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Bob McGinn on Guards
The Georgia Bulldogs were one decision away from having their entire offensive line drafted by NFL teams next month.
Tackle Earnest Greene, a two-year starter, elected to stay in school after an injury-shortened third season. If he had declared, scouts projected him as a third-or-fourth round draft choice.
With Greene back in school, the Bulldogs still figure to have four interior players drafted. The list includes center Jared Wilson, guards Tate Ratledge and Dylan Fairchild and guard-tackle Xavier Truss.
Four drafted O-linemen is a haul even for Georgia, which along with Michigan has had the most offensive linemen drafted in the last five years. Four of the Bulldogs’ 11 selections have been in the first round whereas just one of Michigan’s 11 landed in Round 1.
Over the years Georgia wasn’t known as a fertile producing ground for the big uglies. Wisconsin, Iowa and a few others were. In the decade from 2010-’19, the Bulldogs had just eight drafted.
Kirby Smart’s first four seasons in Athens sent three offensive linemen to the draft.
Sam Pittman, Smart’s first O-line coach, helped recruit and develop the unit into one of the nation’s best. After Pittman became coach at Arkansas in early 2020, Matt Lake coached the Bulldogs’ offensive line for two seasons before Stacy Searels took over in 2022.
The three-man draft class of 2020 included first-rounders Andrew Thomas (No. 4) and Isaiah Wilson (No. 29). The two-man draft classes in each of the last four years included first-rounders Broderick Jones (No. 14, 2023) and Amarius Mims (No. 18, 2024).
“One thing I give credit to for any player from Georgia is they get coached hard and they practice hard all year,” a Southeast area scout said. “You go to a Tuesday or a Wednesday practice in October in Athens and they’re all going good on good run to the ground. Guys gotta be tough to play there.”
“Heavy-handed, flexible, strong, smart, good athlete. Not a great puller or second-level guy but he’s a really good in-line player, run and pass. He’d be our starting right guard yesterday. Guards typically don’t go in the first round but he will. He could play some right tackle in some power schemes.” Five-star recruit from New Haven, Conn., and IMG Academy. “A guard like this, you could take him (first round),” said a third scout. “He’s not super talented or dynamic in any way but he’s big, moves well enough, plays on his feet, good football intelligence, he works. He’ll be good.” Arms were 34 ½ inches, size 11-inch hands were the largest at the position. “I don’t know if he’ll be a solid starter but I don’t think you’ll miss on him,” said a fourth scout. “I have him in the second round but you’ve got to find 32 and he may be one of those 32.” Tested poorly. Vertical jump (27 inches), broad jump (7-10) and bench-press reps (21) were the worst at the position.
2. JONAH SAVAIINAEA, Arizona (6-4, 324, 4.99, 1-2): Three-year starter at right tackle. “He feels like a guard all day long,” said one scout. “He’s so big and square. His foot quickness and overall athleticism on the edge will be a concern for a lot of teams. You put him in there just as a 335-pound mauling guard, you might end up getting a really good player.” Third-year junior with 36 starts. “He’s a borderline first-rounder,” a second scout said. “He was a right tackle and he’ll play right tackle or guard. He also was their emergency left tackle and wasn’t bad doing it. There’s something to this guy. This guy’s really powerful and will start for somebody. The way he ran and worked out, he might slip into the first.” Besides a sub-5 40, he mustered a 29-inch vertical jump and an 8-10 broad jump. “At the Senior Bowl he played some guard and looked more natural there,” a third scout said. “When you got him too far out in space he didn’t play with his length. He’s a big, agile guy. He’s got anchor strength. He can bend. I like the athlete and the mover a little better than the complete football player.” Arms were 33 7/8, hands were 10 ¼. “I moved him inside but I just don’t think he’s very good,” said a fourth scout. “Slow feet, barely gets in the way. Not an athlete by any stretch. He struggles on the edges in pass pro because he doesn’t move his feet or adjust well enough. His only chance is as a big guard.” Three-star recruit from American Samoa. Played as a prep in Honolulu.
3. DONOVAN JACKSON, Ohio State (6-3 ½, 315, no 40, 2): Five-star recruit in 2021 rated as the No. 1 guard in the U.S. and the No. 1 player in Texas. “He’s good, man, he’s good,” said one scout. “I couldn’t believe it when he went out there and played tackle and really held his own. I have him as a second-round pick as a left tackle and a Pro Bowl player as a guard. He can do it all. He’s going to start Day 1 and play a long time. He would survive at left tackle; I don’t think he would thrive. He’ll thrive as a guard.” Experienced starter at left guard moved to left tackle down the stretch in 2024 after Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending knee injury and the Buckeyes’ second option didn’t reach fruition. “He’s one of the best run blockers I’ve seen in a long, long time,” another scout said. “I wouldn’t say pancake but he can drive you off the line of scrimmage. He’ll stick and stay with you. Latch onto you. I’m not saying he’s a Hall of Famer but you don’t see guys run block like he does. I’d take him as a guard late one.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 9 7/8. “More of a third-rounder,” a third scout said. “In-line player only. He’s a power-scheme guy. He’s tough and physical, uses his length well, smart, got good power. He’s like really slue-footed. Kind of a clunky mover, and I thought he was on the ground way too much. He’s good enough to be a starter but he’s not a wow guy.” From Bellaire, Texas.
4. TATE RATLEDGE, Georgia (6-6 ½, 312, 4.98, 3): His father, Dean, played at Tennessee Tech in the mid-1970s and had a brief stint in the NFL. “High football intelligence, son of a coach,” one scout said. “He was important to them from a locker-room perspective and the mentality that he is as a true talent. Even when he was banged up this year he was such an important part of that offensive line. He does have a real nasty streak. I just thought he was a below-average athlete, a phone-booth brawler. Has stiffness and balance issues. If he didn’t have the mullet and attracted all the cameras and attention I doubt … he’s a good, solid player who will be drafted as a backup guard only.” Missed five games with an ankle injury in 2024. Three-year starter at right guard. “He’s a tackle’s body,” a second scout said. “Has the size and length to play outside but he’s never done it. Played a lot of ball. Good length, good mobility, good ability to absorb. Got a good personality, seems to be well-liked in the Georgia locker room. His issue will be he had some type of lower leg injury every year of his career. Availability is job security. If you’re not available it’s a little outta sight, outta mind. Fourth-fifth round type. But he has the upside to be a really good pick if he can stay healthy.” Short-armed (32 ¼). Hands were 10 3/8. “He’s in that bucket with Ben Cleveland and (Ben) Powers,” said a third scout. “He’s just OK. He’s a gap-scheme guard. I would take him fourth or fifth round. Some scouts thought more about the mullet than the knee bend.” Athletic test numbers were top-notch: vertical jump of 32, broad jump of 9-5, 7.38 in the 3-cone and 25 reps on the bench. “I thought he was going to be better,” said a fourth scout. “He’s not that good. He’s a giant. That’s what you’re drafting.” Four-star recruit from Rome, Ga., where he also participated in basketball and track.
5. DYLAN FAIRCHILD, Georgia (6-5, 325, no 40, 3): Fourth-year junior, two-year starter. “Like this guy,” one scout said. “Wrestler in his background. Played on the defensive line. Still on the come with his understanding of the nuance of the position. Good athlete, great balance and body control, good foot quicks when you get him on the move. Liked his strength. Good hand-fighting ability in a short area. Lot of positives with this kid. Early Day 3, maybe he sneaks up into the third round. At the end of the day he’s still that guard only, which is a little bit devalued.” Arms were 33, hands were 10. “Really tough, blue-collar type worker,” a second scout said. “Does a good job protecting the cylinder in pass protection. Has enough mobility to get out there and block at the second level. Good zone stuff. Georgia kid, so he’s going to be really tough. He’s quality depth value. Maybe not start right away but he could be a really good No. 2 that could ascend to a (starter). Ratledge is bigger.” Four-star recruit from Cumming, Ga. “He’s a one-position only guy,” a third scout said. “Can’t play center, can’t play tackle. He’s about a third-rounder.”
6. EMERY JONES, Louisiana State (6-5, 315, no 40, 3): Described by LSU coach Brian Kelly as a player that “makes good choices, good decisions. He is so reliable, and that goes to his background, his family and his high school.” Third-year junior manned right tackle. “He could be (a starter) at right tackle and/or guard,” one scout said. “There’s some reps you would say, ‘Wow, he looks even better than (Will) Campbell.’ Then as soon as you get that out of your mouth the next rep he looks 10 times worse than Campbell. His technique’s all over the map. He’s got no consistency whatsoever. But he is a big body, he is a good kid. He’ll end up being about a third-rounder and he’ll probably be a starter in another year or two. He’s got some ugly football to work through.” Made his first start in Game 3 of his freshman season, the first of his 36 straight starts at right tackle. Arms were 34 ¼, hands were 10 ¾. “A raw guy,” said a second scout. “If he’s a really good athlete, he’d have a chance. But he’s raw and he’s not a good athlete. He’s just a mess. His technique is bad. His instincts are off. He’s always on the ground and gets beat. Plays upright in the run game and falls off (blocks). In pass pro they just run by him all the time and he can’t adjust. Doesn’t set very well. I moved him to guard.” Standout prep basketball player in Baton Rouge, La.
7. JALEN RIVERS, Miami (6-5 ½, 319, 5.36, 3-4): Starting left guard when healthy for much of 2021-’22, starting left tackle when healthy in 2023-’24. “Great character, tons of versatility throughout his career,” one scout said. “He’s an athlete. He’s long. They moved him around so much so he still hasn’t reached his ceiling. More of an early-to-midday Day 3 pick. He’ll probably be a third or fourth tackle you cross-train at guard. He’s so smart and versatile. Still a little bit raw in a lot of his game.” Underwent knee surgery after three games of the ’21 season before going down again in late ’22. Missed five more games with another unspecified injury in ’24. “Didn’t have the best week at the Senior Bowl,” said a second scout. “He got edged and overpowered a little bit. Nonetheless, he’s a mature guy and a multi-year starter. He’s most comfortable at left guard. He has shown he can play Power 5 football at tackle and do a good enough job. The Senior Bowl knocked him down a little bit. I see him more third or fourth round, maybe even fifth.” Arms were 34 7/8, the longest of the leading guards, and hands were 10. “He was just OK at the combine and on tape,” a third scout said. “The value is he played both left tackle and left guard so he’s got some position flex.” Won a state championship in the shot put and played basketball as a prep in Jacksonville.
8. ANTHONY BELTON, North Carolina State (6-6, 336, 5.28, 3-4): Four-year player with 33 starts at left tackle. “He’s talented enough and has the sheer size and production history to be a Day 2 pick,” one scout said. “Probably third round. He was a left tackle his whole career but I think he’s more of a natural guard. I don’t think he has the speed to match up with elite edge defenders. His body type reminded me of JC Lathon of Alabama but a little bit sloppier. A guy that just blots out the sun when he walks by. Good kid but has some growing up to do with his nutrition: just looking at the body type. Has the rare size to engulf defenders. He has some physicality on initial contact. There’s a lack of consistent dominance and finishing for a guy that’s this big. Maybe because he’s always been a big kid that’s tried not to hurt people too much. I think you have a hard time coaching that into somebody if they don’t have it already. Liked his patience in pass pro, but in the Clemson game he self-destructed. People will try to pick him apart on some of his bad games. When it starts to go bad it really goes downhill.” Spent two years at Georgia Military Academy but one of the two seasons was wiped out by Covid. “He’s as talented as they come,” said a second scout. “He could be a franchise left tackle. He’s just a character concern in terms of his overall competes and toughness and urgency and weight issues and some laziness. He’s big, long arms, light on his feet. He can play (either) tackle, and he can play guard. That kid’s really gifted. It’s just you’ll always want more out of him. Plenty of guys like this that have concerns go in the second round. You don’t find big people that are that talented.” Arms were 33 7/8, hands were 10 ¼. “Lazy and not super aggressive,” a third scout said. “Probably fourth or fifth round.” Nicknamed “Escalade.” From Tallahassee, Fla.
9. WYATT MILUM, West Virginia (6-6 ½, 313, 5.30, 3-4): Made 43 starts at both tackles in a four-year career. “Second-round pick,” one scout said. “Great kid. Needs a little more anchor strength. Good enough feet. Not a left tackle; definitely a right tackle. He’s better than the tackle (Colton McKivitz) that came out of there a couple years ago (fifth round, 2020) and he’s better than the center (Zach Frazier, second round, 2024) that went to Pittsburgh.” Shortest arms (32 1/8) of the top nine guards. Hands were 10 ¼. “He’s a solid Day 3 pick,” a second scout said. “There will be some questions about his arm length. Some people think he’ll be a better guard than tackle.” From Kenova, W.Va. “He’s nasty, tough, physical,” said a third scout. “Eat-****-and-die kind of guy. Bad athlete. Rickety, on the ground all the time. It didn’t help that he was playing left tackle. He’s barely draftable. He’ll probably make it somewhere but he’s not very good.”
10. JACKSON SLATER, Sacramento State (6-3, 311, 5.02, 4): Four-year starter at left guard with a pair of starts at left tackle in the 2022 FCS playoffs. “He’s a really experienced player and had a really good Senior Bowl week,” one scout said. “He needed to show he could handle bigger, stronger guys in the draft, not just the Big Sky-level competition. He is sturdy, consistent and plays on great angles with great hand placement. Where he gets in trouble is the lack of arm length. That’s his biggest concern because if he’s not excellent with his hand placement he can’t recover against longer inside guys. At the Senior Bowl, he had to short-set everybody in one-on-one’s because of his length. He’s got to quick-set you, get his hands on and then use his upper-body and grip strength to sustain that block. He’ll be a really good pro.” Shortest arms (32 1/8) of the leading guards. Hands were 10. “He ran fast at the combine,” a second scout said. “I think third day.” From Bellevue, Wash., where he was a four-sport athlete.
Ajani Cornelius, Oregon (6-4 ½, 312, no 40)
Said one scout: “The Big Ten Championship Game (against Penn State) was probably his worst game of the year, which is not good. He opted out of the Senior Bowl and all combine drills. That was disappointing. He played way better in 2023. He was just not good in pass protection. It was anchor strength, it was body control, it was hand placement.”
Miles Frazier, Louisiana State (6-5 ½, 317, 5.29)
Said one scout: “People got hot on him at the Senior Bowl because he played right tackle and guard. I think the (NFL line) coaches at the Senior Bowl liked him so he’ll probably get drafted. I didn’t think he was special. At all.”
Connor Colby, Iowa (6-5 ½, 309, 5.10)
Said one scout: “Four-year starter. He can get off the ball with quickness and attack blocks. Plays to the whistle and looks to finish and torque defenders. Above average lateral slide and anchor. Smart, competitive and played multiple positions. He’ll go Day 3 and stick on a team and could eventually work his way in as a starter.”
Joshua Gray, Oregon State (6-5, 300, 5.09)
Said one scout: “Had an excellent 2023 at tackle but then slid inside to guard (in 2024) and had a really bad year. Things happened too quickly for him. He wasn’t as strong as he showed on the edge. He did not look like a very good athlete.”
Chase Lundt, Connecticut (6-7 ½, 304, no 40)
Said one scout: “He’s a better player than a traits guy. Great kid. Just not real talented but he’s got pretty good size, he’s tough as (bleep), he’s really smart. He may roster as one of the last linemen because he can probably play right tackle and guard.”
The Georgia Bulldogs were one decision away from having their entire offensive line drafted by NFL teams next month.
Tackle Earnest Greene, a two-year starter, elected to stay in school after an injury-shortened third season. If he had declared, scouts projected him as a third-or-fourth round draft choice.
With Greene back in school, the Bulldogs still figure to have four interior players drafted. The list includes center Jared Wilson, guards Tate Ratledge and Dylan Fairchild and guard-tackle Xavier Truss.
Four drafted O-linemen is a haul even for Georgia, which along with Michigan has had the most offensive linemen drafted in the last five years. Four of the Bulldogs’ 11 selections have been in the first round whereas just one of Michigan’s 11 landed in Round 1.
Over the years Georgia wasn’t known as a fertile producing ground for the big uglies. Wisconsin, Iowa and a few others were. In the decade from 2010-’19, the Bulldogs had just eight drafted.
Kirby Smart’s first four seasons in Athens sent three offensive linemen to the draft.
Sam Pittman, Smart’s first O-line coach, helped recruit and develop the unit into one of the nation’s best. After Pittman became coach at Arkansas in early 2020, Matt Lake coached the Bulldogs’ offensive line for two seasons before Stacy Searels took over in 2022.
The three-man draft class of 2020 included first-rounders Andrew Thomas (No. 4) and Isaiah Wilson (No. 29). The two-man draft classes in each of the last four years included first-rounders Broderick Jones (No. 14, 2023) and Amarius Mims (No. 18, 2024).
“One thing I give credit to for any player from Georgia is they get coached hard and they practice hard all year,” a Southeast area scout said. “You go to a Tuesday or a Wednesday practice in October in Athens and they’re all going good on good run to the ground. Guys gotta be tough to play there.”
GUARDS
1. TYLER BOOKER, Alabama (6-4 ½, 326, 5.34, 1): Third-year junior. “He’s a pretty safe bet to be the first guard,” one scout said. “He has the most solid foundation. Now he may be a little bit more of a gap-scheme than a run-off-the-ball wide-zone type. He’s a big body. Real big personality. He’s very much liked at the school. He’s been paid a lot of money. There’s some maturity there.” Rotated at both guards in 2022 before starting 25 games at left guard in 2023-’24. Last season, one of his starts came at left tackle. “Giant human being,” said a second scout.“Heavy-handed, flexible, strong, smart, good athlete. Not a great puller or second-level guy but he’s a really good in-line player, run and pass. He’d be our starting right guard yesterday. Guards typically don’t go in the first round but he will. He could play some right tackle in some power schemes.” Five-star recruit from New Haven, Conn., and IMG Academy. “A guard like this, you could take him (first round),” said a third scout. “He’s not super talented or dynamic in any way but he’s big, moves well enough, plays on his feet, good football intelligence, he works. He’ll be good.” Arms were 34 ½ inches, size 11-inch hands were the largest at the position. “I don’t know if he’ll be a solid starter but I don’t think you’ll miss on him,” said a fourth scout. “I have him in the second round but you’ve got to find 32 and he may be one of those 32.” Tested poorly. Vertical jump (27 inches), broad jump (7-10) and bench-press reps (21) were the worst at the position.
2. JONAH SAVAIINAEA, Arizona (6-4, 324, 4.99, 1-2): Three-year starter at right tackle. “He feels like a guard all day long,” said one scout. “He’s so big and square. His foot quickness and overall athleticism on the edge will be a concern for a lot of teams. You put him in there just as a 335-pound mauling guard, you might end up getting a really good player.” Third-year junior with 36 starts. “He’s a borderline first-rounder,” a second scout said. “He was a right tackle and he’ll play right tackle or guard. He also was their emergency left tackle and wasn’t bad doing it. There’s something to this guy. This guy’s really powerful and will start for somebody. The way he ran and worked out, he might slip into the first.” Besides a sub-5 40, he mustered a 29-inch vertical jump and an 8-10 broad jump. “At the Senior Bowl he played some guard and looked more natural there,” a third scout said. “When you got him too far out in space he didn’t play with his length. He’s a big, agile guy. He’s got anchor strength. He can bend. I like the athlete and the mover a little better than the complete football player.” Arms were 33 7/8, hands were 10 ¼. “I moved him inside but I just don’t think he’s very good,” said a fourth scout. “Slow feet, barely gets in the way. Not an athlete by any stretch. He struggles on the edges in pass pro because he doesn’t move his feet or adjust well enough. His only chance is as a big guard.” Three-star recruit from American Samoa. Played as a prep in Honolulu.
3. DONOVAN JACKSON, Ohio State (6-3 ½, 315, no 40, 2): Five-star recruit in 2021 rated as the No. 1 guard in the U.S. and the No. 1 player in Texas. “He’s good, man, he’s good,” said one scout. “I couldn’t believe it when he went out there and played tackle and really held his own. I have him as a second-round pick as a left tackle and a Pro Bowl player as a guard. He can do it all. He’s going to start Day 1 and play a long time. He would survive at left tackle; I don’t think he would thrive. He’ll thrive as a guard.” Experienced starter at left guard moved to left tackle down the stretch in 2024 after Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending knee injury and the Buckeyes’ second option didn’t reach fruition. “He’s one of the best run blockers I’ve seen in a long, long time,” another scout said. “I wouldn’t say pancake but he can drive you off the line of scrimmage. He’ll stick and stay with you. Latch onto you. I’m not saying he’s a Hall of Famer but you don’t see guys run block like he does. I’d take him as a guard late one.” Arms were 33 ½, hands were 9 7/8. “More of a third-rounder,” a third scout said. “In-line player only. He’s a power-scheme guy. He’s tough and physical, uses his length well, smart, got good power. He’s like really slue-footed. Kind of a clunky mover, and I thought he was on the ground way too much. He’s good enough to be a starter but he’s not a wow guy.” From Bellaire, Texas.
4. TATE RATLEDGE, Georgia (6-6 ½, 312, 4.98, 3): His father, Dean, played at Tennessee Tech in the mid-1970s and had a brief stint in the NFL. “High football intelligence, son of a coach,” one scout said. “He was important to them from a locker-room perspective and the mentality that he is as a true talent. Even when he was banged up this year he was such an important part of that offensive line. He does have a real nasty streak. I just thought he was a below-average athlete, a phone-booth brawler. Has stiffness and balance issues. If he didn’t have the mullet and attracted all the cameras and attention I doubt … he’s a good, solid player who will be drafted as a backup guard only.” Missed five games with an ankle injury in 2024. Three-year starter at right guard. “He’s a tackle’s body,” a second scout said. “Has the size and length to play outside but he’s never done it. Played a lot of ball. Good length, good mobility, good ability to absorb. Got a good personality, seems to be well-liked in the Georgia locker room. His issue will be he had some type of lower leg injury every year of his career. Availability is job security. If you’re not available it’s a little outta sight, outta mind. Fourth-fifth round type. But he has the upside to be a really good pick if he can stay healthy.” Short-armed (32 ¼). Hands were 10 3/8. “He’s in that bucket with Ben Cleveland and (Ben) Powers,” said a third scout. “He’s just OK. He’s a gap-scheme guard. I would take him fourth or fifth round. Some scouts thought more about the mullet than the knee bend.” Athletic test numbers were top-notch: vertical jump of 32, broad jump of 9-5, 7.38 in the 3-cone and 25 reps on the bench. “I thought he was going to be better,” said a fourth scout. “He’s not that good. He’s a giant. That’s what you’re drafting.” Four-star recruit from Rome, Ga., where he also participated in basketball and track.
5. DYLAN FAIRCHILD, Georgia (6-5, 325, no 40, 3): Fourth-year junior, two-year starter. “Like this guy,” one scout said. “Wrestler in his background. Played on the defensive line. Still on the come with his understanding of the nuance of the position. Good athlete, great balance and body control, good foot quicks when you get him on the move. Liked his strength. Good hand-fighting ability in a short area. Lot of positives with this kid. Early Day 3, maybe he sneaks up into the third round. At the end of the day he’s still that guard only, which is a little bit devalued.” Arms were 33, hands were 10. “Really tough, blue-collar type worker,” a second scout said. “Does a good job protecting the cylinder in pass protection. Has enough mobility to get out there and block at the second level. Good zone stuff. Georgia kid, so he’s going to be really tough. He’s quality depth value. Maybe not start right away but he could be a really good No. 2 that could ascend to a (starter). Ratledge is bigger.” Four-star recruit from Cumming, Ga. “He’s a one-position only guy,” a third scout said. “Can’t play center, can’t play tackle. He’s about a third-rounder.”
6. EMERY JONES, Louisiana State (6-5, 315, no 40, 3): Described by LSU coach Brian Kelly as a player that “makes good choices, good decisions. He is so reliable, and that goes to his background, his family and his high school.” Third-year junior manned right tackle. “He could be (a starter) at right tackle and/or guard,” one scout said. “There’s some reps you would say, ‘Wow, he looks even better than (Will) Campbell.’ Then as soon as you get that out of your mouth the next rep he looks 10 times worse than Campbell. His technique’s all over the map. He’s got no consistency whatsoever. But he is a big body, he is a good kid. He’ll end up being about a third-rounder and he’ll probably be a starter in another year or two. He’s got some ugly football to work through.” Made his first start in Game 3 of his freshman season, the first of his 36 straight starts at right tackle. Arms were 34 ¼, hands were 10 ¾. “A raw guy,” said a second scout. “If he’s a really good athlete, he’d have a chance. But he’s raw and he’s not a good athlete. He’s just a mess. His technique is bad. His instincts are off. He’s always on the ground and gets beat. Plays upright in the run game and falls off (blocks). In pass pro they just run by him all the time and he can’t adjust. Doesn’t set very well. I moved him to guard.” Standout prep basketball player in Baton Rouge, La.
7. JALEN RIVERS, Miami (6-5 ½, 319, 5.36, 3-4): Starting left guard when healthy for much of 2021-’22, starting left tackle when healthy in 2023-’24. “Great character, tons of versatility throughout his career,” one scout said. “He’s an athlete. He’s long. They moved him around so much so he still hasn’t reached his ceiling. More of an early-to-midday Day 3 pick. He’ll probably be a third or fourth tackle you cross-train at guard. He’s so smart and versatile. Still a little bit raw in a lot of his game.” Underwent knee surgery after three games of the ’21 season before going down again in late ’22. Missed five more games with another unspecified injury in ’24. “Didn’t have the best week at the Senior Bowl,” said a second scout. “He got edged and overpowered a little bit. Nonetheless, he’s a mature guy and a multi-year starter. He’s most comfortable at left guard. He has shown he can play Power 5 football at tackle and do a good enough job. The Senior Bowl knocked him down a little bit. I see him more third or fourth round, maybe even fifth.” Arms were 34 7/8, the longest of the leading guards, and hands were 10. “He was just OK at the combine and on tape,” a third scout said. “The value is he played both left tackle and left guard so he’s got some position flex.” Won a state championship in the shot put and played basketball as a prep in Jacksonville.
8. ANTHONY BELTON, North Carolina State (6-6, 336, 5.28, 3-4): Four-year player with 33 starts at left tackle. “He’s talented enough and has the sheer size and production history to be a Day 2 pick,” one scout said. “Probably third round. He was a left tackle his whole career but I think he’s more of a natural guard. I don’t think he has the speed to match up with elite edge defenders. His body type reminded me of JC Lathon of Alabama but a little bit sloppier. A guy that just blots out the sun when he walks by. Good kid but has some growing up to do with his nutrition: just looking at the body type. Has the rare size to engulf defenders. He has some physicality on initial contact. There’s a lack of consistent dominance and finishing for a guy that’s this big. Maybe because he’s always been a big kid that’s tried not to hurt people too much. I think you have a hard time coaching that into somebody if they don’t have it already. Liked his patience in pass pro, but in the Clemson game he self-destructed. People will try to pick him apart on some of his bad games. When it starts to go bad it really goes downhill.” Spent two years at Georgia Military Academy but one of the two seasons was wiped out by Covid. “He’s as talented as they come,” said a second scout. “He could be a franchise left tackle. He’s just a character concern in terms of his overall competes and toughness and urgency and weight issues and some laziness. He’s big, long arms, light on his feet. He can play (either) tackle, and he can play guard. That kid’s really gifted. It’s just you’ll always want more out of him. Plenty of guys like this that have concerns go in the second round. You don’t find big people that are that talented.” Arms were 33 7/8, hands were 10 ¼. “Lazy and not super aggressive,” a third scout said. “Probably fourth or fifth round.” Nicknamed “Escalade.” From Tallahassee, Fla.
9. WYATT MILUM, West Virginia (6-6 ½, 313, 5.30, 3-4): Made 43 starts at both tackles in a four-year career. “Second-round pick,” one scout said. “Great kid. Needs a little more anchor strength. Good enough feet. Not a left tackle; definitely a right tackle. He’s better than the tackle (Colton McKivitz) that came out of there a couple years ago (fifth round, 2020) and he’s better than the center (Zach Frazier, second round, 2024) that went to Pittsburgh.” Shortest arms (32 1/8) of the top nine guards. Hands were 10 ¼. “He’s a solid Day 3 pick,” a second scout said. “There will be some questions about his arm length. Some people think he’ll be a better guard than tackle.” From Kenova, W.Va. “He’s nasty, tough, physical,” said a third scout. “Eat-****-and-die kind of guy. Bad athlete. Rickety, on the ground all the time. It didn’t help that he was playing left tackle. He’s barely draftable. He’ll probably make it somewhere but he’s not very good.”
10. JACKSON SLATER, Sacramento State (6-3, 311, 5.02, 4): Four-year starter at left guard with a pair of starts at left tackle in the 2022 FCS playoffs. “He’s a really experienced player and had a really good Senior Bowl week,” one scout said. “He needed to show he could handle bigger, stronger guys in the draft, not just the Big Sky-level competition. He is sturdy, consistent and plays on great angles with great hand placement. Where he gets in trouble is the lack of arm length. That’s his biggest concern because if he’s not excellent with his hand placement he can’t recover against longer inside guys. At the Senior Bowl, he had to short-set everybody in one-on-one’s because of his length. He’s got to quick-set you, get his hands on and then use his upper-body and grip strength to sustain that block. He’ll be a really good pro.” Shortest arms (32 1/8) of the leading guards. Hands were 10. “He ran fast at the combine,” a second scout said. “I think third day.” From Bellevue, Wash., where he was a four-sport athlete.
THE NEXT FIVE
Ajani Cornelius, Oregon (6-4 ½, 312, no 40)
Said one scout: “The Big Ten Championship Game (against Penn State) was probably his worst game of the year, which is not good. He opted out of the Senior Bowl and all combine drills. That was disappointing. He played way better in 2023. He was just not good in pass protection. It was anchor strength, it was body control, it was hand placement.”
Miles Frazier, Louisiana State (6-5 ½, 317, 5.29)
Said one scout: “People got hot on him at the Senior Bowl because he played right tackle and guard. I think the (NFL line) coaches at the Senior Bowl liked him so he’ll probably get drafted. I didn’t think he was special. At all.”
Connor Colby, Iowa (6-5 ½, 309, 5.10)
Said one scout: “Four-year starter. He can get off the ball with quickness and attack blocks. Plays to the whistle and looks to finish and torque defenders. Above average lateral slide and anchor. Smart, competitive and played multiple positions. He’ll go Day 3 and stick on a team and could eventually work his way in as a starter.”
Joshua Gray, Oregon State (6-5, 300, 5.09)
Said one scout: “Had an excellent 2023 at tackle but then slid inside to guard (in 2024) and had a really bad year. Things happened too quickly for him. He wasn’t as strong as he showed on the edge. He did not look like a very good athlete.”
Chase Lundt, Connecticut (6-7 ½, 304, no 40)
Said one scout: “He’s a better player than a traits guy. Great kid. Just not real talented but he’s got pretty good size, he’s tough as (bleep), he’s really smart. He may roster as one of the last linemen because he can probably play right tackle and guard.”
