KSU is not alone in having to rebuild their offensive line this season. Below is a look at what every team is losing/ and what they have coming back.
1) West Virginia - The Mountaineers had the second best rushing offense in the conference last season and the line that was opening the holes comes back mostly intact. They lose one starter, Marquis Lucas, but his likely replacement started at least 5 games last season due to the opposite takle going down with injury midway through the season. The line is anchored by 2nd team All-Conference Center, Tyler Orlosky.
2) Oklahoma State - They return all of their starting linemen from last season. They had 6 players start games last season and they all are back. The Cowboys offensive line struggled last season (#9th in the conference in ypc and middle of the pack in sacks allowed) and they did not have any players on the line earn conference honors. With another year all together it would appear a large improvement is likely.
3) Texas - The Longhorns were third last season in rushing yards per game in the conference and 4th in sacks given up. They return two linemen that received HM All-Conference honors last season and another one that started 10 games last season. They lose a center and guard, but I expect they will be able to reload.
4) Oklahoma - The sooners are going to miss first team All-Big 12 interior offensive linemen, Ty Darlington and Nila Kasitati, but they return both starting tackles and one guard. The Sooner line was not always dominant last season, but when you start two Freshman tackles that can happen. I expect their young tackles will continue to improve and as they do the rest of the line will follow.
5) Kansas - This seems too high, and it probably is given their lack of success, but they do return 4 players that started at least 5 games last season. They return both starters at Tackle, one regular starter at Guard, and another guard that started 5 games late in the season due to injury. The Jayhawks were last in the conference in rushing last season and gave up the 8th most sacks. I do not really expect the Jayhawks to have a good line, but with all of the uncertainty in the rest of the conference they slide into this spot by default.
The remaining teams all only return one regular starter from last season. It is pretty hard to separate them as they are all rebuilding up front.
6) Baylor - They had a very strong line last season. #1 rushing offense in the conference and the fewest sacks against. They lose both of their tackles and guards, but return 2nd team All-Conference Center Kyle Fuller.
7) TCU - They were pretty good last season, but probably aided by having an elusive Boykin in the backfield and a very good RB in Green. They return Joe Noteboom who started all 13 games last season. He is listed as a Tackle. Their line suffered some injuries last season so they have a few players that filled in at times and have started a couple of games.
8) KSU - The line was thought to be the strength of the team last season, but it didn't really live up to the hype. Stiverson and Whitehair were good, but overall the unit was not where we needed it to be. Some of that could have been due to a lack of weapons in the backfield. We return Dalton Risner at Center. Terrale Johnson started 4 games early in the season due to Stiverson being injured.
9) Texas Tech - The Red Raiders return Baylen Brown and lose five players that started at least 5 games last season. Brown is a guard. They lose both tackles, their center, other guard, and their primary OL reserve.
10) Iowa State - The Cyclones return starting Left tackle Jake Campos and lose five other players that all started at least 5 games.
1) West Virginia - The Mountaineers had the second best rushing offense in the conference last season and the line that was opening the holes comes back mostly intact. They lose one starter, Marquis Lucas, but his likely replacement started at least 5 games last season due to the opposite takle going down with injury midway through the season. The line is anchored by 2nd team All-Conference Center, Tyler Orlosky.
2) Oklahoma State - They return all of their starting linemen from last season. They had 6 players start games last season and they all are back. The Cowboys offensive line struggled last season (#9th in the conference in ypc and middle of the pack in sacks allowed) and they did not have any players on the line earn conference honors. With another year all together it would appear a large improvement is likely.
3) Texas - The Longhorns were third last season in rushing yards per game in the conference and 4th in sacks given up. They return two linemen that received HM All-Conference honors last season and another one that started 10 games last season. They lose a center and guard, but I expect they will be able to reload.
4) Oklahoma - The sooners are going to miss first team All-Big 12 interior offensive linemen, Ty Darlington and Nila Kasitati, but they return both starting tackles and one guard. The Sooner line was not always dominant last season, but when you start two Freshman tackles that can happen. I expect their young tackles will continue to improve and as they do the rest of the line will follow.
5) Kansas - This seems too high, and it probably is given their lack of success, but they do return 4 players that started at least 5 games last season. They return both starters at Tackle, one regular starter at Guard, and another guard that started 5 games late in the season due to injury. The Jayhawks were last in the conference in rushing last season and gave up the 8th most sacks. I do not really expect the Jayhawks to have a good line, but with all of the uncertainty in the rest of the conference they slide into this spot by default.
The remaining teams all only return one regular starter from last season. It is pretty hard to separate them as they are all rebuilding up front.
6) Baylor - They had a very strong line last season. #1 rushing offense in the conference and the fewest sacks against. They lose both of their tackles and guards, but return 2nd team All-Conference Center Kyle Fuller.
7) TCU - They were pretty good last season, but probably aided by having an elusive Boykin in the backfield and a very good RB in Green. They return Joe Noteboom who started all 13 games last season. He is listed as a Tackle. Their line suffered some injuries last season so they have a few players that filled in at times and have started a couple of games.
8) KSU - The line was thought to be the strength of the team last season, but it didn't really live up to the hype. Stiverson and Whitehair were good, but overall the unit was not where we needed it to be. Some of that could have been due to a lack of weapons in the backfield. We return Dalton Risner at Center. Terrale Johnson started 4 games early in the season due to Stiverson being injured.
9) Texas Tech - The Red Raiders return Baylen Brown and lose five players that started at least 5 games last season. Brown is a guard. They lose both tackles, their center, other guard, and their primary OL reserve.
10) Iowa State - The Cyclones return starting Left tackle Jake Campos and lose five other players that all started at least 5 games.
