The NFL is introducing a new award this year that will recognize the best offensive lineman in the league.
While the Protector of the Year Award is a great addition to the NFL Honors, college football was way ahead of this.
The Outland and Rimington Trophies
There are a couple of awards that are handed out along the trenches in college football each year.
The Outland Trophy is a big one, as it recognizes the country’s best interior linemen on either offense or defense. Another big offensive line award that is handed out is the Rimington Trophy.
The Rimington Trophy is handed out to the best center in college football. Both awards are typically handed out at the College Football Awards Show in early December.
Some of the talented players who have won the awards in recent years have gone on to do great things at the next level.
Who Has Won the Outland and Rimington Awards in Recent Years?
Starting with the Outland Award, which was established in 1946, here is a list of the last five winners:
2024: Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr.
Banks had an outstanding college career in Austin as he became an All-American and All-SEC player.
Last month, he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the NFL Draft.
2023: Texas DT T’Vondre Sweat
The 2023 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year recorded eight tackles for loss, four pass deflections, and multiple sacks for the Longhorns.
He got drafted in the second round by the Tennessee Titans in 2024.
2022: Michigan C Olusegun Oluwatimi
An eventual fifth-round pick of the Seahawks, Oluwatimi more than made his mark during his career in Ann Arbor.
He was an All-Big Ten and All-American for the Wolverines.
2021: Georgia DT Jordan Davis
Without Davis, who knows if the Georgia Bulldogs end up winning a national title in 2021?
Davis also won the Chuck Bednarik Award after recording 5.5 tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hits.
2020: Alabama OT Alex Leatherwood
The eventual first-round pick helped Alabama win multiple national titles after blocking at an elite level for former head coach Nick Saban.
Now, here are the last five Rimington Award (established in 2000) winners:
2024: Ohio State C Seth McLaughlin
The Alabama transfer was more than a key cog in the wheel during the Buckeyes’ national title run this past season.
2023: Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson
Powers-Johnson was one of the true forces in college football, as he helped anchor the Ducks’ line for years.
He ended up getting drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the second round in 2024.
2022: Michigan C Olusegun Oluwatimi
Oluwatimi won both awards in the trenches in 2022, which is why he was one of the best overall players in the country that year.
2021: Iowa C Tyler Linderbaum
The eventual two-time Pro Bowl center for the Baltimore Ravens was the offensive line anchor for head coach Kirk Ferentz and Co. in Iowa City for years.
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2020: Alabama C Landon Dickerson
Before becoming a three-time Pro-Bowler and Super Bowl champion for the Philadelphia Eagles, he was the ultimate leader in the trenches for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.
Without him, who knows if the Tide win the title in 2020?
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