Cleveland Browns: Joel Bitonio named to All-Under-25 team

Aug 29, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio (75) blocks against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Browns left guard Joel Bitonio is a repeat selection for NFL.com’s All-Under-25 team.

Cleveland Browns left guard Joel Bitonio has been named to NFL.com’s All-Under-25 team for the second consecutive year.

The site’s annual list selects players who will still be 24 or younger on the first day of the upcoming season. According to the site:

"Joel Bitonio dominated the Mountain West in college, per Mr. Dulgerian, but that was as a left tackle. In Cleveland, he was moved to guard, where he was fantastic as a rookie in 2014. Bitonio might not have been better in Year 2, starting with the fact he played only 10 games. But there were many ills with that Browns’ offense, and the line was the least of the club’s worries. My guess is that with Hue Jackson – the running back whisperer – in charge, Bitonio will make hay in the ground game. He turns 25 on October 11."

Bitonio has been in the starting lineup since being selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, although he did miss six games during the 2015 season due to an ankle injury.

This is the second consecutive year that Bitonio has earned national praise. Following his rookie season he was named to the Top 101 of 2014 list at Pro Football Focus, coming in at No. 67. According to the site, Bitonio:

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"“didn’t take long to show how NFL ready he was, with only a couple of negatively graded games in the latter weeks of the season preventing him finishing higher. The second-round pick was a boon to an already strong offensive line, fitting in seamlessly with his stellar run blocking catching the eye in particular.”"

Prior to the start of his second season, Pete Prisco at CBSSports.com, who named Bitonio as one of his 20 breakout players for 2015, writing that Bitonio:

"didn’t get as much attention a some other rookie guards last season, but this mauler never backed down from anybody. He is a fighter. He made a nice transition from college tackle inside to guard for the Browns."

With the Browns facing the possibility of losing center Alex Mack and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz to free agency, it is a good thing that they have a player as talented as Bitonio still under contract.

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