Ranking the Big Ten offensive lines heading in 2022
By Kyler Kregel
About a month out from the first contest for Big Ten football, we take a look at how the projected offensive lines stack up, and where exactly the Wolverines fit in that equation.
While most diehard fans have a strong grasp on what quarterbacks, wide receivers, and pass rushers are returning and leaving throughout the conference, the offensive line tends to go a bit under the radar.
Thus, I went ahead and put together a ranking of all fourteen Big Ten football teams’ offensive lines for this upcoming season based on the film from 2021, and the rumblings from spring football practices to see who exactly would be in line to start.
Some of these are projections, but overall, an in-depth look at how the Big Ten offensive lines stack up a month out from Big Ten football. With several position battles still to be sorted out this fall, things could change in a hurry. Asterisk (*) indicates a returning starter.
(14.) Indiana Hoosiers
Offensive Line coach: Darren Hiller (6th season)
Expected line-up: LT Luke Haggard*, LG Mike Katic*, C Zach Carpenter, RG Vinny Fiacable, RT Matthew Bedford*
Summary: This group is largely the same as a group that produced some pretty mediocre results in 119th ranked rushing offense and was 73rd in sack percentage. Overall, the tackles are quite solid with Luke Haggard and Matthew Bedford being decent players for the Hoosiers. Haggard sticks at left tackle and Bedford kicks out to right tackle after playing mostly inside last year but having experience in every spot except center.
Katic is the veteran option at guard, and the competition will be between him and younger players like Fiacable, D.J. Moore, and Tim Weaver. Zach Carpenter played guard last year but now is expected to kick inside to center, where Michigan football originally had him playing before he transferred out. His one year at Indiana was unremarkable on film.
Going with Fiacable for now, but any of those three would not be surprising. The issue, however, is that the Hoosiers OL was poor last season, and unless some true freshman can surprise, there really aren’t any reinforcements on the way, despite an otherwise very aggressive portal strategy this offseason from Tom Allen. Not expecting much from this bunch.
(13.) Nebraska Cornhuskers
Offensive Line coach: Donovan Raiola (1st season)
Projected line-up: LT Teddy Prochazka, LG Nouredin Nouili*, C Trent Hixson, RG Kevin Williams Jr., RT Bryce Benhart*
Summary: The Big Ten’s worst pass-protecting unit, the Huskers are in some flux with a new OL coach (Donovan Raiola) and some questions about the health of left tackle Teddy Prochazka, who suffered a season-ending injury last year against Michigan.
He was playing well prior to that, and if healthy, would likely be the top option. If not, Turner Corcoran will step back into the starting lineup, though he struggled a lot in 2021, as did right tackle Bryce Benhart. Nouili is a former walk-on who stepped in and ended up being placed on scholarship for his efforts, starting a majority of the season last year.
Hixson started a few games at guard, but slides inside to replace Cam Jurgens, now a Philadelphia Eagle. Overall, this is a very concerning unit for the Huskers, especially until they know that Prochazka is back to 100%. And after some lackluster results recently, head coach Scott Frost is absolutely going to need this group to outperform their 2021 results.