Daily Blog • June 10, 2014

Today’s blog starts my in-depth look at my NCAA Experience Chart. For 7 years I had listed an experience chart, which broke down the number of seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen each team had in the two deep and rated the teams experience level with a formula I devised. In 2009, I made the experience chart FIVE TIMES better.

Today I will look at the number of career starts returning for offensive lineman.

When most folks judge a team for the upcoming season they look at the QB, RB and WR’s that are returning. A few may take the time to look at star defensive players that are back (those with a lot of sacks or interceptions). However, very few look at the offensive line and yet the team that controls the line of scrimmage wins the game more often than not.

This year FBS newcomer Appalachian St is the top team in the country with 145 career starts returning but since all of those starts come at the FCS level, they do not rank in my Top 45 of OL units. UTSA is #2 with 143 starts returning but like Appalachian St do not appear among my top OL units.  Coming in at #3 is Indiana who has 130 career OL starts returning and they rank as my #13 overall OL as HC Kevin Wilson played OL at North Carolina and emphasizes the position. LY the Hoosiers opened holes for 202 ypg rush (5.3) and allowed just 3.8% sks. If you purchase my magazine you will find that Oregon (108 career starts returning) and Auburn (113 career starts returning) are my two top rated offensive lines.

At the bottom of the list is Tennessee who has just 6 starts returning. Two Big Ten teams in Penn St (provided Miles Dieffenbach doesn’t return) and Ohio State who loses four starters from one of the best OL’s in the country are also at the bottom.

Now experience on the O-line is not the only criteria for an offensive line’s potential for the next year. You have to add in the Blue Chips, how last year’s line performed (ypc rushing and sacks allowed), size, etc. That is how a team like Alabama can be just #107 in career starts returning (37 starts) but rate as my #8 overall OL this year.

Here are the rankings for all 128 teams with regards to Career OL Starts Returning.

Career OL Starts Returning

NCAA   OL Career NCAA   OL Career
Rank Team Starts Rank Team Starts
1 Appalachian St 145 65 Memphis 63
2 UTSA 143 66 Iowa  62
3 Indiana 130 66 Arizona St 62
4 Minnesota 129 68 Maryland 61
5 Washington 124 68 Michigan St 61
6 North Texas 123 68 Mississippi 61
7 Louisville 121 71 Western Michigan 60
8 UNLV 117 71 Troy 60
9 Idaho 115 73 Tulane 59
10 Florida St 114 73 Colorado 59
11 Auburn 113 75 TCU 57
11 South Carolina 113 75 UAB 57
13 South Alabama 110 75 San Diego St 57
14 Oregon 108 78 Middle Tenn 56
15 Oklahoma 107 79 Akron 55
16 Northern Illinois 106 79 Bowling Green 55
17 USF 104 81 Notre Dame 54
17 Arizona 104 81 Georgia 54
19 Northwestern 100 83 WKU 53
19 Toledo 100 83 Nevada 53
19 Buffalo 100 83 USC 53
22 Rutgers 99 86 Arkansas  51
23 Illinois 96 87 Virginia  49
24 Georgia Southern 94 87 Clemson 49
25 Rice 92 87 Texas 49
26 Louisiana 91 90 Wake Forest 48
26 Texas St 91 90 Wyoming 48
28 Central Michigan 90 90 Arkansas St 48
28 Eastern Michigan 90 93 Utah 46
30 Texas A&M 89 94 UCF 45
31 UCLA 88 94 Georgia Tech 45
32 Iowa St 87 94 West Virginia 45
32 Miami, Oh 87 97 SMU 44
34 BYU 86 97 North Carolina 44
35 Navy 85 97 Kent St 44
36 Duke 83 97 Ball St 44
36 Vanderbilt 83 101 Old Dominion 43
38 Hawaii 82 102 Oregon St 42
39 Miss St 81 103 Georgia St 41
40 ULM 79 104 Ohio 39
41 Syracuse 78 105 East Carolina 38
41 Boston College 78 105 Oklahoma St 38
43 Texas Tech 76 107 Michigan 37
44 Houston 75 107 Southern Miss 37
44 LSU 75 107 Alabama 37
46 Wisconsin 74 110 Kansas 36
46 Kentucky 74 111 Connecticut 33
46 New Mexico St 74 111 Temple 33
49 Miami, Fl 73 111 FAU 33
49 Virginia Tech 73 111 Colorado St 33
49 California 73 111 Washington St 33
52 Missouri 72 116 Nebraska 32
53 Cincinnati 71 117 Tulsa 31
54 Pittsburgh 70 117 Purdue 31
54 Kansas St 70 119 Massachusetts 30
56 NC State 69 120 Utah St 27
56 UTEP 69 121 Boise St 26
56 FIU 69 121 Stanford 26
59 New Mexico 68 123 Air Force 25
60 Fresno St 67 124 Louisiana Tech 24
61 Florida 66 125 San Jose St 23
62 Army 65 126 Ohio St 21
63 Baylor 64 127 Penn St 20
63 Marshall 64 128 Tennessee 6

 

2014 College Football Preview Available Now on iTunes!

Last year was the first year my College Football Preview magazine was available on iTunes to download to your iPhone or iPad. In that initial year, we naturally dealt with some issues through trial and error and it was not available to purchase until mid-August.

This year’s version is vastly improved on several fronts!

1). It is available WEEKS before the magazine hits the newsstands on June 24th!

2). It’s easy to use and works perfectly for both the iPhone and iPad. The download process may take up to 10-15 minutes but that’s because we have 352 pages with jampacked information!

3). No bugs, no issues, take it with you where ever you go!

4). Non-U.S. Customers: The magazine will not be on the newsstands internationally, the only way to get the 2014 College Football Preview is to order through our offices and pay at least $35 (includes S&H) or get it on iTunes  for just $9.99.

5). It’s only $9.99! On the newsstand, the magazine will cost you $12.99.

Don’t wait three weeks until the magazine hits the newsstands. Get my 2014 College Football Preview right now for just $9.99 on your iPhone or iPad!

Coming Soon to Google Play!

Please note: after downloading and purchasing the App, please make sure you search for 2014 if the old 2013 cover/edition comes up on your screen.