6’6” – 332 lbs.
Background:
Started two games at left tackle as a true freshman, then took over the starting job the following year, starting all nine games there. Reprised that role in 2021 before declaring for the draft.
Positives:
Powerfully-built offensive lineman with excellent size and two years of starting experience. Plays the game within his frame and with good balance; not much waist-bending. Has a lot of power in his hands and flashes the ability to dominate opponents in a phone booth; can generate torque and sling down smaller opponents. Shows the aggressiveness and killer instinct to finish off defenders when he gets an opportunity. Pass sets look pretty good when he’s dealing with straightforward rushes; does a nice job of replicating his technique. Keeps his base wide and his back straight, showing some knee bend. Gets good extension with his arms and is active with his initial punch. Holds up very well against power. Keeps his head on a swivel when unopposed, looking for opportunities to help. Gives good effort to get out in space and disrupt second-level opponents in the screen game.
Negatives:
Not one of the most flexible or fluid linemen in the class. Short-area quickness in the run game is just average. Can struggle to win the leverage battle; relies on his upper body to generate strength and can end up being more of a positional blocker despite having the size and power to maul. A little bit of a leaner. Can set up too far inside and struggle to get enough depth to mirror vs. speed rushes. Technique wanes against speed; too often seen attacking the inside shoulder, trying to steer opponents past the quarterback instead of mirroring. Gets grabby when beat and may be penalty-prone. Base integrity is inconsistent. Can get disconnected against spin moves. Some teams may view him as a conversion candidate, but is a little bit taller than your typical guard.
Summary:
A college left tackle who looks great on the hoof and plays the game with plenty of power and nastiness, showing a pretty good grasp of the fundamentals and playing within his frame. However, it would be a surprise if he plays on the blindside at the pro level, as he doesn’t quite have the lateral quickness to protect the edge against speed while maintaining his technique. Best chance may come as a guard in an inline/power scheme, but could potentially make it as a right tackle as well.
DRAFTEXAMINER 