Bret Bielema is one of the coaches around the country who has been trying to make offensive linemen sexy again. The Illinois HC is doing what he can to change the narrative.

Bielema spoke about the topic on ‘Always College Football with Greg McElroy’.

When you think about the coolest guys on the football team, it usually has to do with the quarterback or running back. Bielema revealed that’s not the case in Champaign.

“It’s the first time they get to be prom king, right,” joked Bielema. “In high school, everybody nominates the quarterbacks and running backs. I tell the guys on their official visits, you’re gonna be treated as the big man on campus until you give us a reason to think otherwise.”

Illinois has a solid offensive line that has given players like Chase Brown, Tommy DeVito, and Pat Bryant a chance to shine on offense. At the end of the day, Bielema is trying to build depth at the offensive line position.

“I think it’s really paying dividends,” said Bielema. “We have two tackles who will not only be good college players, but who will make that next step. Then we’ve got two guys behind them who are training and putting themselves in a position where we’re really building that position up in inventory.”