The offensive line is the foundation of every offense.

It’s the home to the most underappreciated players in team sports. As longtime OL coach John Strollo said, it’s “the only position in all of sports where the sole purpose is to protect another player.” They don’t get the highlights on TV, or the recognition when their block paves the way for a big run, and they certainly don’t get acknowledged when they simply do their job by keeping the QB upright.

It takes a special character to willingly play such an unglorified role, but these guys are the backbone to any successful offense.

The SEC, as it so happens, is the home to many great offensive linemen. Considering the national titles, award winners, first-round draft picks and blue-chip recruits the SEC churns out on a yearly basis, it only makes sense that some of the finest offensive linemen in the country are regularly produced in God’s Country. That continues in 2018.

So, who are the top 10 offensive linemen in the SEC this year? Let’s take a look!

10. Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida

Taylor has started 23 of the Gators’ 24 games the past two years, with the bulk of his time coming at RT, though he did slide over to LT for the final two games last year due to injuries. Taylor is a dancing bear, showing lighter feet than you’d imagine given his size (6-5, 334 pounds) and he absolutely mauls in the run game, showing the kind of mean streak you want in your offensive linemen. He’s a work in progress in pass protection as he’ll overextend at times and bend at the waist, but that should continue to improve as he gets in more work with new OL coach John Hevesy. He was the most consistent lineman the Gators had last year and while everyone clamors over Martez Ivey, I think Taylor is actually the best of the unit.

9. Lester Cotton, OG, Alabama

At 6-4, 325, this kid is one of the more underrated players up front for the Crimson Tide. He’s often overshadowed by guys like Jonah Williams and Ross Pierschbacher (which is understandable), but he’s a key cog in the rushing attack with his brute strength and the ability to generate a push up front. The Tuscaloosa native tends to play heavy and stop his feet too often leading to waist-bending, but he can maul as a drive blocker and has been effective as a pass rusher when he locks his hands on his opponent’s chest. He reminds me at times of former Tide OT D.J. Fluker, a nasty masher who, like Cotton, loves playing in a phone booth.

8. Zack Bailey, OG, South Carolina

While he was solid at RT last year, he’s more natural inside at LG, a position he’s moving back to this year. He’s strong and powerful at the point of attack. At 6-6, 314, Bailey is effective as a drive blocker while also displaying the lateral mobility to scoop, reach and get to the second level. He’s a very good interior pass protector who plays with good leverage and does a nice job bending at the knees. Bailey has provided a lot of flexibility to the offensive line the past three years, seeing time at LG, C and RT, and that kind of experience serves him well in terms of on-field awareness and picking up various stunts and blitzes. That kind of versatility is also what makes him so appealing to NFL teams.

7. Trey Smith, OT, Tennessee

Smith, 6-6, 320, has been declared ready to go after missing spring with blood clots in his lungs. The No. 5 overall recruit in the 2017 class enjoyed a fantastic freshman season, starting all 12 games and being named second-team All-SEC — a rare feat for a true frosh linemen. Then he missed all of spring due to his health issue. If he’s fully recovered, he should again be one of the more dominant offensive linemen in the SEC and would be ranked higher on this list, because his production and potential are off the charts.

6. Ross Pierschbacher, C, Alabama

Pierschbacher, 6-4, 301, has been a starter at OG the past three years but due to the graduation of Bradley Bozeman, he’ll likely be sliding over to the pivot, a position he’s well suited for. He’s a smart and savvy veteran who shouldn’t have any problems reading the front seven and helping make line calls and adjustments up front, providing the necessary leadership for the position. He’s not an overpowering, mauling drive blocker, but he uses good leverage, technique and angles to his advantage. He plays with choppy feet and moves well, giving him the ability to combo, reach, scoop and get to the second level.

His skill set, flexibility, mobility and intelligence should make him an ideal fit at center, and his versatility and experience at both left and right guard benefit the unit as a whole when injuries inevitably pop up.

5. Garrett Brumfield, OG, LSU

Brumfield, 6-3, 300, is one of the more complete interior linemen that I’ve studied heading into the 2018 season. He’s not a gigantic or overbearing presence, but he shows an excellent combination of athleticism, mobility, strength and technique. He plays well in man and zone blocking schemes with the power in his base to generate a push drive blocking while also showing the nimbleness to scoop, reach and get to the second level. In pass protection, he does a nice job sliding his feet and keeping his butt down.

Credit: Matt Stamey-USA TODAY Sports

I think this kid will ultimately be considered one of the top OG prospects for next year’s draft, but in the meantime, I expect him to lead a young Tigers offensive line that is working in three new starters and dealing with Ed Ingram’s suspension.

4. Hjalte Froholdt, OG, Arkansas

Froholdt, 6-5, 315, has as much upside as any OG in the country given his natural skill set, though he’s still raw and developing. This is understandable given that he’s only been playing offensive line for 2 years and didn’t learn how to play the game until his sophomore year of high school as a foreign exchange student from Denmark. With that said, he has the talent to be a first-round pick next year considering his athleticism, lateral mobility and pure power. His technique is still coming along, but he’s shown consistent improvement the past two years at LG and he’s expected to again shown further development as a senior this fall. It’s scary to think of what kind of player he could be in another 2-3 years.

3. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

Thomas, 6-5, 320, was arguably the best freshman offensive lineman in the country last year, starting all 15 games at RT for the SEC champion Bulldogs and earning numerous Freshman All-American honors along the way. With Isaiah Wynn off to the NFL, Thomas will make the switch to the blind side, which is his more natural position. He has quick feet and a good shuffle, mirroring well in pass protection and using his long arms well to keep defensive linemen off his chest. He has the power in his base to generate a push when drive blocking while also displaying the lateral mobility to move and get to the second level.

To be perfectly honest, I think he has the most upside and long-term potential of any offensive lineman in the SEC. He won’t get as much publicity as guys like Jonah Williams or Greg Little because those guys will likely be first-round picks next April – Thomas won’t be eligible until the 2020 NFL Draft – but I wouldn’t be surprised if he winds up having the best pro career of the bunch.

2. Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss

Little, 6-6, 325, was the top ranked OT coming out of the 2016 recruiting class and while he had some struggles as a true frosh trying to fill Laremy Tunsil’s shoes, he progressed nicely as a sophomore in 2017, showing why he was so highly sought after. He’s one of the more athletic offensive linemen nationally who shows the footwork and length to be able to protect the blind side at the next level. He has choppy feet, a smooth kick slide, long arms and does a nice job washing edge rushers outside the pocket. In the run game, he needs to get more powerful in his base to become a better drive blocker, but he’s fluid and agile on the move, making him ideal in a zone scheme.

Like Jonah Williams from Alabama, there’s a reason he’s being mentioned as a top-10 candidate for next year’s NFL Draft. The pedigree, production and potential all point to him enjoying a long career at the next level. While he won’t contend for a postseason game this year due to NCAA sanctions, he should very much contend for postseason awards and honors.

1. Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama

Williams, 6-5, 301, has been a rock for the Crimson Tide the past two years, starting all 29 contests – 15 at RT in 2016 and 14 at LT in 2017 – and has arguably been the best lineman on the best line in all of college football during that time. He’s an above average athlete with decent shuffle and slide who mirrors well in pass protection. He’s a highly effective zone blocker who moves well with the ability to pull/reach/scoop. He’s an aggressive run blocker who finishes well, though he does tend to try and rag doll with his upper body instead of driving through his man.

He’ll again anchor a very strong offensive line and compete for All-American honors for the third consecutive year. Considering his game, the backs he will be blocking for and the odds of his team competing deep into the postseason, there’s a good chance he’s the fourth Alabama offensive linemen under Nick Saban to win the Outland Trophy. To top things off, he’ll very much be in the running to be the first OT off the board next April, should he skip his senior season.