30 college football players with the biggest shoes to fill in 2018

Shoes to Fill: Orlando Brown

It’s ironic the players with literally the biggest shoes to fill are often so overlooked, and our list is no different. We have yet to discuss an offensive lineman in depth, but the loss of left tackle Orlando Brown at Oklahoma is too big to ignore.

Though he was just a three-star prospect out of metro Atlanta in the 2014 recruiting class, Brown, a 6-foot-8, 345-pound mountain, started 40 games for the Sooners. He broke into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2015 and never left. Brown was named a Freshman All-American that season, and honorable mention All-Big 12 selection.

Brown did an excellent job protecting Baker Mayfield’s blind side with the Sooners. In fact, Brown was so good as a junior he earned unanimous All-American honors and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy. He was also voted Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year – the second time he was so honored. In 2016, Brown became the first sophomore to win the honor. He was also named a second-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 at tackle.

Because of his experience, production, size and talent, Brown elected to leave the Sooners after his junior season to enter the NFL Draft, and he will likely be a first round pick and franchise cornerstone at the position.

Even blueblood programs like Oklahoma struggle to plug such a hole. However, Bobby Evans should provide a relatively smooth transition. Evans was a two-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection at right tackle and started 26 games on the right side of the line opposite Brown over the last two seasons. Expect him to move into Brown’s old spot on the left.