Each year the Outland Trophy is given to the best interior linemen in college football. In the Saban era, there have been three winners and five finalists. On Tuesday morning, the watch list for the Outland Trophy award was released and listed were two of Alabama’s veteran linemen: Jonah Williams and Ross Pierschbacher. Williams has played right tackle and left tackle in his two years as a starter and Pierschbacher has started at left guard for three years before he transitions to center for his final year at Alabama.
The last linemen to win the award from Alabama was Cam Robinson, who went on to start every game at left tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie. Pierschbacher and Williams are two of the most dependable linemen Alabama has and have experience and versatility along the offensive line. Since starting as a redshirt freshman Pierschbacher has only missed one start due to injury and he actually came off the bench after another offensive lineman injury and Williams has only missed 44 snaps since starting as a true freshman. Both players have been recognized for their play at Alabama and have become leaders on the offensive line.
Williams took over the right tackle spot as a freshman where he earned a spot on the Freshman All-American team, SEC All-Freshman Team and earned second-team All-SEC honors. After moving to left tackle in 2017 Williams earned second-team All America honors and a spot on the All-SEC first team. After his first two years, Williams has been regarded as one of the top offensive linemen in the conference and in the nation. Similar to Jonah Williams, Pierschbacher was also a Freshman All American and on the SEC All-Freshman Team. In his three years as a starter at left guard, Pierschbacher has been on the All-SEC second team as a sophomore and the All-SEC first team as a junior.
Both players have blocked for thousand yard rusher in Damien Harris in back to back seasons and helped protect quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa to help lead Alabama to their 17th national championship.
