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Every MAC offensive lineman will be looking to follow in the footsteps of last year's first overall pick in the NFL Draft, Eric Fisher. These players can only gain recognition truly if they help the playmakers make plays by opening holes and keeping quarterbacks protected. Here's a look at the top five for the Fisher Award.
1. Zac Kerin (Toledo) - The Rockets' center will be the anchor of an offensive line that can potentially be one of the most dangerous offenses in the MAC. Kerin is on the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the 2013 season, an award given to the nation's best center.
2. Tyler Loos (Northern Illinois) - Loos will be the blind side tackle for Jordan Lynch this season. Keeping Lynch protected is like making sure Swiper doesn't get to whatever Dora the Explorer wants, but it's a lot harder than saying "Hey you don't tackle my quarterback" three times in a row.
3. Dominic Flewellyn (Bowling Green) - Flewellyn finds himself on the Flewellyn watch list to start the season and gets to be a part of an O-Line that will not be blocking for Anthon Samuel. Flewellyn helped the Falcons average 365 yards per game on offense in 2012.
4. Jake Olson (Central Michigan) - You can't have an Eric Fisher Award and not put the next Central Michigan tackle people will constantly try to measure up to Eric Fisher. Olson is 6'8", 305 and looking to keep Ryan Radcliff's successor healthy this year.
5. Jared Volk (Northern Illinois) - NIU got all five of their starting linemen back from 2012, so maybe they all could have been on this list. Where Loos will keep Lynch's blindside protected, Volk will be opening up holes up the middle for the Huskies, who averaged 470 yards per game on offense last year.