2019 Top 25 MAC Players: #5 Evin Ksiezarczyk, OT, Buffalo

The work done in the trenches often goes unnoticed in college football. Offensive linemen have no shot at a Heisman Trophy, a Maxwell Award, or any other honor bestowed upon the best overall player in college football. It’s time they get more recognition, and we’re starting that by ranking one in the Top 5 players in the MAC.

Buffalo enjoyed a program-high 10 wins last season, reaching new heights behind one of the nation’s top offenses of 2018. A lot of the Bulls’ success was contingent on the play of the offensive line, and the unit delivered time and time again. The leader of that unit was left tackle Evin Ksiezarczyk, who enters his senior season after a Second Team All-MAC season in 2018.

Ksiezarczyk guided a unit that allowed just 15 sacks in 14 games, marking a new school record despite the loaded schedule. Buffalo’s offensive line helped create other program records as well including most rushing yards and touchdowns. Freshmen Jaret Patterson and Kevin Marks rushed for 1,013 and 845 yards, respectively, behind Ksiezarczyk’s line and the pair scored a combined 27 touchdowns.

And here’s a stat from our friends at UB Bull Run, courtesy of their writer Zach Eaton:

The Buffalo OL unit was one of just two in the country last season that finished top 67 in Standard Downs Line Yards, top 27 in Power Success Rate, top 16 in Sack Rate, and top 25 in Passing Downs Sack Rate.

While Buffalo loses its starting quarterback Tyree Jackson and nearly the team’s entire receiving production from 2018, Ksiezarczyk, three other linemen, and the running backs will pick up where they left off to ignite Buffalo’s offense. The senior lineman has started all 26 games for Buffalo in the last two seasons and will return to the field when the Bulls battle Robert Morris on Thursday night.