Alabama offensive lineman D.J. Fluker (76)To limit the framing of Saturday’s football game between Alabama and Texas A&M to the contrasting quarterbacks would be overlooking 26 feet and nearly 1,300 pounds of premier offensive tackles.
Texas A&M juniors Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews have provided stability for the dynamic Aggies and have been projected as first-round picks in the 2013 NFL draft. Alabama’s tandem of redshirt junior D.J. Fluker and sophomore Cyrus Kouandjio can’t claim that, but only because Kouandjio isn’t eligible yet.
“Both are very quality groups,” LSU coach Les Miles said Wednesday after facing the Aggies and Crimson Tide in recent weeks. “Those two young guys at A&M were playing tackle there when we played them in the Cotton Bowl [after the 2010 season], and they’ve just matured very nicely. The offensive tackles at Alabama are big, mobile, strong guys, and they’re a part of two very capable offensive lines.
“If you put yourself in a position where you’re not ready to take on a very powerful block, they’re going to move you and move you a distance.”
Joeckel (6-foot-6, 310 pounds) has started at left tackle for the Aggies since enrolling early in 2010, and he is rated by Mel Kiper as the No. 6 overall prospect in the ’13 draft and the No. 1 tackle. Matthews (6-5, 305) is the son of NFL Hall of Fame lineman Bruce Matthews and is rated by Kiper as the No. 3 junior tackle prospect nationally.