• LSU’s Will Campbell: The rising junior has been a star left tackle for the Tigers in each of his first two seasons.
• Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr.: The former five-star recruit has been a stud pass protector for Texas thus far.
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Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
With the 2023 college football season in the books, it’s time to turn our attention to 2024 by ranking the top returning players at every position.
Next up is offensive tackle. The 2024 NFL Draft is loaded at the position, with eight players currently among PFF’s top 32 prospects.
Below is a list of PFF’s top 10 returning offensive tackles in college football, in addition to an honorable mention. Please note that NFL projections were not taken into account in these rankings.
Click below to view our other position rankings:
1. Will Campbell, LSU Tigers
Campbell started at left tackle for LSU as a true freshman in 2022 and has been nothing but a star during his two years there. His 85.6 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets in 2022 trailed only Peter Skoronski among Power Five tackles. Skoronski was subsequently selected No. 11 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
This past season, Campbell ranked fifth among FBS offensive tackles in run-blocking grade (84.9). He is the fifth-most valuable Power Five tackle since 2022, according to PFF's wins above average metric. Three of the players above him are projected first-round picks in 2024: Joe Alt, Taliese Fuaga and JC Latham.
While LSU’s offense loses the best quarterback (Jayden Daniels) and wide receiver (Malik Nabers) from the 2023 season, Tiger fans can be excited about having the best offensive tackle entering 2024.
The 2024 NFL Draft is LOADED at offensive tackle, but there are still some ⭐️ tackles returning to CFB.
None bigger than LSU’s Will Campbell.
Was a fantastic pass-protecter as a true freshman in 2022, one of the best run-blockers this past season.
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 25, 2024
2. Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas Longhorns
Like Will Campbell, Banks started for Texas at left tackle as a true freshman in 2022 and instantly excelled as a pass protector. The former five-star recruit allowed pressure on only 3.5% of his true pass sets that year, ranking fifth among Power Five tackles.
The sophomore’s 86.8 pass-blocking grade this past season stands second among returning Power Five tackles, as well. Banks surrendered pressure on just 2.3% of his pass-blocking snaps, which was also second among returning Power Five tackles. He finished 2023 as the sixth-most valuable offensive tackle in the nation, according to PFF's wins above average metric. While not always consistent, Banks showed flashes as a run blocker in 2023. His 12 big-time blocks (PFF’s highest-graded blocks) were second to only Taliese Fuaga among FBS tackles.
Kelvin Banks Jr. is a CLOSE second for me as the best offensive tackle in CFB.
Elite pass-protector.
86.8 PB grade in 2023 (2nd among returning P5 OTs)
Here are some reps of him stonewalling projected Top-50 picks in Turner, Braswell & Tricepic.twitter.com/BDIVfgZgDI
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 25, 2024
3. Jonah Monheim, USC Trojans
No matter where Monheim lines up, he performs at a high level. In 2022, he played 731 snaps at right tackle and 292 snaps at right guard. Despite moving around the offensive line constantly, the redshirt sophomore was still one of only 10 Power Five offensive linemen that year who earned 80.0-plus grades as both a pass protector and run blocker. His 570 pass-blocking snaps without allowing a sack or a hit that year were the most among FBS offensive linemen.
Monheim flipped to left tackle as a redshirt junior and remained an elite pass protector. His 87.8 pass-blocking grade in 2023 placed sixth among all offensive tackles in college football. He moved back to right guard for USC’s Holiday Bowl victory over Louisville and didn’t concede pressure on any of his 33 pass-blocking snaps.
Joe Alt is the only offensive tackle in college football who has been more valuable than Monheim over the past two seasons, according to PFF’s wins above average metric.
Most valuable FBS OTs since 2022 according to PFF WAA
1. Joe Alt
2. Jonah MonheimKeep in mind, Monheim did that while playing RT/RG in 2022 and flipping to LT this past season.
#79 is a versatile stud for the Trojans.pic.twitter.com/51EqtJ0aIF
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 25, 2024
4. Ajani Cornelius, Oregon Ducks
Cornelius, a product of FCS school Rhode Island, was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal a year ago. He showed why as Oregon’s right tackle this past season, not allowing a sack or hit on any of his 115 true pass sets.
The junior also surrendered pressure on only 2.1% of his total pass-blocking snaps in 2023 — the lowest rate of any returning Power Five tackle.
Ajani Cornelius made the transition from the FCS to Power Five look seamless.
The Oregon RT surrendered a pressure on just 2.1% of his pass-blocking snaps in 2023, lowest rate of any returning P5 OT.
Here are some impressive reps against Trice & Ellisspic.twitter.com/4KQMrH6014
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 25, 2024
5. Wyatt Milum, West Virginia Mountaineers
Milum has been a starter for all three of his years in Morgantown, spending his freshman campaign at right tackle before moving to left tackle for the past two seasons. His 74.2 pass-blocking grade in 2021 ranked second among true freshman Power Five tackles.
Since Milum flipped to left tackle in 2022, his 82.5 grade is a top-15 mark among all tackles in college football. This past season, his 89.6 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets placed second among FBS tackles, ranking behind only Houston’s Patrick Paul.
Wyatt Milum has been an impressive tackle for WVU in all three of his seasons, spending first at RT before flipping to LT in 2022 and 2023.
89.6 PB grade on true pass sets was second in the FBS in 2023 to Patrick Paul.
74 here against Chop Robinson
pic.twitter.com/ktF7KAD8HO— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 25, 2024
6. Blake Miller, Clemson Tigers
The rising junior Miller is one of the most experienced tackles on this list. He was Clemson’s starting right tackle in each of his first two seasons, and his 1,952 snaps since then are the second most of any offensive tackle in college football.
In 2022, he paced all true freshmen tackles with a 76.8 run-blocking grade. His 71.4 run-blocking grade this past season led all ACC tackles. He needs to improve as a pass protector, earning just a 62.5 career pass-blocking grade on true pass sets.
Among returning Power Five tackles, Miller is the fourth-most valuable over the past two years, according to PFF’s wins above average metric.
Blake Miller has some work to do as a pass-protector, but there’s no doubt he’s a dominant run-blocker.
Led all true freshman tackles in 2022 in RB grade and paced all ACC zones this year.
4th most valuable returning P5 tackle since 2022.
(RT #78)pic.twitter.com/Ue2IzOTQSf
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 25, 2024
7. Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Ersery is the most dominant run blocker returning to college football. His 86.2 run-blocking grade in 2023 ranked fourth among all tackles, behind Taliese Fuaga, Joe Alt and Javon Foster. All three will be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. The redshirt junior was particularly dominant on zone runs, earning an 89.9 run-blocking grade.
While inconsistent, Ersery has shown flashes in pass protection, as well. He allowed only one pressure on 23 pass-blocking snaps against Ohio State and its two future NFL edge defenders, Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau.
Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery is the most dominant run blocker returning to CFB.
86.2 run-blocking grade in 2023 was fourth in FBS to Fuaga, Alt and Javon Foster.
#69 is a people mover.
pic.twitter.com/etGMy5Kjir— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 25, 2024
8. Riley Mahlman, Wisconsin Badgers
At 6-foot-8, Mahlman towers over opposing defensive linemen. After missing nearly half of his redshirt freshman season with an injury, he took a major leap as a redshirt sophomore. The right tackle was the seventh-most valuable offensive tackle in the country in 2023, according to PFF's wins above average metric. Mahlman’s 78.1 PFF grade was a top-15 mark among Power Five tackles, as was his 73.1 run-blocking grade. He was also among the 20 best Power Five offensive tackles in pressure rate allowed (3%).
He was named to PFF’s All-Big Ten team following the 2023 season.
Wisconsin’s Riley Mahlman towers over defensive linemen at 6-8.
Uses that size to his advantage in the run game, as his 73.1 RB grade was a top-15 mark in the Power Five.
RT #71 here opening a lane for a Braelon Allen TD
pic.twitter.com/PljsDXEnUy— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 25, 2024
9. Emery Jones, LSU Tigers
With the first- and ninth-ranked tackles on this list, LSU has the best returning tackle duo in college football. Like Will Campbell, Jones has started for LSU since his true freshman season in 2022. Unlike Campbell, it took a little longer for Jones to find his stride.
In 2022, he ranked outside the top 200 FBS tackles in overall grade (206th) and pass-blocking grade (226th). His 7.6% pressure rate allowed was the highest among SEC tackles that season.
Jones improved both his overall grade and pass-blocking grade by more than 16 points as a sophomore, finishing as the sixth-highest-graded tackle in the SEC. If a similar leap is in store for his junior year, he can join his teammate in the first-round conversation for the 2025 NFL Draft. For now, he’ll have to settle for being half of the best offensive tackle duo in college football.
Will Campbell isn’t the only tackle returning to Baton Rouge to get excited about.
After struggling as a true frosh, Emery Jones made major leaps this past season. Improved grade by 16+ points.
LSU has the best OT duo in CFB imo.
RT #50 vs Turner herepic.twitter.com/zDWHInzDcy
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 25, 2024
10. Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M Aggies
Zuhn started for Texas A&M at left tackle over the past two seasons and shined particularly as a pass blocker in 2023, earning a 77.2 grade in that facet to rank sixth among SEC tackles. Overall, the junior was the fifth-highest-graded tackle in the conference (75.7). He and Dametrious Crownover make up one of the best tackle duos in college football.
Trey Zuhn III impressed as a pass blocker in 2023, earning a 77.2 grade there (6th among SEC tackles).
Overall, was the fifth HG OT in the conference.
LT #60 down Dallas Turner herepic.twitter.com/LDGzPmx5le
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 25, 2024
Honorable Mention: Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon Ducks
While LSU may roster the best tackle duo college football has to offer, Oregon isn't far behind with Cornelius and Conerly. The latter became the Ducks’ starting left tackle as a true sophomore and impressed as a pass protector. The former top-40 recruit yielded pressure on 3.3% of his pass-blocking snaps in 2023, ranking sixth among Pac-12 tackles. His 0.6% knockdown (sacks plus hits) rate allowed placed third in that same group.
I’d put Oregon’s OT duo right behind LSU’s for next season.
Josh Conerly Jr. looked great at LT as a true sophomore, particularly in pass pro.
Only allowed a sack/hit on 0.6% of his PB snaps, third among P12 tackles.
LT #76 here against Trice
pic.twitter.com/TGUPjhOqhp— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) February 25, 2024
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