4.8″, 323.4
7 – Michigan – 6’5.6″, 323.2
8 – Oregon – 6’5.4″, 322.6
9 – Oklahoma – 6’4.2″, 322.2
10 – Alabama – 6’4.8″, 321.4
11 – Geogia Tech – 6’5.4″, 319.6
12 – Wyoming – 6’5.2″, 319.4
13 – Arkansas – 6’5.6″, 319.2
14 – Maryland – 6’4.8 – 319
15 – Ole Miss – 6’4″, 319
(NOTE: 6 of the top 15 largest squads reside in the SEC)

Of the smallest offensive lines in college football, the top three are military-based:
1 – Navy – 6’2.8″, 284
2 – Air Force – 6’3.2″, 285
3 – Army – 6’2.4″, 287
4 – Coastal Carolina – 5’11.5 “, 288 (starting OL has 109 career starts and coming off an 11 win campaign in ’20)
5 – Iowa – 6’4.4″, 291.2 (Kirk Ferentz in 23rd season, Center Tyler Linderbaum , 6’3 – 289 , considered best in nation.

Louisiana team rankings:
LSU – 6’4.8″, 325.4
ULM – 6’4″, 313.8
ULL – 6’3.8″, 300.6
Tulane – 6’4 – 300.4
LA Tech – 6’3.4″, 297.6

Biggest players in the Pelican state:
– Anthony Bradford – LSU sophomore RG – 6’5″, 365
– Mackey Mailho – UL freshman OG – 6’8″, 353
– Chasen Hines – LSU junior RG – 6’3″, 350
– Tayland Humphrey – UL senior NT – 6’5″, 335
– O’Cyrus Torrence – UL sophomore RG – 6’5″, 332
– Austin Deculus – LSU senior RT – 6’6″, 331
– Jeffery Johnson – Tulane junior NT – 6’3″, 330

Who are the biggest players grazing the football fields coast to coast ?
1 – Daniel Faalele – Minnesota junior RT – 6’9″, 400
2 – Faaope LaLolu – Oregon freshman RG – 6’6″, 395
3 – Maximus Gibbs – USC freshman OT – 6’6″, 385
4 – Tykeem Doss – Southern Miss LT junior – 6’5″, 379
5 – T.J. Jackson – Ohio U. senior LT – 6’6″, 377
6 – Michael Straham – Pittsburgh freshman LG – 6’7″, 370
7 – Olivier Charles – Pierre – Houston senior NT – 6’2″, 370
8 – Anthony Bradford – LSU sophomore RG – 6’5″, 365
9 – Liam Dobson – Texas State senior RT – 6’4″, 365
10 – Sebastian Sainterling – South Floria sophomore LG – 6’2″, 365
11 – Dawand Jones – Ohio State junior LT – 6’8″, 360
12 – Evan Neal – Alabama junior LT – 6’7″, 360
13 – Robert Hudson – Iowa State center junior – 6’7″, 360
14 – Walter Karstens – NC State freshman LT – 6’7″, 360
15 – Payton Page – Clemson freshman DT – 6’4″, 360
16 – Kezlah Everrett – East Carolina freshman LG – 6’1″, 359
17 – Christopher Randazzo – Oregon junior RG – 6’7″, 359
18 – Tope Imade – Texas senior RT – 6’6″, 358
19 – Jackson Oxley – West Virginia freshman, RT – 6’5″, 358
20 – Darrell Simpson – Oklahoma junior LG – 6’7″, 358
21 – Jordan Whittley – Michigan junior DT – 6’1″, 358
22 – Antoni Mafi – UCLA junior LG – 6’4″, 355
23 – Willie Allen – UMass senior LT – 6’6″, 354 (former John Curtis standout)

In regards to every conference’s average per offensive line starter:
1 – SEC – – 6’4.7″”, 319.7
2 – ACC – – 6’4.37″”, 312.9
3 – Big Ten – 6’4.87″”, 311.9
4 – Big 12 – – 6’4.8″”, 310.36
5 – PAC 12 – – 6’4.7″”, 309.2
6 – Mountain West – – 6’4″”, 307.2
7 – CUSA – – 6’3.6 “”, 305.9
8 – AAC – – 6’4″”, 305.2
9 – Mid American – – 6’4.5″”, 304.3
10 – Sun Belt – – 6’3.5″”, 305.22
11 – Independent – – 6’4″”, 303.45

And finally, let’s ‘size’ up the preseason top 25 in the country to see if having bigger linemen correlates with success (the average offensive line starter in FBS (6’4.3″, 309). Only four of the top 25 teams fall below the average:
1 – Alabama – – 6’4.8″”, 321.4
2 – Oklahoma – – 6’4.2″”, 322.2
3 – Clemson – – 6’3.8″, 306 (below average)
4 – Georgia – – 6’4.6″”, 318
5 – Ohio State – – 6’5″, 316.4
6 – Iowa State – – 6’5″, 312
7 – Texas A&M – – 6’4.2″”, 316
8 – Penn State – – 6’4.2″”, 312.4
9 – LSU – – 6’4.8″”, 325.4
10 – Notre Dame – – 6’4.8″”, 310.6
11 – USC – – 6’4.4″”, 309
12 – Oregon – – 6’5.4″”, 322.6
13 – Wisconsin – – 6’4.8″”, 316.2
14 – North Carolina – – 6’5″, 325
15 – Utah – – 6’5.4″”, 316
16 – Washington – – 6’5.4″”, 327.8
17 – Miami – – 6’4.8″”, 318
18 – Cincinnati – – 6’4.2″”, 307.8 (slightly below average)
19 – Indiana – – 6’5.2″”, 315.8
20 – Arizona State – – 6’4″”, 307 (below average)
21 – TCU – – 6’5.6″”, 315.4
22 – Iowa – – 6’4.4″”, 291.2 (no projected starter reaches 300 lbs. Heaviest is 296 )
23 – Texas – – 6’5″, 310.6
24 – Florida – – 6’5.4″”, 334.4
25 – Ole Miss – – 6’4″, 319

As a bonus, here are some of the smallest players in college football:
– Champ Flemings – Oregon WR junior 5’5″, 144
– Brad George – Kent State sophomore deep snapper 5’9 – 199
– Everrett Smalley – Air Force sophomore LT – 6’3, 265
– Jake Cossavella – Navy junior LT – 6’4″, 270
– Sam Thompson – Coastal Carolina senior center 5’9″, 290
– Conner Villapando – UTEP deep snapper freshman – 6’0″, 185