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Three starting All-Americans, two future All-American brothers and a couple multi-year mainstays.
No wonder Alabama led the SEC in rushing and pounded the opposition into submission up front during the 2012 season. To no one’s surprise, the Crimson Tide cruised to a BCS National Championship over Notre Dame in Miami thanks to dominance along the offensive line, one of the best-ever on a national scale.
This group would produce two first-rounders and four NFL draft picks with a fifth expected in April when Arie Kouandjio is selected.
Alabama’s 2012 offensive line (starters + second team)
- Barrett Jones, Center: (Consensus All-American, 2013 fourth-round pick)
- Chance Warmack, Left Guard: (Unanimous All-American, 2013 first-round pick)
- D.J. Fluker, Right Tackle: (Second-team All-American, 2013 first-round pick)
- Cyrus Kouandjio, Left Tackle: (Future All-American, 2014 second-round pick)
- Anthony Sheen, Right Guard: (Contributor for three title teams)
- Arie Kouandjio, Right Guard: (Future All-American)
- Ryan Kelly, Center: (Future multi-year starter)
- Austin Shepherd, Right Tackle: (Future multi-year starter)
- Kellen Williams, Left Tackle: (Provided quality depth)
- Chad Lindsay, Left Guard:(Four career starts, transferred)
Alabama’s offensive line strength in 2012 started with veteran leadership, four starters back from the Crimson Tide’s national championship team the previous season. Anchored by a Rimington Trophy winner at center in Barrett Jones, Nick Saban’s wall of protection for A.J. McCarron was quite monstrous, averaging an SEC-leading 314 pounds across the line.
The heaviest lineman, tackle right D.J. Fluker, tipped the scales at 335.
Based on superlatives, this group was as decorated as they come individually and captured consecutive crystal footballs on the grand stage. One player, Anthony Sheen, actually has three rings after redshirting during Alabama’s 2009 title run.
“We had a pretty good line when I was there in (2008),” former Alabama left tackle and Outland Trophy winner Andre Smith told AL.com in 2012. “But I think as an overall unit, they’re actually better than we were.”
Left guard Chance Warmack, one of college football’s most reliable man movers during his time, often had his number called as lead blocker in short-yardage situations for dual 1,000-yard back Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon. After electing to return to Alabama for his senior season that fall, Warmack was selected 10th overall in the 2013 draft.
Fluker’s name was called one spot later while Cyrus Kouandjio and Jones went in the second and fourth rounds, respectively.
