Offensive linemen rarely receive the credit they deserve for all of their contributions to a football team. When the Outland Trophy is awarded each year, it’s one of the few times an offensive lineman gets the chance to stand in the spotlight and be honored as one of the game’s best players.
Iowa’s Brandon Scherff stood tall and became the fourth Hawkeye to win the award in its 68-year history.
Since Kirk Ferentz was named the head coach at the University of Iowa, the Hawkeyes have been an assembly line of talent along the offensive line. Robert Gallery, the 2003 Outland Trophy winner, was the ultimate standard. He dominated like few have seen during the following decade. The former No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft now has to make room for Scherff as the prototypical Iowa offensive lineman.
Auburn center Reese Dismukes and Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown joined Scherff as the finalists for the Outland Trophy. Neither displayed the toughness -- Scherff played a contest just days after a knee surgery -- or dominance that allowed the Iowa lineman to claim the award.
Scherff is the fourth offensive tackle to win the award in the last five years.