• Most versatile: Washington’s Troy Fautanu is the most versatile OL in the class.
• Strongest run blocker: It was a tough choice but Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson takes home the category.
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We round out our offensive superlatives with the big boys. There are a ton of flexible offensive linemen in the class who have the skill sets for both tackle and interior play, which brings about some really good debate for superlatives for the trenches.
Best Hands In Pass Protection: Joe Alt, Notre Dame
There are a handful of offensive linemen who have great hand usage in this class, but a big part of what makes Joe Alt the top tackle in this class is how consistent and effective he is with his hands. His 34 1/4-inch arms sit above the 50th percentile for the position, which gives him a good combination of length and technique when it comes to consistently handling rushers attacking either shoulder. As a three-year starter at left tackle, he has a lot of experience on what works and what doesn’t for his measurables and can time his hands well.
Best Feet/Movement In Pass Protection: Olu Fashanu, Penn State
There are some deficiencies in Fashanu’s game when it comes to hand placement and how he handles power rushers, but what makes him such an alluring first-round offensive lineman is his movement skills in pass protection. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see much in terms of athletic testing from Fashanu, as he was injured running his 40-yard dash, but that just means we have to lean more on the movement ability we see on tape. That should give you confidence to believe this guy has the potential to kick slide and mirror the best pass-rushers in the NFL at some point.
Best At Maintaining Blocks: Graham Barton, Duke
The question has long raged: What is Graham Barton? The impressive, versatile offensive lineman played left tackle the last two seasons but actually started his college career at center. Now, there is talk of moving him to guard for the NFL level. Wherever a team places him, one thing I know for certain is that this dude has vice grips for hands. He has consistent hand placement to control defenders, and he makes it incredibly difficult for them to break off his block – as he not only has strong hands and grip but also good balance and footwork to avoid holding. Barton takes a ton of pride in not just staying in front of his guys but also locking them up.
Best Finishing Mentality: Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
The award for best in show when it comes to absolutely burying an opponent whenever they get the chance to do so is offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga, who has a nastiness in the run game that every team will covet. He is a true tone-setter, opting to often take the fight to defenders rather than waiting for them to make their move. He has a strong punch that can often knock defenders off balance. Once he does that, if he can get them on the ground, he’ll make sure they can’t get up if they’re anywhere near the ball carrier.
Best Run Blocking Strength: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
This was a tough choice. Fuaga, JC Latham, Powers-Johnson and a couple of other offensive linemen in this class can be major difference-makers in the run game. Ultimately, I settled on Powers-Johnson because the data points signal that either he or Fuaga should be the choice, and Fuaga got the last award. Is that cheating? Maybe. Deal with it.
In all seriousness, JPJ deserves a shoutout due to how impactful he was in Oregon’s run scheme this past season. He earned an 85.2 PFF run-blocking grade with a 15.7% positively graded run-blocking percentage, and he only recorded a negative run-blocking play on 10.5% of his run-blocking snaps. He’s a barrel-chested warrior in the middle and can be an effective run blocker at center or guard.
Best Overall Athlete: Troy Fautanu, Washington
If you just went and watched Fautanu’s combine workout and didn’t know anything about him, you might think he’s a super-sized tight end. That’s how well this guy moves. He’s played left tackle for Washington, and with 34-plus-inch arms, he could end up staying there in the NFL. Nonetheless, his 6-foot-3 frame also gives him great leverage inside, and his first-step explosiveness gives him power there, too. Fautanu can be a starting-caliber offensive lineman at all five spots due to his coordination and athletic ability.
Most Versatile: Troy Fautanu, Washington
There are a handful of really versatile offensive linemen in this class. Fuaga, Barton, Kiran Amegadjie, Dominick Puni and Jordan Morgan could play tackle or guard. Powers-Johnson, Christian Haynes and Cooper Beebe could play guard or center. And yet, as explained above, Fautanu still takes the cake for being the most versatile. This, once again, is due to his unique build – long enough arms and quick enough feet to play tackle, yet shorter in height and explosive enough to generate leverage and power on the interior. He really could play all five spots. Beebe from Kansas State also has a lot of versatility on his resume, he just isn’t as athletic as Fautanu.
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