Faced with the prospect of having a new starter at all five offensive line positions, most teams would be at least concerned. Really, most would be downright terrified that their quarterback was in for a season of running for his life.

Not at LSU, though.

The Tigers are losing some excellent talent up front. Left tackle La’el Collins was an All-American and is a likely first round pick in this spring’s NFL draft. Also departing are Elliott Porter, Hoko Fanaika and Evan Washington, seniors who started a good bit in 2014.

There are two big reasons that offensive line coach Jeff Grimes and the rest of the team can be so confident: Jerald Hawkins and Vadal Alexander.

Those two players are both changing positions for 2015, but they can certainly be trusted in their new spots.

Hawkins takes over for Collins at left tackle, moving from the right tackle spot he occupied in ’14. The rising redshirt junior has all the skills to be a dominant player at the position. He’s big and nimble, a 6-foot-6, 309-pound force who moves well for his size. He might turn out to be even better than Collins in pass protection, and he has the run blocking skills to match after playing on the strong side last year.

Alexander moves back out to right tackle. He was recruited as a guard back in 2012, but moved to right tackle and started much of his freshman season there. He moved inside to guard in 2013-14, playing alongside Collins to form one of the best left sides in all of college football. Now, Alexander takes his lane-clearing prowess out to the strong side, giving LSU dominant options on both sides of the line.

Let’s not forget Ethan Pocic, either. The rising junior started at multiple positions last year, filling in at center for Porter during time missed for suspension and injury, then moving to right guard as starter for the rest of the year. He could start at either guard or center, depending on how spring practice plays out, and he gives the Tigers a potential All-SEC selection at either spot.

Having their two best offensive lineman at opposite ends of the line should provide balance for LSU. Last year, the team ran left as often as it could, no surprise given the stacked amount of talent on that side. Having two excellent run blockers holding down either side will add a little unpredictably to the Tigers run-heavy offense, especially if Cam Cameron continues to spice things up like he did at the end of the year.

LSU will fill in around those three with its pick of relatively inexperienced players. Les Miles has said that he expects K.J. Malone to start at one spot, giving the Tigers some more certainty up front. That leaves guys like Will Clapp, Garrett Brumfield and Andy Dodd to fight it out to earn a spot in the starting lineup this spring.

While those players don’t have any starts to their name, they’ll be able to look left and right and see leaders up front with experience to their name and enough talent to carry the run game to new heights.