Wisconsin T Cole Van Lanen named to Outland Trophy Watch List

Tuesday afternoon, Cole Van Lanen was named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy that goes to the best interior offensive lineman in college football, adding to the preseason accolades that he has already received. 

Tuesday afternoon, Cole Van Lanen was named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy that goes to the best interior offensive lineman in college football, adding to the preseason accolades that he has already received. 

Going into his third season as a starter for Wisconsin, Cole Van Lanen has become the anchor of the Badger’s offensive line. Van Lanen has played well the last few seasons, but with Tyler Biadasz heading to the Dallas Cowboys, his time to be the next elite Wisconsin offensive lineman has arrived. 

In his first year as a starter, Van Lanen played extremely well and was the highest-rated offensive tackle and run blocker by Pro Football Focus. The Green Bay, Wisc. native’s performance was impacted last season with injuries, but going into this season Van Lanen was named a Walter Camp Preseason First Team All-American. 

The addition of his name to the watch list for the Outland Trophy has continued the increase in expectations for Van Lanen this upcoming season, but if he can have a good and healthy year, Van Lanen will be a day one prospect for the 2021 NFL Draft. 

I have recently written an opinion piece about Cole Van Lanen and his disclusion from the PFF positional rankings for the 2021 NFL Draft, as well as discussed his Wisconsin career more in-depth here.