For the last 12 seasons, the undisputed king of the ACC has been the Clemson Tigers. And they have done so by being pretty average along the offensive line. In fact, in that same 12-year time period, Clemson has only had five offensive linemen drafted. And, going into 2023, they do not have one of the five best ACC offensive linemen. However, just like the Pac-12 and the Big 12, the ACC has offensive linemen talent that will grab the attention of NFL scouts. But which team can claim the top player among this best ACC offensive linemen unit returning for 2023?
Best ACC Offensive Linemen Returning In 2023
5. Christian Mahogany – Boston College
The best ACC offensive linemen group begins with someone that, heading into 2022, was viewed as the best offensive lineman in the conference. However, shortly after spring football had concluded, it was reported that Christian Mahogany had torn his ACL and would miss the entire 2022 season. Prior to his injury, Mahogany had started 22 career games and was named to the second-team All-ACC squad in 2021. With a major knee injury, it’s unknown if Mahogany will be the same player he was coming out of the 2021 season. But all reports suggest he is healthy, and NFL scouts will be anxious to see how he performs. He was a projected first-round talent prior to his knee injury.
4. Matt Goncalves – Pittsburgh
One of the more experienced offensive line units in the ACC resides with the Pitt Panthers. They have four offensive linemen returning for 2023 with over 300+ snaps played. Of those four, it is Matt Gonclaves that leads this veteran group. Gonclaves started out strong in his first season in 2020 when he was named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). He has played in 35 consecutive games, starting in the last 18. Gonclaves has split time between both left and right tackles for Pat Narduzzi. The 6’6”, 330 lbs redshirt senior from Manorville, NY will continue to be the anchor of a Pitt program that has won 20 games in the last two seasons.
3. Robert Scott Jr. – Florida State
No ACC team is coming into 2023 with more buzz than the Florida State Seminoles. After a rough first two seasons, Mike Norvell guided his team to a 10-win campaign in 2022. And while he has a potential Heisman trophy caliber quarterback in Jordan Travis, it is up to Robert Scott Jr. and the Seminole offensive line to protect their star quarterback. Scott Jr. was a second-team All-ACC offensive lineman in 2022. He has started 11 games in the past two seasons and has seen starting time at both left and right tackle. Thanks to some help in the transfer portal, Scott Jr. will be the focal point for the strongest offensive line group in the ACC. He will have plenty of opportunities to shine under a national spotlight in 2023.
2. Bryan Hudson – Louisville
Only one of the best ACC offensive linemen can claim he is an all-conference performer in multiple sports. Bryan Hudson is a standout on the Louisville track and file team, competing in the discus and shot put. At the NCAA East Region Preliminaries in June down in Jacksonville, Hudson threw a personal shotput best of 19.04 meters. The throw qualified Hudson at nationals with the top 12 performances qualifying for the event shot putter. But Hudson’s stellar offensive line play lands him in the number two spot. He has played in all 26 games during his two seasons with Louisville playing a team-high 914 snaps last season. Hudson was rewarded for his outstanding play with a second-team All-ACC selection. New head coach Jeff Brohm has to be thrilled to have a foundational piece like Hudson to build around.
The Best Offsenive Linemen In The ACC Is Graham Barton – Duke
Quite possibly one of the most surprising teams in all of college football last season where the Duke Blue Devils. New head coach Mike Elko guided Duke to a nine-win season in year one. That was more wins than Duke had in the previous two seasons combined. And while Elko’s defensive background was a major contributor, having Graham Barton pave the way for the Blue Devils’ offensive was just as critical. Barton started all 13 games at left tackle in 2022. He led a Duke offensive line squad that ranked first in the ACC in sacks allowed and tackles for loss allowed. Barton’s outstanding play landed him a first-team All-ACC selection. Even with a drastic turnaround in 2022, Duke was noticeably absent from the 2023 NFL draft. That will not be the case in 2024. Barton is projected by multiple publications as a mid-to-late first-round draft pick. If Duke is going to continue to surprise the college football world, it will start with Barton playing at an elite level again.
