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Oklahoma football: O-line in running again for Joe Moore Award

By Chip Rouse

WACO, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Erik Swenson #77 of the Oklahoma Sooners at McLane Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
WACO, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Erik Swenson #77 of the Oklahoma Sooners at McLane Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Following the departure of four starters from the best offensive line in college football. Oklahoma offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh was faced this season with rebuilding a key piece of the Sooners’ high-octane offense.

The Sooners began the 2019 season with a new O-line structure anchored by holdover sophomore center Creed Humphrey along with three redshirt sophomores and a redshirt junior.

Oklahoma is one of 10 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, which every season since 2015 has recognized the most outstanding offensive line unit in college football.

Gone from the OU offensive line that was awarded the Joe Moore Award last season are left tackle Bobby Evans, left guard Ben Powers, right guard Dru Samia and right tackle Cody Ford. All were selected in the first four rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft. These four Sooners combined for 159 career games at Oklahoma and 144 starts.

Humphrey is surrounded this season by Marquis Hayes and Eric Swenson on the left side and Tyrese Robinson and Adrian Ealy on the right side. Graduate Transfer R.J. Proctor and redshirt freshman Brey Walker have also made starts this season for the Sooners, at left tackle and right guard, respectively.

The newly rebuilt OU offensive line has acquitted itself in grand style this season, as evidenced by Oklahoma’s continued nation-leading offensive numbers. The Sooners lead the nation for a third straight season in total offense (581.1 yards per game) and passing efficiency (201.7), third in scoring (47.0), fifth in passing offense (334.0) and 10th in rushing offense (247.1), all behind an offensive line that had to replace four starters this season.

Oklahoma set a new NCAA record last season, averaging 8.6 yards per play on offense, and is actually ahead of that pace this season, averaging 8.8 yards per play. The Sooners are averaging 11.7 yards per pass attempt through 10 games this season and 6.5 yards per rush attempt.

Three times this season the Sooners have produced over 300 passing yards and 300 rushing yards in the same game. That kind of superlative performance starts with the big guys upfront.

Among the other semifinalists for this year’s Joe Moore Award are the O-lines from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, LSU, Oregon and Wisconsin.

The finalists for the 2019 Joe Moore Award are scheduled to be announced on Dec. 10.

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