The SEC is proof that you don’t have to be an offensive tackle to get drafted in the first round in today’s pass-happy NFL era.

But it doesn’t hurt. The conference has produced 10 offensive tackles selected in the first round just since ’08, including three last year.

In reality, the first-round drought for non-offensive tackles occurred from 1978 to 2002. Since then, the conference has produced four guards and three centers in the first round, including the Pouncey twins at Florida.

Prior to ’02, just two SEC guards got selected in the first round of the draft. In other words, despite the premium the NFL has placed on tackles, particularly left tackle, it’s as easy as ever to become a valuable professional football player at an interior offensive line position.

To date, NFL teams have selected 55 SEC offensive linemen in the first round.

RELATED: Top 10 returning SEC offensive linemen in 2015

Judging the conference’s best draft class is very tough. There are many years with multiple picks, but not many with multiple stars.

Based on NFL careers, the 2011 group has a case as the SEC’s best-ever class of offensive linemen. Mike Pouncey has become a Pro Bowl center. James Carpenter, a surprise first-round pick, has a Super Bowl ring with the Seattle Seahawks. And Derek Sherrod broke his leg late in his rookie season in ’11. He’s played in 20 NFL games, but only has started one.

In ’66 and ’68, current SEC members produced four first-round offensive linemen, but three of those came from Missouri or Texas A&M, who weren’t members of the conference at that time.

Here’s a complete list of the SEC’s first-round picks, followed by a few observations.

Year Position/Player School
1948 C Vaughn Mancha Alabama
1951 T Bob Gain Kentucky
1954 C Ed Beatty Ole Miss
1957 T Earl Leggett LSU
1959 C Jackie Burkett Auburn
1961 T Ken Rice Auburn
1962 C Irv Goode Kentucky
1964 T Dick Evey Tennessee
1965 T Steve DeLong Tennessee
1966 OT Francis Peay# Missouri
1966 OT Stan Hindman Ole Miss
1966 OT George Rice LSU
1966 OT Sam Ball Kentucky
1968 C Bob Johnson Tennessee
1968 OT Russ Washington# Missouri
1968 C Forrest Blue Auburn
1968 G Mo Moorman# Texas A&M
1972 G Royce Smith Georgia
1973 G John Hannah Alabama
1977 T Warren Bryant Kentucky
1977 T Morris Towns# Missouri
1978 G Bob Cryder Alabama
1981 OT Howard Richards# Missouri
1985 OT Lomas Brown Florida
1986 OT Will Wolford Vanderbilt
1987 OT John Clay# Missouri
1990 T Richmond Webb# Texas A&M
1991 T Charles McRae Tennessee
1991 T Antone Davis Tennessee
1994 T Bernard Williams Georgia
1994 T Wayne Gandy Auburn
1996 OT Willie Anderson Auburn
1998 OT Mo Collins Florida
1998 OT Victor Riley Auburn
1999 OT Matt Stinchcomb Georgia
2000 OT Chris Samuels Alabama
2001 OT Kenyatta Walker Florida
2002 G Kendall Simmons Auburn
2003 OT George Foster Georgia
2004 G Shawn Andrews Arkansas
2005 C Chris Spencer Ole Miss
2007 G Ben Grubbs Auburn
2008 OT Chris Williams Vanderbilt
2009 OT Andre Smith Alabama
2009 OT Michael Oher Ole Miss
2010 C Maurkice Pouncey Florida
2011 C Mike Pouncey Florida
2011 OT James Carpenter Alabama
2011 OT Derek Sherrod Mississippi State
2013 OT Luke Joeckel Texas A&M
2013 G Chance Warmack Alabama
2013 OT D.J. Fluker Alabama
2014 OT Greg Robinson Auburn
2014 OT Jake Matthews Texas A&M
2014 OT Ja’Waun James Tennessee

#School was not an SEC member at the time.

SCHOOLS RANKED BY FIRST-ROUND OL

1. Auburn 9
2. Alabama 8
3. Tennessee 6
T4. Florida 5
T4. Missouri 5*
T6. Georgia 4
T6. Kentucky 4
T6. Ole Miss 4
T6. Texas A&M 4*
T10. LSU 2
T10. Vanderbilt 2
T12. Arkansas 1
T12. Mississippi State 1
14. South Carolina 0

*Again, not an SEC member at the time of at least some of the listed first-round picks.

Need to find a first-round offensive lineman, but you can only visit one state to scout players? Head to Alabama. The Tigers and Tide have produced six since 2007 and 17 overall, dating all the way back to center Vaughn Mancha in 1948.

Then again, every SEC team but South Carolina has produced at least one first-round offensive lineman, so it’s hard to go wrong.

Texas A&M had a chance for a third consecutive year with a first-round left tackle before Cedric Ogbuehi tore his ACL. But for those unfamiliar with Big 12 history, Missouri still has produced more first-round offensive linemen, even though the Tigers haven’t berthed one since 1987.

It’s somewhat surprising that LSU, Arkansas and Mississippi State, all teams that traditionally field huge, mauling run-blockers, only have produced a combined four first-round offensive linemen.

SEC FIRST-ROUND OL BY DECADE

1940s: 1
1950s: 4
1960s: 9*
1970s: 4*
1980s: 2*
1990s: 8*
2000s: 10
2010s: 10

*Numbers do not include Texas A&M and Missouri offensive linemen drafted in the first round prior to SEC membership for those schools.

With the exception of a temporary dip in the 1970s and ’80s, the SEC always has produced a high number of first-round offensive linemen. But in the last six drafts, that number has accelerated at a remarkable rate, producing 12 first-round picks.

Offensive tackles have become more valuable than ever, and NFL teams are turning to the SEC with regularity to find big, athletic players to protect their quarterbacks. The SEC may finish this decade with twice as many offensive linemen drafted in the first round as any other decade in history.