By Jacob Threadgill
Senior Sports Writer

With three straight national championships and an 18-6 bowl record over the span, it is safe to say the SEC is in the midst of a golden era. The conference has become a playoff buster. The conference could place as many as six teams in the preseason top 10, and the secret to the dominance of the SEC comes in the trenches.

Florida
It is no surprise that the defending national champion and consensus No. 1 team in the country is also No. 1 on this list. Tim Tebow has been the star of Florida’s run of two national championships in three years, but the constant in each title run has been the play of the offensive line. The Gators have one of the largest lines in the country, averaging 6-foot- 5, 318 pounds across the line.

Twins Mike (second team) and Maurice Pouncey (honorable mention) each earned All-SEC honors starting at right and left guard respectively. Tackles Marcus Gilbert (6-foot-5, 320 pounds) and Carl Johnson (6-foot-5, 342 pounds) get a chance as full-time starters after playing in 43 career games.

The Gators lost four games in 2007 when they couldn’t establish a consistent running game other than Tebow and now must replace Percy Harvin, who was the Gators’ most explosive running threat in 2008.

A dominant Florida line is key for Chris Rainey and Will Demps to fill Harvin’s shoes.

Georgia
The Bulldogs’ offensive line befell the same curse as the Ole Miss backcourt in 2008, losing two starters and another key contributor in the offseason.

After lone upperclassman Vince Vance went down six games into the season, head coach Mark Richt saw his national title hopes fade, starting three freshmen and two sophomores on the line. The unit should turn from a question mark into a force with eight players with starting experience with 99 career starts.

It might be running back by committee with Caleb King, Carlton Thomas and Richard Samuelin 2009, but they can rely on their O-line.

LSU
Left Tackle Ciron Black (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) will be the preseason All-SEC first team pick after picking up second team behind Michael Oher last season. Right tackle Joseph Barksdale has 13 career starts, but the Tigers are light up the middle, averaging 285 pounds at guard and center. Left guard Josh Dworczk enters his first season as a starter and center T-Bob Herbert returns after missing six games with a knee injury.

Ole Miss
The offensive line has been the most discussed topic of concern entering the season, but the Rebels rank still rank fourth on the list based on potential.

Houston Nutt said he was confident heralded left tackle recruit Bobbie Massie would qualify after finishing summer classes at an NCAA sanctioned high school. Even if Massie (6-foot-7, 345 pounds) can’t challenge Bradley Sowell as Oher’s replacement early in the season, he will add much needed depth down the road.

The unit solidified in the spring when the coaching staff switched Rishaw Johnson from left to right guard. Johnson is able to rely on veteran John Jerry at right tackle, while Reid Neely (19 career starts) mentors Sowell on the left side.

Vanderbilt
Hope for the Commodores to make it consecutive bowl appearances begins up front.

All five starters return for a unit that finished No. 16 in the country in sacks allowed and only gave up 10 in the first seven games. The line did surrender 17 during Vandy’s 1-5 record to end the season. At 6-foot-3, center Bradley Vierling is the shortest along the line that averages 6-foot-5.

Alabama
The Tide overcame youth on defense and at receiver in its improbable run to the SEC championship last season. First team All-Americans left tackle Andre Smith and center Andre Caldwell led a dominate offensive line that finished second in the conference in rushing. Alabama was unable to move the ball effectively against Utah in its 31-17 Sugar Bowl loss after Smith was suspended surrendering eight sacks.

The line must cope with the loss Caldwell and Smith to the NFL and two year starter right guard Mark Davis. Alabama gets a bump on the list due to the presence of incoming recruits D.J. Fluker (6-foot-5, 305 pounds) and junior college transfer James Carpenter.

Kentucky
The 86 career combined starts for seven Wildcats is No. 25 in the country and one of the best in the conference. Tackles Justin Jeffries and Zipp Duncan and center Jorge Gonzalez anchor the line as seniors.

Auburn
The Tigers allowed only 21 sacks last season, but not much else went right. The rushing attack averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, the lowest for Auburn since the pre-Rudi Johnson days of 1999. Junior left tackle Lee Ziemba (6-foot-8 308 pounds) has 25 career starts and leads a line that should improve with a new coaching staff.

Tennessee
Experience has its benefits, but that might not necessarily be the case for the Vols. Four seniors and a junior all have at least six starts, but Tennessee struggled on the ground last season. Senior Arian Foster, the program’s second leading rusher, averaged only 4.4 yards per carry.

Arkansas
The Razorbacks should benefit from a second year in Bobby Petrino’s system despite losing center Jonathan Luigs to the NFL draft and two year starter Jose Valdez. Guards Grant Cook and Wade Grayson each started all 12 games in 2008 and will return to block for one of the most explosive backs in the conference in Michael Smith.

South Carolina
The Gamecocks were pitiful at times on the ground last season, averaging only 94 yards per game. Leading rusher Mike Davis is gone, and an unproven back must run behind an offensive line that must replace veteran starters Justin Sorensen and Jamon Meredith. New offensive line coach Eric Wolford must lead a group that allowed 39 sacks in 2008.

Mississippi State
One would figure the Bulldogs have nowhere to go but up after their last performance of the season in the Egg Bowl.

Of course, the offensive line could still be too traumatized after surrendering 11 sacks and managing only 18 total yards of offense against the Rebels.

New head coach Dan Mullen didn’t bring much help with the recruiting class, only signing two O-lineman in the spring. The coaching staff is hoping Templeton Hardy and Phillip Freeman develop from talented recruits into key contributors.