Football: Offensive Line Named Semifinalists for Joe Moore Award

Finalists for the prestigious award will be announced later in December

LAFAYETTE – No. 17 Louisiana Football’s offensive line has once against solidified itself as one of the best in the country after the group was named one of 11 semifinalists for the coveted Joe Moore Award.

The Ragin’ Cajuns’ offensive front is joined as semifinalists by Alabama, Buffalo, BYU, Coastal Carolina, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas A&M.

Louisiana’s offensive line has been stellar all year and currently ranks seventh nationally and leads the Sun Belt Conference in both sacks allowed (0.90) and tackles-for-loss allowed (3.80). Additionally, the line has opened up Louisiana’s rushing attack, which currently ranks 25^th in the nation with 207.8 yards per contest.

The interior of the line has been solid all year, with Ken Marks (LG), Shane Vallot (C) and O’Cyrus Torrence (RG) not missing a game in 2020. Max Mitchell has started in every game in which he appeared, sharing time at both tackle positions, while Zach Robertson and Carlos Rubio shared time on the outside.

After the semifinalists and finalists have been selected, a vote will be held to select the 2020 recipient of the Joe Moore Award by a voting body of 200-plus members. This voting body includes all of the current offensive line coaches at the Division I/FBS level, as well as former players, coaches, colleagues of Coach Moore, and a few, select qualified media members.

In addition to reviewing game tape every week of the season, the Joe Moore Award voting committee will later go through each of the finalists’ season-long, O-line coach provided highlight reels and multiple back-to-back quarters of game film.

No. 17 Louisiana now shifts its focus to the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 19, against No. 11 Coastal Carolina. The title game is slated to kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN.

For more information on the league’s title game, visit the Sun Belt’s Championship Game home page here.