TOMORROW: Defensive linemen.
1. LEE ROY JORDAN, ALABAMA: Not only is Lee Roy Jordan the best offensive lineman in the history of the Southeastern Conference, but he is also the best linebacker. First Team All-America in 1962 at both center and linebacker. In the Orange Bowl (Jan. 1, 1963) against Oklahoma he had what Bud Wilkinson called the greatest football game ever played by a college football player. He graded 100% blocking at center, then made 31 unassisted tackles from his middle linebacker position. He is a member of ESPN's all-time college football team, the College Football Hall of Fame as a two-way player and the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a linebacker. All-SEC in both 1961 and 1962. He finished fourth in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy in 1962.
2. JOHN HANNAH, ALABAMA: Considered by most analysts to be one of the two or three best offensive linemen in the history of BOTH college and professional football, "Hawg" Hannah was the consummate dominator from his offensive guard position. He had the strength to be a masher on the inside plus the quick feet to lead sweeps and get downfield. He was a First Team All-America in 1972 and made First Team All-SEC in 1971 and 1972. He won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the Southeastern Conference in 1972. He is a member of ESPN's all-time college football team, and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
3. BOB GAIN, KENTUCKY: Like Lee Roy Jordan, he dominated on both sides of the ball. He made All-SEC three times (1948-50), First Team All-America in 1949-50. He won the Outland Trophy in 1950 as the nation's top lineman, the first time a lineman from the SEC won that award. He was also Kentucky's placekicker during that time. He was unparalleled as an offensive lineman in his era, but also was the rock in the middle on defense as Kentucky won three straight Southeastern Conference championships, the only time that has ever happened for UK. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
4. STEVE DELONG, TENNESSEE: He made All-America at offensive guard, but was an outstanding nose guard in Tennessee's five-man front. First Team All-America in 1963 and 1964, he finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1964, the year he won the Outland Trophy as the best lineman in the country. He made First Team All-SEC in 1963 and 1964, also. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
5. CHIP KELL, TENNESSEE: He was selected First Team All-SEC three straight years (1968-70) and made First Team All-America in 1969 and 1970. He is one of the few players in SEC history to win the Jacobs Blocking Trophy twice (1969-70). Graded out at better than 90 percent for his entire career. He was considered the best run blocking offensive guard in the nation.
6. LOMAS BROWN, FLORIDA: The greatest player on the greatest offensive line in the history of the University of Florida, "The Great Wall", Lomas was also Florida's first ever winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the Southeastern Conference. He had 34 career starts at tackle and was selected First Team All-America in 1984. Second Team All-SEC in 1983 and First Team All-SEC in 1984. Big, strong and fast he was the complete dominator.
(TIE) 7. ZEKE SMITH, AUBURN: He was selected for the Outland Trophy in 1958 as an offensive guard, but he also was a standout lineman on an Auburn defense that held Tennessee to -33 yards in total offense and no first downs. Bobby Dodd called Smith the best offensive lineman in the SEC for the 1950s. He was First Team All-America in 1958 and 1959. First Team All-SEC in 1958 and 1959, and Academic All-SEC in 1958. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
(TIE) 7. BOB JOHNSON, TENNESSEE: Johnson finished sixth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1967. He is second only to Lee Roy Jordan as the best center in the history of the SEC. He made All-SEC First Team and First Team All-America in 1966 and 1967. He was a first team Academic All-America in 1967 and Academic All-SEC in 1966 and 1967. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
(TIE) 10. JASON ODOM, FLORIDA: One of the few two-time winners of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, Odom was a Second Team All-America selection in 1994 and a First Team All-America choice in 1995. He was one of the three finalists for the Outland Trophy in 1995 and one of the finalists for the Lombardi Trophy. Odom started as a true freshman at Florida. Second Team All-SEC in 1993, First Team in 1994 and 1995. Academic All-SEC 1993-95.
(TIE) 10. CHRIS SAMUELS, ALABAMA: Samuels won the Outland Trophy in 1999 as the best offensive lineman in the nation, the first time an Alabama player had won that award. He was also the winner of the Jacobs blocking Trophy in 1999. Did not give up a sack in 1998 and 1999. He was selected first team All-SEC in 1998-99, First Team All-America in 1999.
HONORABLE MENTION: Billy Neighbors, Alabama; Cecil Dowdy, Alabama; Paul Crane, Alabama; Vaughn Mancha, Alabama; Dwight Stephenson, Alabama; Shawn Andrews, Arkansas; Jackie Burkett, Auburn; Ben Tamurello, Auburn; Ed King, Auburn; Wayne Gandy, Auburn; Charley LaPradd, Florida; Guy Dennis, Florida; Jeff Zimmerman, Florida; Bill Carr, Florida; Pat Dye, Georgia; Edgar Chandler, Georgia; Royce Smith, Georgia; Mike Wilson, Georgia; Matt Stinchcomb, Georgia; Irv Goode, Kentucky; Lou Michaels, Kentucky; Warren Bryant, Kentucky; Sam Ball, Kentucky; Alan Faneca, LSU; Remi Prudhomme, LSU; Bruiser Kinard, Ole Miss; Jim Dunaway, Ole Miss; Darris McCord, Tennessee; Bob Suffridge, Tennessee; Bill Mayo, Tennessee; Bob Asher, Vanderbilt.