School is starting back up for much of the country now. Media days have come and gone. But fall camp for college football has been underway for two weeks now. Last Word has already provided looks at the best ACC offensive linemen as well as the best Big 12 offensive linemen. Today, Last Word now examines the best SEC offensive linemen returning for college football action in 2024. With both players in the top two spots projected as top ten draft picks, the depth of talent along the offensive line in the SEC rises to the top of college football.
Best SEC Offensive Linemen Returning For 2024
5. Eli Cox – Kentucky
Just like any good offensive line, the center is the anchor and leads the front-line operations. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops has a good one in Eli Cox. The Wildcats’ long-time starter has started the last 35 consecutive games, with 44 career game appearances. Cox hasn’t just shown tremendous availability for Kentucky; he’s played at an all-conference caliber level. In 2023, he was selected to the All-SEC second team. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Cox graded as the seventh best nationally amongst all centers. If Stoops and company want to make noise in the new-look SEC, it will revolve around Cox getting the rest of the line playing at a high level.
4. Tyler Booker – Alabama
Kalen Deboer is tasked with replacing the biggest shoes in college football history. But the good news for Deboer is Nick Saban left the cupboard well stocked. Deboer also did a good job of holding on to plenty of top-tier talent from hitting the portal after Saban retired. One of those high performers he has up front is Tyler Booker. The former five-star recruit had an immediate impact for the Tide, playing 427 snaps as a true freshman. He became the full-time starter at left guard as a sophomore earning himself multiple All-SEC honors. Booker earned first-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press and second-team selection recognition from the coaches. He allowed only 2.5 total sacks and 4.5 pressures in his 676 snaps in 2023. Tide fans expect the team to stay atop the SEC. Booker will play a big role in Deboer’s first season in Tuscaloosa.
3. Tate Ratledge – Georgia
Stop me if this sounds familiar; the Georgia Bulldogs have talent all over the field. That should be pretty obvious for a team that is 42-2 with two national championships in the last three seasons. They haven’t lost a regular-season game since November 7th, 2020. They have put countless big men into the NFL in those seasons and Tate Ratledge is poised to be the next one in the 2025 draft. According to PFF, His 87.4 pass-blocking grade in 2023 ranked third among Power Five guards, as did his 1.3% pressure rate allowed.
This type of high-level play was present in his first year as a starter in 2022. He ranked fourth in pass-blocking grade (87.1) and third in pressure rate allowed (1.4%) among Power Five guards that season. Ratledge’s 2023 season earned him a spot on the second Team All-American by AP as well as a first-team selection by both the AP and Coaches to the All-SEC Team. When it comes to the best SEC offensive linemen, Ratledge’s spot on this unit is as solid as his pass protection.
2. Kelvin Banks Jr – Texas
It cannot be overstated how impressive it is for any offensive lineman to show up as a true freshman and be an immediate starter. But that is exactly what Kelvin Banks Jr has done at Texas and has never missed time in a Longhorn uniform. He was a FWAA Freshman All-American in 2022 and has now started 27 consecutive games for the Longhorns at left tackle. Banks Jr has done an excellent job keeping his quarterbacks upright and clean. His 2.5% pressure rate allowed since 2022 is second among returning Power Five tackles.
Last season’s play earned him a spot on the first-team All-Big 12 team and a second-team All-American selection by the Coaches Association. The 6’4” 320 junior is projected as a top 10 draft pick heading into this season. He still has room to improve in the run game (70.0 run-blocking grade in 2023). But if Texas looks to ascend to the top of the SEC in year one, Banks has to continue to elevate his play.
The Best SEC Offensive Linemen Retuning Is Will Campbell – LSU
Claiming the best SEC offensive linemen crown was a battle to the very end between Banks and Will Campbell. Both have made immediate impacts since arriving on campus. Banks and Campbell were FWAA Freshman All-Americans. Both earned first-team all-conference selections from their play in 2023. However, Campbell’s play has been even higher than Banks in the last two seasons. As a true freshman, according to PFF, his 85.6 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets trailed only Peter Skoronski among Power Five tackles.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Skoronski was drafted No. 11 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. This past season, Campbell was fifth among FBS offensive tackles with an 84.9 run-blocking grade. Campbell isn’t just the best SEC offensive lineman; he is possibly the single best player in the conference this year. The 6-6, 325-pound junior is already in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
