Peter Skoronski
Northwestern
Grade: Top-15
Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire
Peter Skoronski is the grandson of Bob Skoronski, a Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame enshrinee, and has been successful in high school and college, earning All-State honors and All-Big Ten honors, respectively. He was supposed to learn behind Rashawn Slater as a freshman, but when Slater opted out during the COVID season, he immediately became a starter as a true freshman. Like Slater, Skoronski is set to be the next Northwestern offensive lineman to be drafted as highly as the top-10 picks.
Skoronski is explosive off the snap and has really impressive agility and quick footwork, allowing him to move laterally and get into his pass sets with ease. Skoronski’s footwork also helps him mirror rushers in pass protection. In addition, he is competitive and intelligent, showcasing his football IQ with the ability to diagnose stunts, twists, and delayed blitzes with uncanny footwork and hand usage that marry each other quite well.
As a run blocker, Skoronski takes good angles toward his assignments and opens up rushing lanes at the line of scrimmage. He plays with a good pad level, situational body control, and a strong lower body, as shown by his ability to drive defenders out of the play. He plays with a relentless competitive toughness with a grittiness you love to see in an offensive lineman.
Despite his strengths, there are areas of concern. While Skoronski has played like a top-tier offensive tackle, he does not fit the typical measurements that NFL teams want out of a blindside blocker. With 32" arms, Skoronski is one of the least lanky prospects you'll find with first-round talent. He has gotten used to overcompensating for lack of length, which is why Skoronski is expected to move inside at the next level. He could still be a quality tackle, but his future should be at guard where length is more easily hidden in the interior and his strength as a run blocker can be more easily utilized.
Steve Avila
TCU
Grade: 1st Rd
Photo/Tony Gutierrez
Steve Avila is a redshirt senior from TCU who has experience playing center, guard, and tackle. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2021 as a center after starting in 11 games for the Horned Frogs. In 2022, he made the move to left guard and was a major factor in TCU making the College Football National Championship, while also taking home 2nd Team All-American honors. Avila has the experience and versatility to move around the offensive line, though, at 330 pounds, he projects best at guard.
Avila was a four-star recruit on ESPN's board, and although he had offers from other schools, he chose to stay close to home at TCU. Avila has shown an excellent combination of length and natural leverage. His size, power, and strength are his most dominant physical traits. He carries rare knock-back power and exerts a massive force at opening up wide rushing lanes. His boxy profile comes with a visible stiffness, but he is not completely devoid of flexibility. Avila plays with natural knee bend and can lower himself and acquire leverage to get under opponents to dig them out. There are also not many men at his size that can get off the ball as quickly or have the athletism to get to the second level the way he does.
Avila's length grants him exciting potential when engaging in hand fighting. He quickly gets his hands up off the snap in pass protection and brings a combative mentality as a hand fighter. Going further, Avila can use independent punches in rapid succession to jar and misalign defenders off the snap. He might also have the best anchor in the class. No interior pass rusher has had success driving Avila backward into the pocket successfully.
Overall, Avila has the potential to move along different spots on the interior of the line. He possesses the size, power, and strength that are essential for being an elite NFL starter. Avila's athletic ability is serviceable, and he has enough flexibility and knee bend to get under opponents and lockout for effective extensions. With as impressive as he was last season, he could be the first non-tackle offensive lineman taken in the NFL Draft.
O'Cyrus Torrance
Florida
Grade: 1st Rd
David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
O’Cyrus Torrence played guard for the Florida Gators last season. He had transferred to the program following head coach Billy Napier from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Torrence was a successful player in the Sun Belt Conference and was named to the Second Team (2020) and First Team (2021) All-Sun-Belt squads. He has great overall mass and length and has shown traits of being able to compete in the SEC. Torrence is best when he can use his mass and natural strength, which he employs in both the run and pass games. He is a high-motor offensive lineman that plays through the whistle and works to finish defenders.
In the run game, Torrence gets a quick first step to generate movement along the line of scrimmage and create openings for ball carriers. He excels in using his strength to stop defenders in their pass rush and handles the bull rush effectively. He shows lower-body strength to anchor down on defenders, stopping them from getting any penetration into the pocket. However, there are concerns about his range as a player due to his struggles to move laterally and his reactionary athleticism. His lack of lateral agility shows when defenders attack his edges, leading to him giving up pressures or committing holding penalties.
While Torrence's aggressiveness is appreciated, there are instances when it negatively impacts his game. He becomes too aggressive in the run game, leading to him being off-balance and not placing an effective block. He loses technique and approaches defenders with his head down, allowing defenders to evade him easily. He also appears to lack the quickness to react to twists and stunts in pass protection and fails to consistently move his feet while engaged. When engaged, he plants his feet on the ground and looks to defeat defenders using his upper-body strength, which could lead to holding penalties. Overall, Torrence's plus trait is his physicality in the run game, but there are concerns about his range as a player.
Torrence is seen by many as the top interior offensive lineman in the draft, though he seems like more of a boom-or-bust candidate. His physicality in the run game and his ability to anchor down on defenders in pass protection make him a suitable candidate for either starting guard position. However, his questionable lateral agility, limited range as a blocker in pass protection, and discipline make him less well-refined than some other prospects, even if his ceiling is higher than most. With guard not being as particularly deep in this year's draft class, Torrance likely will be one of the last linemen taken in the first round.
Andrew Vorhees
USC
Grade: 2nd Rd
Andrew Vorhees is a 6'6", 310 pound 6th-year senior from Kingsburg, California. Vorhees played both offensive and defensive tackle in high school and was named all-district in his final two years. He was a three-star recruit and received offers from nearly every Pac-12 program but ultimately chose USC. While at USC, he has played in 54 games across his college career, with 25 starts at right guard, 18 at left guard, and five at left tackle. He has nearly 3,500 career snaps and is one of the most experienced players in the country.
Andrew Vorhees is an aggressive player with a physical demeanor that is evident when watching his tape. He is always seeking opportunities to pass or run block, and his hot motor allows him to be a menace in the ground game. Despite his arm length not being exceptional, Vorhees has a wide frame with functional lower body strength, which enables him to effectively pull, turn, and seal in the ground game. He is also capable of moving to the second level, although locating defenders can be challenging. Vorhees' grip and core strength enable him to move defenders against their will, even if he doesn't immediately win with leverage.
In pass protection, Vorhees' combination of size and athleticism allows him to be a formidable force. He can reset his hands to regain leverage, and his excellent movement skills at guard were on full display during the time he started at left tackle in 2021. Although he should not be seen as an OT prospect, Vorhees has the athleticism, light feet, and frame to be considered an emergency depth piece there. However, his elbows tend to be outside his frame, leading to wide punches and exposing his chest, which is an area that he could work on to further improve his game.
Vorhees finished 2022 with awards that included the Morris Trophy, First-team All-American, and First-team All-Pac-12, and established himself as one of the best linemen in college football. He tore his ACL at the NFL Combine, which turned out to be terrible luck because it likely plummeted his draft stock. Unable to finish drills, Vorhees returned to the weight room and completed 38 bench press reps, the most among all players. Vorhees should still be a solid day-two pick, with an opportunity to return sometime during the season. The team that takes a chance on him will be getting a bonafide stalwart to their offensive line.
John Michael Schmitz
Minnesota
Grade: 2nd Rd
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today
John Michael Schmitz had an impressive career at the University of Minnesota, culminating in his selection as the team's starting center for the 2021 season. He responded by allowing only five pressures on 317 pass-blocking snaps and only two total sacks during his college career. As an AP All-American, Schmitz showcased his football IQ, athleticism, strength, and natural leverage as well be of the country's best interior prospects. Schmitz could have entered the 2022 NFL Draft but chose to return to school for an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19. In the 2022 season, he led all centers with a 92.3 PFF grade, further solidifying his status as a top prospect.
One of Schmitz's most significant strengths is his consistency in footwork and technique, making him a stable presence on the field. His active footwork helps to quickly establish a wide, strong base on reps to absorb power and stabilize his center of gravity. Schmitz possesses near-elite functional strength, latching onto defenders and controlling them while channeling power from his base. His hip alignment control is also impressive, allowing him to adapt and redirect when defenders work outside. He is explosive enough off the snap to overtake a 1-technique, flip his hips, and wall off the defender, which is impressive.
On the other hand, Schmitz's length is a notable concern, potentially affecting his leverage against longer defenders. He may occasionally reach too far and lean forward on blocks to compensate, leading to issues with balance and technique. His athleticism is also considered below-average for an NFL center. He lacks the change of direction, and outside of that initial burst from the snap, he's not a player you are comfortable with blocking in space on screens or blocking downfield.
Despite these concerns, Schmitz is expected to be a reliable starter in the NFL, with his versatility allowing him to play guard if needed. He will not be the first interior blocker taken, but you can have confidence in having a reliable, though maybe never really a pro bowl-level talent. He could be the first true center drafted.
Cody Mauch
North Dakota State
Grade: 2nd Rd
North Dakota State University
Cody Mauch is a redshirt senior Offensive Tackle from North Dakota State. As a Division II school, NDSU has surprisingly been producing quality NFL offensive linemen including Billy Turner, Joe Haeg, Dillon Radunz, and Cordell Volson. NDSU's coaching has really been top tier, with players in different positions also having success, including Trey Lance, Carson Wentz, Christian Watson, Pierre Strong, Jabril Cox, and Chris Board. Mauch, who was named the Phil Smith FCS Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2022, is the next player to carry the NDSU torch in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Mauch possesses elite functional athleticism and is an energetic short-area blocker who is extremely quick out of his sets, and fleet-footed when matching rushers. In addition, he is an explosive athlete who gains ground upfield quickly off the line and brings exceptional range as a moving blocker. Mauch has the high-end explosiveness to overtake defensive linemen lined up inside of him, and still find a way to seal them from the play. He also reaches the second level incredibly quickly when flowing through open lanes.
Despite his lacking proportional length, Mauch has very good raw power. He is able to shock defenders at contact with full two-hand extensions and channels his acquired leverage and momentum into run blocks, maximizing power output. He also has a solid knee bend that provides a solid center of gravity in pass protection. Mauch is superb at staying square with opponents, maintaining a strong base, and keeping an equilibrium in his stance.
Mauch’s athleticism translates incredibly well in both phases, and his existing upside is very exciting, especially as a pass protector. The question will be whether an NFL franchise sees him as a tackle or a guard. Given his length issues, Mauch will likely kick in as an interior player. He has the necessary core strength to anchor and stall rushes after first countering with independent hands. He also has the grip strength required in run plays to stay attached and maintain his run responsibility. With this class being heavy in tackle talent, Mauch will fair better as a draft pick to play inside. He is easily a day-two pick.
Joe Tippmann
Wisconsin
Grade: 3rd Rd
Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Joe Tippmann is a massive and dominant offensive lineman, standing at 6'6" and weighing 317 pounds. He was a standout player in high school, earning first-team All-Summit Athletic Conference honors in both his junior and senior years, and even won the league MVP as an offensive lineman in his senior year. After being recruited by Wisconsin, Tippmann redshirted in 2019 before becoming a reserve in 2020. In 2021, he unexpectedly shifted to center, where he excelled and became a dominant force.
Tippmann's physical abilities are rare and impressive, as he is listed on Feldman's Freaks list with a documented 1.65 10-yard split, a 635-pound back squat, and a 455-pound max bench. He has exceptional initial quickness for his size and can quickly flip his hips off the snap to rush toward the sideline. As a pulling blocker, he showcases great range and can track linebackers from hash to hash to seal off outside runs. He has an above-average change of direction for his size and can use ankle flexion to turn upfield through gaps while sustaining acceleration into blocks. Tippmann's mobility is a definite asset, but his overall play strength is equally impressive. He has the grip strength to maintain anchors and the core strength to gather and absorb rushes after anchoring inside the torso.
Despite his many strengths, Tippmann still has areas that need improvement. His tall frame can make it challenging to manage leverage consistently, as shorter opponents can easily get under his pads and exploit superior leverage to generate movement. Additionally, his footwork can be more controlled when tracking back in pass protection, and his placement and precision with independent hand-fighting can be improved. He can also be late to seeing stunts develop. While he has shown recent growth, Tippmann can be more efficient at loading and exerting power with his hands, and he sometimes attempts to extend while imbalanced. He can still strive for greater synergy between his physical abilities and his technical skills.
Tippmann has been a steady riser recently. Beginning in December, many mock drafts had Tippmann ranked in the 200's. Now Tippmann is expected to be a top-100 pick. Having tremendous size combined with high-end athleticism will do that. He is one of the best-pulling interior offensive linemen in the draft, and as a developmental prospect, has all the traits you want to see in a high-end draft pick.
Offensive Guard Prospects
Emil Ekiyor - Alabama
Curtis McClendon - Chattanooga
Braeden Daniels - Utah
Nick Broeker - Ole Miss
Center Prospects
Jarrett Patterson - Notre Dame
Luke Wypler - Ohio State
Ricky Stromberg - Arkansas
Jon Gaines II - UCLA
Juice Skruggs - Penn State
Comments