2026 Draft: Interior OL

[manxman2601]

He's been slowly moving up the charts.

Max Chadwick who does the college scouting at PFF said he was the best guard in the country going into this season.

 

[Clonamery]

Max Chadwick who does the college scouting at PFF said he was the best guard in the country going into this season.

Eye on:

Josh Thompson, LSU 6'5" - 315. Brought in from Northwestern to play G but is playing RT. Played both at Northwestern where in 833 snaps he allowed 2 sacks (none final 18 games). No sacks thus far, 2025 (played Clemson and Florida of note).

Can't get much of anything else on him.

 

[manxman2601]

This is where the Iowa OL rank in terms of PFF grade right now. Gennings Dunker letting the side down as only the 2nd highest graded RT.

 

[manxman2601]

This is where the Iowa OL rank in terms of PFF grade right now. Gennings Dunker letting the side down as only the 2nd highest graded RT.

Do you all remember last year I posted a study which shows that the short shuttle is a pretty good predictor of NFL success for offensive linemen? I think it was below a 4.25 shuttle. Maybe there's something in it.

 

[manxman2601]

Does this count as a pancake block?

 

[dliverey44]

Highlights

Fun fact, he went to highschool with Membou and played LT while Membou was RT

 

[manxman2601]

Fun fact, he went to highschool with Membou and played LT while Membou was RT

Did the QB ever have to wash his uniform?

 

[manxman2601]

 

[manxman2601]

Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State, 6-4, 328 (although seen as high as 340-350)

He plays LG for Penn but with that size, and not elite athleticism, I see him more as a RG. He does have experience at RG.

In his entire collegiate career, his QB has only ended up on his backside 7 times (3 sacks, 4 hits) but six of those were in his sophomore year. Last season and this, he has given up zero sacks and only 1 hit. I think that qualifies as elite pass protection. I think he's a little more limited in the run game, particularly in a wide zone but those are sacrifices I'd be willing to make to help keep Drake's uniform clean. He's not bad with mid 70s grades as a run blocker the last two seasons and grading equally well as a zone and gap blocker but pass pro looks to be his strength. FWIW, Grok's player comp for him is Quenton Nelson which seems a stretch but nice to know.

Ioane looks to be a very high floor prospect although without elite tier upside. If you can get that in the mid-rounds, I'd take that in a heartbeat for a position I consider to be one of our top 3 needs.

 

[manxman2601]

Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State, 6-4, 328 (although seen as high as 340-350)

He plays LG for Penn but with that size, and not elite athleticism, I see him more as a RG. He does have experience at RG.

In his entire collegiate career, his QB has only ended up on his backside 7 times (3 sacks, 4 hits) but six of those were in his sophomore year. Last season and this, he has given up zero sacks and only 1 hit. I think that qualifies as elite pass protection. I think he's a little more limited in the run game, particularly in a wide zone but those are sacrifices I'd be willing to make to help keep Drake's uniform clean. He's not bad with mid 70s grades as a run blocker the last two seasons and grading equally well as a zone and gap blocker but pass pro looks to be his strength. FWIW, Grok's player comp for him is Quenton Nelson which seems a stretch but nice to know.

Ioane looks to be a very high floor prospect although without elite tier upside. If you can get that in the mid-rounds, I'd take that in a heartbeat for a position I consider to be one of our top 3 needs.

The OL expert endorses

 

[mayoclinic]

Some very good day 2-3 IOL options. Vega Ioane, Caden Green. Kade Pieper's farm strength and athleticism are very enticing.

We are all spoiled by Jared Wilson at 95. Need to rinse and repeat.

 

[manxman2601]

Some very good day 2-3 IOL options. Vega Ioane, Caden Green. Kade Pieper's farm strength and athleticism are very enticing.

We are all spoiled by Jared Wilson at 95. Need to rinse and repeat.

Still trying to decide whether center or LG is the right way to go. Is Jared Wilson our LG of the future or the C?

 

[mayoclinic]

Either way, I expect him to be a long-term starter. Can wait and see who is available.

Caden Green -> Wilson to OC
Kade Pieper -> Wilson stays at LG

 

[manxman2601]

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Does not look too mobile to me. Am I right?

 

[manxman2601]

Does not look too mobile to me. Am I right?

Yes you're right. He's more a power and anchor type lineman. I do like that on the last play as he's blocking his man, it looks like the defender the LG was blocking looks like he's about to come free and Lalou instinctively tries to block that man too.

Don't forget though that the reports were that the Pats were very interested in Jonah Savaiinaea who was an almost identical size (2" taller though). Mind you, Vega Ioane is almost identical to Savaiinaea, height included.

 

[manxman2601]

I decided to take a look at Greg Crippen, Michigan's center after @BobDigital put him in a mock yesterday.

He's a 5th year senior who's a good pass blocker with a career mid seventies pass blocking grade. Has only given up 2 sacks and 13 pressures throughout his 5 year career. Run blocking is underwhelming with year by year run blocking grades in the fifties and low sixties. I haven't seen any tape yet though.

 

[manxman2601]

The best blockers according to PFF

I think the running game has been a big weakness for us so I started to look for the best run blockers so far this season making sure not to neglect pass blocking too. These are the 75/75 graded run/pass blockers currently. This applies to all the OL, not just interior guys.

In order of run blocking grade.

Brian Parker II, Duke, RT - 94 run, 76 pass
Keagen Trost, Missouri, RT - 90/83 (highest graded SEC OL)

Big Gap

Logan Taylor, BC, G - 83/87
Gennings Dunker, Iowa, RT - 82/76
Francis Mauigoa, Miami, RT - 82/83
Beau Stephens, Iowa, G, - 81/91
JC Davis, Illinois, LT - 81/76
Kyle Juergens, UConn, G - 81/74
Matt Gulbin, Mich State, C - 80/85
Kwabena Asamoah, Rutgers, G - 79/82
Carter Smith, Indiana, RT - 78/89
Vega Ioane, Penn State, G - 78/90
PJ Williams, SMU, RT - 78/80
Austin Barber, Florida, LT - 77/74
Spencer Fano, Utah, RT - 77/79
Jordan White, Vandy, C - 76/82
Logan Jones, Iowa, C - 76/84
Alex Harkey, Oregon, RT - 75/78
Austin Siereveld, Ohio State, G/T - 75/77
Jake Slaughter, Florida, C - 74/86
Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon G - 74/89


I did leave some off from smaller schools like N Texas for example.

I'm not saying that these should exclusively be the list to draft from, tape does matter, but these are the best run blockers in CFB right now that also pass protect. There's a lot of good names there with some notable absentees. Take it FWIW.

 

[manxman2601]

I've just been listening to Dane Brugler talk through his top 3s at each position. He has Brian Parker as his no 3 interior lineman behind Lew and Ioane. Thinks he might be center only. Calls him a technician and has elite character.

 

[mayoclinic]