Which SEC teams possess the league’s strongest offensive lines heading into the 2015 season?

It’s up for debate, but there’s a handful who have a clear edge in run blocking and overall push at the point of attack as spring practice comes to a close in a few weeks.

Ranking the SEC’s run-blocking offensive lines in 2015

14. Vanderbilt: Four starters return up front for an overhauled offense under first-year playcaller Andy Ludwig. Throughout spring practice which concluded Saturday with the Black & Gold Game, the Commodores’ defense was ahead of the offense and it showed in the trenches. Quarterback play was shaky and the run game inconsistent behind an underwhelming offensive line.

13. Florida: Bringing in the nation’s top-rated offensive lineman in Martez Ivey will address immediate depth concerns, but who starts up front remains up in the air for first-year coach Jim McElwain who needs to see more from a group bringing back only one starter — Trip Thurman — from last season. Cornerstones D.J. Humphries, Chaz Green and Max Garcia are gone, replaced with non-household names that even Gators fans are still getting to know. Down to seven scholarship players this spring, Florida didn’t have many bodies to work with at the line of scrimmage. David Sharpe, Rod Johnson and Antonio Riles will be in the conversation for starting spots during fall camp.

12. Kentucky: During last season’s second-half demise, the Wildcats’ offensive line wilted under the pressures of a challenging schedule and failed to protect Patrick Towles from the pocket. They hope to correct those issues this season with the return of four starters. Kentucky will have to replace Darrian Miller, its most consistent blocker overall. Jordan Swindle, who is shifting from right tackle to the left side, should step into a leadership role as a senior and two-year starter.

11. Tennessee: Dead set on reversing last season’s inconsistent play, four starters are back — including three fifth-year seniors — on a unit that should be much-improved with added depth. Only two Power 5 Conference teams gave up more sacks than the Vols’ horrendous total of 43 last fall, the most in Knoxville since 2010. Tennessee’s coaching staff is high on JUCO transfer Dontavius Blair who redshirted last season and possesses great size (6-foot-8, 305) and strength. True freshmen Jack Jones and Drew Richmond (a late Ole Miss flip) are expected to compete for early playing time with the second team. With playmakers Jalen Hurd and Joshua Dobbs in the backfield, there’s no excuses this season for this group.

10. Mississippi State: There’s 13 open starter positions up for grabs this spring in Starkville including three up front on offense. Protecting Dak Prescott is of utmost priority in getting back to the Top 10 as a potential Western Division threat. The Bulldogs graduated three senior blockers — Ben Beckwith, Dillon Day and Blaine Causell — along with two other players at the center spot who saw playing time. Returning up front is Justin Senior at right tackle and Justin Malone at left guard, but the remaining spots (LT, C, RG) are unknown. Jamaal Clayborn, a guard his first two seasons, appears to be in the lead to start at center.

9. South Carolina: With projected starters Brandon Shell and Mike Matulis sidelined for spring practice, the Gamecocks are awfully thin along the offensive line this month. Longtime starters A.J. Cann and Corey Robinson will soon hear their names called in the NFL Draft, meaning offensive line coach Shawn Elliott has a few notable decisions to make prior to South Carolina’s opener in Charlotte against North Carolina. The Gamecocks have just 11 offensive linemen on roster including Will Sport, Cody Waldrop and Alan Knott who all played snaps — consistent or not — last fall. D.J. Park and Mason Zandi will battle for playing time at the tackle spots. It’s doubtful four-star signee Zach Bailey will redshirt when he arrives in August. He’ll add instant depth in a much-needed area.

8. Texas A&M: There’s a chance the Aggies could have a third consecutive left tackle chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft in April, this time Cedric Ogbuehi — if general managers take stock in the massive 6-foot-5, 300-pounder’s All-SEC senior season last fall. The challenge of replacing Ogbuehi and Jarvis Harrison could have a negative impact early unless JUCO transfers Avery Gennesy and Jermaine Eluemunor transition to SEC football without a hitch. An ideal solution for Kevin Sumlin and the offense could be moving one of three returning starters, right tackle Germain Ifedi, to the left side (like the Aggies did with Ogbuehi for his final season).

7. Ole Miss: Speaking for fans across college football (and especially the SEC), the game is more fun when Laremy Tunsil, one of the nation’s most dominant blockers, is healthy and moving around with ease. Before a devastating injury cut short the Peach Bowl for the standout sophomore, Tunsil was named ESPN’s top non-draft-eligible player. Particularly skilled as an edge-sealer when the Rebels run the football, Tunsil rarely allows opposing defensive ends to pressure the quarterback either. He headlines the only offensive line in the SEC that returns all five starters in 2015.

6. Mizzou: Evan Boehm is the ‘face of the franchise’ so to speak for the Tigers’ wall of Maty Mauk protectors, an offensive captain who has started 40 consecutive games at Mizzou. The standout guard will be mentioned on the short list for the Rimington and Outland awards if he stays healthy as a senior. Boehm is one of four returning starters on a unit that underachieved at times during last season’s second consecutive Eastern Division championship run. Pass protection and becoming more consistent in all areas is an element to watch during the remainder of spring practice.

5. LSU: It’ll take some getting used to for star ballcarrier Leonard Fournette, but the Tigers feel they have plenty of talent available at tackle to replace 2014 All-American and potential 2015 first-round pick La’el Collins. As of now, LSU’s first-teamers up front are Vadal Alexander, Jerald Hawkins, Ethan Pocic, Garrett Brumfield and Will Clapp. The latter pair are redshirt freshmen expected to contribute this fall in addition to five incoming rookies who highlighted a signing class ranked in the Top 10 nationally. Based on what we’ve all seen on film and the Tigers’ needs at the position, Maea Teuhema and Chidi Valentine-Okeke will likely play as true freshmen in Baton Rouge. Les Miles will have a tough decision on who to redshirt and who to play as depth guys when LSU opens the season.

4. Alabama: One could easily flip-flop the Crimson Tide with LSU here, but when Alabama’s offensive line is rarely mentioned before August, it often makes a statement early during the regular season. All-American and two-year starter Arie Kouandjio is the obvious missing cog on last year’s group, but the two starters Alabama does have returning (center Ryan Kelly and left tackle Cam Robinson) have 37 starts between them. Robinson didn’t miss a game as a true freshman and is regarded as college football’s top tackle prospect in his class per NFLDraftScout.

3. Auburn: Can Alex Kozan win the SEC’s comeback player of the year honor? An all-league performer during the 2013 campaign, Kozan missed all of last season with a back injury suffered during camp. Theoretically, he joins Devonte Danzey, Avery Young and Shon Coleman as the Tigers’ fourth returning starter up front in Gus Malzahn’s uptempo offense. Four-year starter Reese Dismukes can’t be replaced at center, but Auburn has a slew of bodies who will be able to fill-in including Austin Golson, an Ole Miss transfer who has started games at center and guard for the Rebels. He sat out last season due to the NCAA’s transfer policy and is taking first-team reps this spring.

2. Arkansas: This position group has been the Razorbacks’ best during Bret Bielema’s first two seasons in Fayetteville, yielding an SEC-low 22 total sacks in 25 games. Multi-year starter Dan Skipper moves from the left to right tackle spot to make room for Denver Kirkland while Sebastian Tretola (the guy who threw a touchdown pass last fall) has all-conference potential at guard. Bielema called last season’s 7-6 mark a ‘launching point’ for the program and that start with a pair of returning 1,000-yard rushers and a senior quarterback performing behind a bunch of veterans leading the West’s strongest unit up front. The Razorbacks have five offensive linemen weighing 335 or more pounds, the most in the league.

1. Georgia: Anchored by four returning starters who dominated on the highest-scoring offense in program history last season, the SEC’s best offensive line should open plenty of holes this fall for sophomore Nick Chubb for what promises to be the Eastern Division’s top rushing attack. David Andrews is the only player in need of a replacement at the center spot and early practice reports indicated rising senior Hunter Long has the edge over Isaiah Wynn. First-year assistant offensive line coach Rob Sale, and notably projected starting quarterback Brice Ramsey, are stepping into an ideal situation thanks to veteran tackles John Theus and sixth-year senior Kolton Houston.