Preseason 25
Best Tackles 1.
Sam Baker, Sr. USC
2. Jake Long, Sr. Michigan
3. Ryan Clady, Jr. Boise State
4. Jeremy Zuttah, Sr. Rutgers
5. Barry Richardson, Sr. Clemson
6. Andre Smith, Soph. Alabama
7. Michael Oher, Soph. Ole Miss
8. John Greco, Sr. Toledo
9. Andrew Gardner, Jr. Georgia Tech
10. Alex Boone, Jr. Ohio State
11. George Bussey, Jr. Louisville
12. Gosder Cherilus, Sr. Boston
College
13. Ryan Stancheck, Jr. West Virginia
14. Kirk Barton, Sr. Ohio State
15. Tony Hills, Sr. Texas
16. Jason Boone, Sr. Utah
17. Phil Trautwein, Sr. Florida
18. Duane Brown, Sr. Virginia Tech
19. Ciron Black, Soph. LSU
20. Eugene Monroe, Jr. Virginia
21. Andrew Hartline, Jr., Central
Michigan
22. Tyler Luellen, Sr. Missouri
23. Chris Clark, Sr., Southern Miss
24. Franklin Dunbar, Jr. Middle
Tennessee
25. Dylan Thiry, Sr. Northwestern
2007 CFN Preseason First Team All-Americans
Sam Baker, Sr. USC The anchor of the
great USC front wall will be Baker at left tackle, a two-time
All-American and arguably the most complete lineman in the country this
season. Entering his fourth year as the starter, he’s the total
package, a top pass protector and improving run blocker, who’ll begin
the 2007 season in the best shape of his career. He'll be a top 15 draft
pick in 2008.
Jake Long, Sr. Michigan The 6-7,
313-pound Long is one of the nation's premier tackles, having gone from
very good to special after slimming down and getting quicker. A strong
pass protector, he can also bury defenders in the running game. He
likely would've been a top ten pick had he come out this season, and
might turn into the Joe Thomas of this year and become a top three
choice.
2007 CFN Preseason Second Team All-Americans
Ryan Clady, Jr. Boise State The veteran
line that did a phenomenal job last year gets four starters back,
anchored around Clady at left tackle. The world got to see just how good
he is in the Fiesta Bowl, and now the 6-6, 319-pound junior is starting
to get the attention that WAC fans knew he deserved all along. A
punishing run blocker, he's also tremendous in pass protection with a
great combination of size, quickness and strength. Jeremy Zuttah, Sr. Rutgers Zuttah is a model of
versatility, having started at left guard and right tackle the last two
years. With a chance to finally play the same position two years in a
row, he could be special this fall.
2007 CFN Honorable Mention All-Americans
(in alphabetical order)
Alex Boone, Jr. Ohio State
The 6-8, 325-pound Boone is a rock of a tackle with first-round draft
pick upside if he can have one more consistent year. His massive size
makes him tough for pass rushers to get around, while he has the feet to
stay with the speed defenders. Considered by some to be the best Buckeye
line prospect since Orlando Pace, all eyes will be on him this year.
Andrew Gardner, Jr. Georgia Tech
Gardner is the best player on a potentially dominant line, starting his
third year in a row at left tackle. A good run blocker, his real worth
is in pass protection where he's able to use his athleticism to handle
most speed rushers. He should be even better now that he's used to
playing at around 300 pounds after coming to Tech around 250.
John Greco, Sr. Toledo
There might not be a better blocker in the MAC than the 6-5, 318-pound
senior, a rock of the line for the last three years. The leader of the
offense as a team captain last season, he made the successful move from
the right side to the left without any trouble using his experience and
strength to become an even better run blocker. Everything will revolve
around him.
Michael Oher, Soph. Ole Miss
The 6-5, 325-pound junior left tackleis about to take the turn
into superstardom. A tremendous athlete and a big-time recruit two years
ago, he started from day one. While he's been inconsistent, especially
in pass protection, he has NFL talent and the potential to be the type
of blocker the offense works around.
Barry Richardson, Sr. Clemson
The line returns just one starter, but he's
a good one. The 6-7, 320-pound senior likely would've been a top 50 NFL
draft pick if he had left early, and he should be one of the first
tackles taken next year. His claim
to fame has been a
near shutdown performance of NC State's Mario Williams in 2005, and he
was even better last year earning first-team All-ACC honors. He'll start
again at left tackle with 32 straight starts under his belt, and he'll
be the one the offense works behind. Andre Smith, Soph. Alabama
He's the real deal. Considered by many to be among the nation's top
prospects last year, he didn't disappoint as a true freshman and is now
on the verge of superstardom. As it turned out, yes, he really was good
enough to go from high school to the pros. He's 6-4, 348 pounds, and
athletic, with great feet in pass protection. The team's most dominant
blocker, he also had a two-yard touchdown run against Oklahoma State in
the bowl game.
