Blue-Chip Bookends on the Aggies

Sep 22, 2012; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A

Do the Texas A&M Aggies have the two best offensive tackle prospects in college football?

The case certainly can be made that juniors Jake Matthews (right tackle) and Luke Joeckel (left tackle) are the top guys at their respective positions.

Joeckel came into the season a little under the radar. He was one of the top tackle prospects coming out of high school when he chose A&M. He has quietly started every game since his freshman year and has been a rock for the offense ever since.

Matthews carries on his father’s (and grandfather’s..and uncle’s.. and cousin’s.. and brother’s) football lineage with the Matthew’s pedigree of iron-tough tenacity in the trenches.

Joeckel doesn’t play with the strength and drive that Matthews does, but he has shown he can still hold in pass protection against the big, tough SEC lineman. He has a flexible lower body, he sets a good base, and rarely lets guys slip outside.

Matthews is less of a finesse-style player and more of bulldozer. He seals the edge like his life depends on it. His upper body strength is ideal and he has very refined technique for a collegiate right tackle.

Joeckel will probably go in the first round as a top 25 player and will be viewed as a blind-side protector.

Matthews seems destined to stay at his natural position at right tackle. The position is not valued as much in todays NFL, but we have seen highly touted right tackles get drafted early in he second round in many recent drafts.

Both are still Juniors and they could return, but it is obvious that the Aggie’s bookends are ready for Sundays.