Duke Robinson and Ryan Stanchek: The Best of College Football's Big Uglies

There are reasons no one ever talks linemen: They don't get fantasy stats or make "Top Plays," and the majority of college football fans don't focus on them for a single play—unless they happen to give up a sack or a tackle for loss.  Then they stink, they're too slow, and are basically just idiots.

But offensive lines can turn average talents like Ken Dorsey, Craig Krenzel, and Major Applewhite into world beaters.  Linemen can turn Ki-Jana Carter, Rashaan Salaam, and Cedric Benson into Heisman candidates and first round picks. 

Centers, Guards and Tackles—the thick-necked enforcers in the trenches of the gridiron.  Five Atlases shouldering the load that is any potent offensive attack.  O-Linemen are the bricks and the mortar of the college football mansion.

This year, college football features a strong crop of NFL prospects along the offensive line, including names such as Michael Oher of Ole Miss and Alabama's Andre Smith.

However, as is generally the case in college, few prospects are polished enough to truly be deemed the best in the nation on the offensive front.  Ryan Stanchek of West Virginia and Duke Robinson of Oklahoma are two such candidates. 

Unlike Oher and Smith, Stanchek and Robinson are not projects for the future—they're invaluable proven commodities who are already operating at the highest level in college football.  These trench warriors spearhead two of the nation's best offensive lines and protect elite quarterbacks. 

With two very different playing styles, which offensive lineman can truly be considered the best of the 2008 college football world?

Ryan Stanchek (6'4", 303 pounds)

To the average person, a man of Stanchek's stature is a massive mountain of muscle and bone—but in the world of college football, the left tackle from West Virginia is a smallish figure.  Luckily, under the WVU system he's the prototypical offensive lineman.

Unlike traditional offensive schemes, bigger linemen aren't better in West Virginia's spread.  Stanchek's strengths lie not only in his feet and mobility, but also in his understanding of leverage and body positioning in conquering defenders.

In terms of foot quickness, Stanchek is the best in the nation at coming off the ball and getting to his assignments in a hurry.  As a tackle in the spread, he's often pushing to the second level, and he attacks linebackers with a vengeance.

Even at 6'4", the redshirt senior does a phenomenal job of keeping a solid, low base and squarely attacking his targets.  He's a heads-up player in his body positioning, very adept at engaging defenders and angling his hips to open holes for WVU's potent rushing attack.

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