Last Word has highlighted the best offensive linemen from the Big 12. The best offensive linemen in the Big 10 also got their moment in the sun. Now, we shift our attention to the Atlantic Coast Conference that stretches from sea to shining sea. Controlling the line of scrimmage is paramount to the success of any contending football team. But which ACC offensive linemen stand out amongst his peers?
ACC’s Best Offensive Linemen Returning In 2025
5. Ryan Linthicum – Clemson
An offensive line without a great center is like a ship without a captain. Good news for Dabo Swinney is that he has an anchor at the heart of his offensive line in Ryan Linthicum. He enters the 2025 season having played 1,085 offensive snaps over 23 career games, which included becoming the full-time starter in 2024. He started all 14 games for the Tigers last year. Linthicum’s 982 snaps from scrimmage were the most of any Clemson player last season. He is also one of my veteran players returning to Clemson for a potential national championship run in 2025.
4. Brian Parker II – Duke
As we work through the best ACC offensive linemen returning in 2025, our attention shifts to a true up-and-coming program. The Duke Blue Devils have won at least eight games for the last three seasons. The program has only accomplished this one other time in 103 seasons of football. If they are going to set a school record this year and extend the streak, having Brian Parker II is a great place to start. Manny Diaz’s junior offensive tackle earned a second-team All-ACC nod after starting all 13 games in 2024. According to PFF, Parker had the fifth-highest pass blocking grade among Power 4 tackles (85.5) and the highest in the ACC. Additionally, he played the most pass blocking snaps nationally without allowing a sack in 2024 with 515, surrendering just one hit and nine hurries.
3. Francis Mauigoa – Miami
Mario Cristobal’s efforts to restore “The U” in Coral Gables have yielded positive results thus far. The 2024 season was the best Miami has had since 2017 and one of their best since joining the ACC in 2004. While Cristobal found a transfer quarterback to replace the loss of Cam Ward, he can take heart in having one of the best offensive lines in college football. It starts with Francis Mauigoa, who earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2024. This was built on an outstanding 2023 season in which he earned multiple freshman All-American selections.
According to PFF, Mauigoa was the only tackle in the FBS during the 2024 season with two or fewer sacks/hits allowed on 500-plus pass-blocking snaps. Carson Beck has to feel good with this protector as one of his tackles. With some development in the run game, he will be in the mix for the 2026 draft’s top tackle spot.
2. Keylan Rutledge – Georgia Tech
The next player on our countdown has stacked plenty of recognition during his career. Keylan Rutledge began his career at Middle Tennessee, where he spent two seasons playing for the Blue Raiders. During those two seasons, he was selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman team in 2022 and first-team all-Conference USA in 2023. Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key brought him over in the transfer portal, and his elite play continued to reach new heights. He was selected to the first team All-ACC last season, as well as an honorable mention to the All-American team. Rutledge came up just short to be considered the best of the ACC offensive linemen coming back in 2025.
The Best ACC Offensive Lineman Is Blake Miller – Clemson
The best ACC offensive linemen have been a stalwart in the conference for quite some time now. Blake Miller arrived on campus and contributed from a high level, starting on day one. He was a member of the 2022 Freshman All-American team. Since 2022, Miller has essentially never come off the field. He enters the 2025 season having played 2,893 offensive snaps over 41 career games (all starts). He became the first offensive or defensive player to start every game played by Clemson in each of his freshman, sophomore, and junior years since Clelin Ferrell from 2016-18. Miller is also one of six players on record in Clemson history with multiple 950-snap seasons.
He is a two-time All-ACC selection, earning first-team honors in 2024. Miller’s toughness and availability are impressive enough, but his quality of play is also top-notch. His PFF 77.3 career run-blocking grade puts him in the top 30 of any tackle in the FBS over the last three seasons. He is also coming off a career-best 76.4 pass-blocking grade in 2024. With one season left in his college career, Miller is looking to cement his legacy as one of the best ACC offensive linemen in conference history.
Main Photo: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
