| Centers |
| John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota |
| Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin |
| Alex Forsyth, Oregon |
| Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas |
| Juice Scruggs, Penn State |
| Olu Oluwatimi, Michigan |
| Luke Wypler, Ohio State |
| Jovaughn Gwynn, South Carolina |
| Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame |
| Trevor Downing, Iowa State |
| Jake Andrews, Troy |
| Guards |
| Peter Skoronski, Northwestern |
| O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida |
| Steve Avila, TCU |
| Chandler Zavala, NC State |
| Cody Mauch, North Dakota State |
| Emil Ekiyor Jr, Alabama |
| Anthony Bradford, LSU |
| Nick Broeker, Ole Miss |
| McClendon Curtis, UT-Chattanooga |
| TJ Bass, Oregon |
| Jon Gaines II, UCLA |
| Jordan McFadden, Clemson |
| Atonio Mafi, UCLA |
| Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Oregon |
| Andrew Vorhees, USC |
| Jaxson Kirkland, Washington |
| Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan |
| Joey Fischer, Shepherd |
| Henry Bainivalu, Washington |
| Tashawn Manning, Kentucky |
| Mark Evans II, Arkansas Pine Bluff |
6'3.625” 332lbs 9.25” hands 33” arms3* 44th-OG Grand Prairie, TX
Avila (6'3.625”/332) was a 3-star recruit, and the 44th-ranked Offensive Guard, from Grand Prairie, Texas in the 2018 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports. When it comes to the intangibles that NFL teams seek, there are few that Avila doesn’t possess. He was team captain with numerous highly-regarded starts under his belt even before an outstanding 2022 season. He was the leader of the team and the offensive line, helping the TCU Horned Frogs all the way to the College Football Playoff. When asked to fill different roles throughout his time in Fort Worth, he asked no questions and simply produced at both Guard spots as well as Center. The accolades match these traits, as Avila was a consensus All-American by most outlets and unanimously All-Big 12. Avila epitomizes a brick wall. Once he is set, defenders like Siaki Ika struggled to get around him while knowing full well that going through is also a futile endeavor. When he wins, he always maintains his body and play leverage. He could stand to improve his punches as they can be errant in timing and placement on occasion. The Outland semifinalist may be the emotional leader of his team, but he isn’t necessarily the intellectual leader. However, any team that values linemen that are able to always have their feet within their frame, ready to pop into engagements, will be more than happy to select Avila to man the interior.
6'3.625” 301lbs 9.5” hands 32.625” arms3* 16th-OC Flossmoor, IL
Schmitz (6'3.625”/301) was a 3-star recruit, and the 24th-ranked Center, from Flossmoor, Illinois in the 2017 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports. While being one of the oldest prospects in the draft class, Schmitz has produced quite the trove of experience blocking for an uber-productive rushing attack in Minnesota. The expertise gained from anchoring the pocket for the Golden Gophers will appeal to Offensive Line coaches in the NFL. Don’t overthink his age, though. He was responsible for guiding even some of the most unremarkable Running Backs to 1,000-yard seasons. Additionally, Offensive linemen have some of the best longevity in the sport, so Schmitz will simply be in the right place at the right time for years to come. While his 6.7 RAS may be cause for concern, he had a remarkable 4.56 shuttle, landing him in the 80th percentile among Centers. The tape backs up this time, as his steady yet quick-processing approach to the game served him well throughout his college career. The four-time Academic All-B1G team member is clinical in both the pass and run games. Schmitz has great timing in dropping anchor when he does find the correct position to do so. Rarely losing in the play leverage battle, Schmitz will need to clean up the other aspects of leverage. The lack of agility translates to poor balance at times. But, Schmitz’s potential to unlock runs in a zone scheme may be unmatched among his rookie peers. Though he may be older, I expect a long career out of Schmitz a la unsung heroes such as Ben Jones and Ben Powers.
O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
6'5” 330lbs 11.25” hands 33.875” arms3* 145th-OT Greensburg, LA
Torrence (6'5”/330) was a 3-star recruit, and the 145th-ranked Offensive Tackle, from Greensburg, Louisiana in the 2019 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports. Originally signing with his hometown school, Louisiana, Torrence started his first three years of college for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Despite the low level of competition, he was widely considered a prospect destined for the first two rounds. Instead, Torrence entered the transfer portal, landing at Florida, to show evaluators his abilities against the SEC. In his final college season, he protected Anthony Richardson to the tune of zero sacks and zero QB hits allowed, earning an overall grade of 88.0 from PFF. While his 6.15 RAS may be uninspiring, his large frame, wide hands, and long arms suggest he shouldn’t have any problem operating from the phone booth at the next level. Torrence rarely loses the body leverage battle and will need to leverage that size to overcome some of his more technical deficiencies. He may struggle with hand leverage at times due to his struggles in lateral movement, but he is savvy enough that he can win the play without winning with his hands. A team that does not require a ton of movement from their interior linemen will be more than happy to utilize Torrence at the point of attack and simply bulldoze through defensive fronts. If all goes well, he could have a similar impact as Aaron Banks.
Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
6'5” 302lbs 9.75” hands 32.375” arms Unranked (played QB, TE, and DE in HS) Hankinson, ND
Mauch (6'5”/302) took a rather non-traditional path to the offensive line, and the NFL. Entering college as an unranked prospect, he only had experience at Quarterback, Tight End, and EDGE from high school. He committed to North Dakota State, but didn’t see starting snaps until his third season on campus after redshirting and spending a year on the scout team. All of this was worth it, as his final season in college, PFF awarded him a grade of 91.8, while allowing only 1 sack in 856 offensive snaps. Despite bulking an incredible amount of weight during his time in Fargo, Mauch maintained the athleticism he had in high school. This is no more apparent than in his phenomenal 9.87 RAS, including a 90th percentile 40-yard dash and 98th percentile 3-cone. Although he played Offensive Tackle for the Bison, I project him as an interior lineman due to his short arms. Unlike fellow T-Rexes like Peter Skoronski, Mauch is a bit unrefined in his technique and comes from a much lower level of competition. However, his attacking approach and relentless demeanor will endear him to coaches and fans alike. Regardless of any outside factors, he will do everything in his power to win body leverage. Whichever team that drafts him will have to be patient, as Mauch’s coaches at North Dakota State were. With continued development and installation of good technique, Mauch can grow into a regular contributor similar to Robert Hunt.
Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin
6'6” 303lbs 9.625” hands 31.625” arms4* 26th-OT Fort Wayne, IN
Tippmann (6'6”/303) was a 4-star recruit, and the 25th ranked Offensive Tackle, from Fort Wayne, Indiana in the 2019 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports. Coming from the Offensive Lineman factory in Madison, Tippmann is the next in a long line of seasoned starters accustomed to smash mouth football that excel in the run game but have the tools to contribute in the pass game as well. At 6'6”, Tippmann towers over most centers. This may be a positive when discussing the run game, but hinders some of the traits needed from Centers in the pass game. In order to play the pivot correctly, a Center must be able to transition between assignments efficiently and with correct timing. While his long legs can help with that, it also means that he can become unbalanced due to his lack of leg bend. His large mass is often pressed against defenders to maintain seals and create lanes. Yet, despite these shortcomings, Tippmann has only allowed 1 sack in just over two full years of starting duty. He is smart, receiving Academic All-B1G accolades twice, and can be physical when he puts himself in the right position. While he won’t be leading the Running Back out on the edge on sweeps, he most certainly will do just enough to ensure his assignment is fulfilled on any given play. With increased mobility, Tippmann could be similar to another tall Center in Luke Fortner.
Chandler Zavala, NC State
6'3.5” 322lbs 10.375” hands
Unranked OG (JUCO Fairmont State) Woodbridge, VA
Zavala (6'3.5”/322) took the road less traveled to get to the NFL Draft. He began his college career at DII Fairmont State, the only school to offer him out of high school due to him having only one year of football under his belt. However, after the Falcons canceled their 2020 season because of COVID, Zavala transferred close to his mother and landed at NC State. But don’t let his small school beginnings fool you. Zavala can move and jump and change directions with the best of them, as exemplified by his 9.5 RAS. A 96th percentile vertical and 87th percentile bench show how his upper and lower body strength in isolation. What makes his ability scary is when he can utilize the two halves together. During his 17 games in Raleigh, he has only allowed 1 QB hit and 7 QB hurries while conceding no sacks. Though he has only demonstrated game tape from the Left Guard position, Zavala has practiced on the right side before, making the side versatility an option. He has good awareness, adeptly picking up on stunts, ensuring a victory on the play leverage. His power also allows him to hold the advantage in body leverage a vast majority of the time. Like many linemen from lower levels of competition, his biggest returns to development will come in hand techniques. However, there is no reason to believe that Zavala won’t succeed in multiple schemes as he can also move well enough to play out on the edge on pulls. The Wolfpack were a somewhat surprising team in 2022 and Zavala had a huge part to play in contributing to their success.
Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame
6'5” 306lbs 10” hands 31.375” arms4* 25th-OT Mission Viejo, CA
Patterson (6'5”/306) was a 4-star recruit, and the 25th ranked Offensive Tackle, from Mission Viejo, California in the 2018 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports. One of the many noteworthy things about Notre Dame is tradition. Patterson looks to continue the storied lineage of Irish linemen in the NFL. Having played both Left Guard and Center in college, his position flex puts him over the top of some other prospects who can only play one of the two, or even just one side. At 6'5”, Patterson utilizes his above-average height well to maintain hands on the defender. HIs reach allows some leeway in punch timing and he is generally fairly accurate. His body leverage may not always be in the right place due to his slow feet, but this can be ameliorated by his awareness of how to do just enough to facilitate the play. Even if he loses a defender, whether in space or in the phone booth, he is largely able to wall off the play and guide the defender away from risking blowing up the backfield. He will need to work on keeping his pad level low (See him getting forklifted by Adetomiwa Adebawore at the Senior Bowl) as well as loosening his feet from the mud. More than his performance on the field, what may be most impressive is the respect he earned from his teammates in South Bend. In 2022 he was named the team’s most outstanding offensive lineman over Joe Alt, who is projected to be a premier prospect in next year’s NFL Draft. I wouldn’t expect him to come in and start right away. However, heady linemen like Patterson are perfect for spot duty and injury replacement as they will do what is necessary to contribute.
Emil Ekiyor, Jr.
6'2.625” 314lbs 9.5” hands 33.875” arms4* 3rd-OC Indianapolis, IN
Ekiyor (6'2.625”/314) was a 4-star recruit, and the 3rd-ranked Center, from Indianapolis, Indiana in the 2018 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports. Not often do we see an undersized lineman coming out of Tuscaloosa. This should indicate how talented Ekiyor is. His little teapot build was perfect for the technique-driven Alabama Offensive Line. He has good timing on both his hands and his hip spring that allows him to take charge of the point of engagement against much larger Defensive Linemen. While he works best in the phone booth, Ekiyor is capable of running out on the edge provided he can maintain contact with his defender at all times. When he can choose his spots against larger defenders, he is usually able to hold his own, albeit to a stalemate when engaged while already extended. Even if Offensive Line hasn’t been a strength of Alabama’s in a few years, it is nonetheless impressive that Ekiyor managed to start for a whole three years at Right Guard for Nick Saban. In pass protection, he allowed no sacks and no QB hits in 414 pass block snaps during the 2022 season. Play leverage may not be a strength due to his stature, but Ekiyor finds a way to win hand and body leverage as needed. He will need to work on maintaining his hand leverage, though, as all of his losses came at the loss on that front. It remains to be seen whether he can remain successful against NFL-caliber athletes and even when he is not surrounded by stalwarts like the Crimson Tide tend to attract.
Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan
6'2.625” 309lbs 8.625” hands 32.75” arms2* 160th-OG Hyattsville, MD
Oluwatimi (6'2.625”/309) was a 2-star recruit, and the 160th-ranked Offensive Guard, from Hyattsville, Maryland in the 2017 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports. Oluwatimi may just have the smallest hands in the draft class. Sub-9” hands are a rarity in the entire draft, let alone in the Offensive Line. This will require him to be as accurate as a sniper on his punches in order to maintain hand leverage. Oluwatimi is also one of the oldest members of the draft class, having spent the majority of his college career in Charlottesville. Upon transferring to Michigan, he won the Outland Trophy while being a part of one of the best Offensive Lines in the country. He finished the season with a PFF grade of 80.4 while allowing no sacks. He is patient in engaging with defenders, dictating the point of engagement while giving the illusion of choice on the defender’s part. Although he is short, his width and weight allow him to have some anchor to show. At the pivot, he is able to adeptly work his small hands to maintain contact on both sides of the pass rush. Though this phenotype is rare, Oluwatimi does a great job of being able to win engagements with only play leverage. Physical tools are not on his side, but his consistency in maximizing the effect of double teams has led to success in multiple conferences in college. Considering his broad jump is in the 91st percentile, one would expect better power at the pop, but he works well in redirecting defenders away from the play. He reminds me a bit of his predecessor in Ann Arbor, Cesar Ruiz, who also suffered from a lack of stature.
Nick Broeker, Ole Miss
6'4” 305lbs 9.75” hands 32.5” arms3* 35th-OT Springfield, IL
Broeker (6'4”/305) was a 3-star recruit, and the 35th-ranked Offensive Tackle, from Springfield, Illinois in the 2019 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports. Offensive Tackles will often transition to Guard in the NFL due to lack of athleticism or missing physical traits. Broeker made this change in college. While this process has been clearly difficult, the remnants of the outside skills remaining and becoming a weakness inside, Broeker’s strengths are also highlighted in close quarters. Though he may be liable for a few holding penalties at the next level, Broeker allowed no sacks in 2022. The tenacity to pursue a body leverage win is a trademark to his game. He quickly gets to the second level, as exemplified by his explosive 88th percentile 10-yard split, and will put Linebackers on skates to spring his Running Back. His Offensive Tackle skills mean that he is actually better at keeping his feet than one might expect from a career Guard. This is also apparent when he begins a play uncovered as he will be patient and pick his spots when looking for work. Despite moving from a high-profile position to one that is slightly less-heralded, Broeker racked up many accolades including All-SEC and midseason All-American honors from multiple outlets. He has many positive traits that remind me a bit of former Western Kentucky Lineman Forrest Lamp.
