6’3” – 285 lbs.
Background:
Redshirted, then started all twenty-eight of the team’s games at left guard over his freshman and sophomore seasons before kicking out to right tackle for all eleven games of the 2020 season. Slid inside to right guard, starting eleven games there this past season to conclude his career with fifty total starts.
Positives:
Four-year starter who has extensive experience at three different positions along the offensive line. Carries his weight well, with a relatively thick lower body. Offers a physical temperament and a very good work ethic; consistently battles through the whistle. Overall athleticism is good or better; able to chip and climb, pull to the left side of the formation, or lead the way in the screen game. Shows an excellent understanding of positioning; consistently adjusts to wall off defenders. Has a strong grip to sustain through the whistle, with good leg drive after engaging to generate movement; much better inline blocker than his size would suggest. Pass sets look very fundamentally sound, with good knee bend and a straight back. Nice inside hand placement. Holds up better against power than his size would indicate.
Negatives:
On the smaller side for an offensive lineman, with little chance of being considered as a tackle despite his junior-year experience there. Looks a little bit stiff at times when pulling. Has natural leverage but could try to get his pad level even lower in the run game. Gets disconnected in space at times because of his lack of ideal length. Can occasionally be beat to the inside, forcing him to try and push an opponent wide instead of positioning himself between them and the ballcarrier. Anchor is good for his size but can drop slightly late at times. Could be a little bit more aggressive about chipping opponents when no rushers line up opposite him.
Summary:
A very polished offensive guard prospect who’s probably too small to be considered a tackle/guard swing reserve despite his experience on the outside, but who has impressive power for his size, managing to create movement in the run game and holding up against power rushers in pass protection while also offering the athleticism to execute zone-blocking concepts. May not have quite the same tools and ceiling as some of the other interior prospects, but is a safe bet who should be ready to contribute sooner rather than later, with left/right versatility and inline/zone versatility.
DRAFTEXAMINER 