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LondonBrown

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  1. OT rank #32 LORENZO THOMPSON | Rhode Island 6060 | 305 lbs. | 6SR Syracuse, N.Y. (Cicero) 6/21/2000 (age 23.84) SUMMARY: Lorenzo Thompson grew up in upstate New York and was a two-sport standout (basketball and football) at Cicero-North Syracuse High. He played both ways as a defensive end and left tackle and earned All-State honors as a junior and senior. He committed to FCS Rhode Island (over Maine, Albany and Stony Brook) and earned the left tackle job as an underclassman. He finished his college career with 37 straight starts, including an All-America year as a senior captain. Thompson sports a lean, athletic frame with shorter-than-ideal arms, but he has outstanding foot quickness to mirror rushers on an island. Though he hits his landmarks, his anchor will be tested early and often by NFL bull rushers. Although not a true people-mover in the run game, he will try to blow up defenders on the move. Overall, Thompson needs refinement with his footwork and timing to compensate for his shortcomings, but he is a nasty blocker with athletic tools that can be molded. GRADE: Priority Free Agent
  2. Centre rank #16 JALEN SUNDELL | North Dakota State 6050 | 301 lbs. | 6SR Maryville, Mo. (Maryville) 10/18/1999 (age 24.52) SUMMARY: Jalen Sundell was born and raised in Maryville in an athletic family — his parents (Bob and Korena) both played college basketball, and his younger sister (Serena) is a record-breaking player at Kansas State. As a senior right tackle, Sundell led Maryville High to the 2017 state championship (also played basketball and founded his school’s bass fishing team). Sundell signed with North Dakota State (over Central Michigan) and moved to center, battling injuries in 2021 and 2022. He replaced Cody Mauch at left tackle in 2023 and had his best season. With his quickness, Sundell is an outstanding puller and takes proper angles on the move to be a “search and destroy” blocker. His eyes and hands stay on the same page, but his punches aren’t heavy, and he will struggle to grip and finish NFL drive/down blocks. Overall, Sundell has impressive agility and athletic tools for his size, but his ability to quickly set his anchor and hold up vs. NFL power are the lingering questions. GRADE: Priority Free Agent
  3. WR rank #44 AHMAREAN BROWN | South Carolina 5080 | 170 lbs. | 5SR Tampa, Fla. (Jefferson) 12/19/2000 (age 23.35) SUMMARY: Ahmarean Brown is one of six children. He has an older brother (Michael Tiller) who ran track at Bethune-Cookman and another (Bobby Brown III) who played defensive back at Eastern Michigan. Brown was a standout receiver and track athlete (10.40-second 100 meters) at Jefferson High. A three-star recruit, he committed to Georgia Tech (over Alabama and Michigan) and led the team in receiving as a true freshman. After the 2020 season, he transferred to South Carolina. Brown has the outstanding initial burst and acceleration needed to be a vertical threat on double moves and go patterns. He plays with athletic urgency but tends to rush as a route runner, which leads to rounded angles and limited separation. Despite a smaller catch radius, he can snare th rows to be a catch-and-run weapon (bubbles, screens, etc.). Overall, Brown is undersized and doesn’t have draftable tape, but his speed traits could shine once he gets into an NFL camp. GRADE: Priority Free Agent
  4. No problem Flugel, I originally did it a couple of years back as it was a paid for PDF so thought I would share! Now it's on The Athletic so much more accessible but I will carry on as long as I'm on here and people get some use out of it
  5. OT Rank #16. JAVION COHEN | Miami 6043 | 324 lbs. | 4SR Phenix City, Ala. (Central) 8/8/2002 (age 21.71) BACKGROUND: Javion (JAY-vee-on) Cohen, who has two sisters, grew up in Phenix City (near the Alabama-Georgia border). He was raised by his mother (Philecia Fuller), who worked multiple jobs to support the family (Cohen: “She is my superhero.”). He didn’t start playing organized sports until age 13, when he played on the defensive line in little league football. Cohen also played basketball and tried baseball in eighth grade. He attended Phenix City Central High School, where he was a defensive lineman as a freshman before the coaches moved him to the offensive line as a sophomore on varsity. As a 260 -pound junior left tackle, Cohen was named second team All-State and led Central to a 14-0 record and the 2018 Class 7A state championship. He again manned the left tackle spot as a senior and took home AllState honors, helping Central to a 12-2 record and the 2019 district title. A four-star recruit, Cohen was the No. 25 offensive tackle in the 2020 recruiting class and the No. 16 recruit in Alabama (top-ranked offensive lineman in the state). After his sophomore season, he received his first FCS scholarship offer (Alabama A&M), followed by his first FBS offer (Troy) two months later. Prior to his senior year, Cohen already had an offer dance card that included Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Sout h Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M. After multiple visits to Columbia, he originally committed to head coach Will Muschamp and South Carolina in March 2019 and intended to sh ut down his recruitment. But a month later, Cohen had a change of heart and decommitted. He committed to Auburn in June 2019, but after a shakeup on the coaching staff, Cohen flipped to Alabama shortly before signing day in December 2019 (Cohen: “Trust was the difference.”). He was the No. 16 recruit (and top-ranked offensive lineman) in Nick Saban’s 2020 class. After three seasons in Tuscaloosa, Cohen entered the transfer portal in December 2022. He officially transferred to the Hurricanes after two weeks in the portal — Mario Cristobal had recruited Cohen when he was the coach at Oregon. He proposed to his wife (Aazhenii) in February 2023 and the couple welcomed a daughter in June 2023. After the 2021 season, Cohen spent a month at the Herren Wellness Recovery Center in Seekonk, Mass, to support his mental health (Cohen’s tweet: “The pressure we feel as athletes is insurmountable and can be too much at times.”). He has since become an advocate for mental health. Cohen opted out of the 2023 bowl game and accepted his invitation to the 2024 Senior Bowl. STRENGTHS: Carries solid mass on his frame,with outstanding length … plays square in pass protection and stays balanced in his shuffle … hands land heavy and stay heavy through connection on inside zone … grip strength and knee bend help him sustain point-of-attack blocks … anchor is already fairly stout and additional coaching can make it even stronger … shows adequate contact balance to steer and control once locked on to create running room behind his raw power … shows functional range on pulls and climbs … adapted quickly to the new coaching staff and culture after transferring his final season in college … started double-digit games each of the last three seasons. WEAKNESSES: Doesn’t consistently play to his arm length … underwhelming explosiveness and body control, especially when forced to recover … has a tendency to get upright when working in space, which hurts his ability to strike moving targets … inconsistent finisher when tasked to answer speed … needs to rely more on his footwork to help seal and sustain vs. power … will linger too long on blocks as he attempts to regain his balance … always lo oking for work, but can improve his anticipation for where extra pressure is coming from … missed one game as a sophomore due to a wrist injury (November 2021) … was a left guard only in college and didn’t log snaps at any of the other four offensive line positions. SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Miami, Cohen settled in at left guard in offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s balanced run scheme. After two seasons as a starter for Saban at Alabama, he transferred to Coral Gables and played well in 2023 for an offensive line that had the same starting five for all 12 regular-season games (he credits Hurricanes offensive line coach Alex Mirabal for “changing his career”). Even though his sustain skills are lacking, Cohen jars at initial contact and relies on his play strength to strike, latch and overmatch defensive linemen. In pass protection, he lacks an explosive element to his game and needs to kee p things on schedule, forcing rushers to work his cylinder. Overall, Cohen is a physical, square-cut blocker who can lock up targets when he stays centered, but he has trouble combating quick defenders on his edges. He projects as a backup with potential to be more. GRADE: 5th-6th Round
  6. Onto the UDFA's and will post any that Dane Brugler has a profile for
  7. DT Rank #23 JOWON BRIGGS | Cincinnati 6014 | 313 lbs. | 5SR Cincinnati, Ohio (Walnut Hills) 9/1/2000 (age 23.65) SUMMARY: Jowon Briggs, one of six children, grew up in Cincinnati and earned All-State honors at Walnut Hills. A four-star prospect, he was a top-100 recruit and the No. 2 player in Ohio, but he passed on Alabama and Ohio State to sign with Virginia. During the pandemic, he transferred back home and signed with Cincinnati. After playing three-technique in 2021 and nose in 2022, he shifted to more of a 4/4i role over the tackle in 2023. Briggs and his wife (Nyjae) have three children. A member of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” Briggs is compactly built with very dense muscle and terrific strength. With his initial step and active, heavy hands, he should appeal to multiple schemes, although can lose his gap control/leverage. Overall, Briggs lacks ideal length, and his rush talent is a work in progress, but his mix of one-gap quickness and power could earn him a depth spot. GRADE: 7th Round-Priority Free Agent
  8. CB rank #22 MYLES HARDEN | South Dakota 5107 | 195 lbs. | 4JR Miami Gardens, Fla. (Miramar) 12/13/2001 (age 22.37) BACKGROUND: Myles Harden was born and raised in Miami Gardens. He grew up playing basketball, then started playing pee-wee football at age 8. Harden enrolled at Miramar High School (the former school of Geno Smith and several other NFL alums), where he was a three-year letterman at cornerback. After starting out on JV as a sophomore, he was called up to varsity in 2017 and later earned honorable mention All-County honors as a junior (although Miramar lost to Deerfield Beach in the first round of the 2018 state playoffs). As a senior, he was one of the top turnover-creating corners in South Florida with eight interceptions, which earned him All-County honors. Miramar was on pace for a deep playoff run in 2019, but it was forced to forfeit several wins because it had rostered an ineligible player. Harden also ran track (sprints and relays) in high school and ran a personal best of 24.16 seconds in the 200 meters at the 2019 district championships. A no-star recruit, Harden wasn’t ranked by online recruiting services in the 2020 recruiting class. He received attention mostly from FCS schools as a recruit and drew the eyes of former Iowa linebacker Adbul Hodge, who started his coaching career with South Dakota. Harden committed to the Coyotes as one of the top-billed guys in their 2020 class. Harden made an immediate impact as a starter in all four games as a true freshman (played in the spring of 2021 because of the pandemic). He had opportunities to transfer up to the FBS, but his “loyalty” to the program kept him at South Dakota. He decided to skip his remaining eligibility and enter the 2024 NFL Draft. Harden accepted his invitation to the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl. STRENGTHS: Fluid and balanced in his backpedal and coverage transitions (elite three-cone and short-shuttle results back up the tape) … properly tracks and balances himself between route combinations in zone … plays with the awareness to track the throw and the aggressiveness to play through the hands of receivers … has a “my ball” mentality and is slick working around targets without drawing flags … quick to trigger and chop down runners … stro ng finishing hands as a tackler, and there weren’t many misses on his film (ranked top five on the team in tackles in 2023) … voted a 2023 team captain … described as an “old soul” by South Dakota defensive coordinator Travis Johansen and is receptive to hard coaching … forced 11 turnovers (six interceptions, five forced fumbles) in 29 games played. WEAKNESSES: Average size with shorter-than-ideal arm length … really smooth mover but can get beat deep when late to hit the gas … burst at the break point is mediocre; gives up too many front-facing catches … feet are quick but can get tied up matching releases … gives up inside position too easily and needs to be more calculated with risk-taking … most inconsistent outing of 2023 was vs. Missouri (only FBS opponent) … back-to-back season-ending injuries: broke the fibula in his right leg midway through his sophomore season (October 2021) and missed the second half of the season; injured his foot (October2022) and was unable to return. SUMMARY: A four-year starter at South Dakota, Harden was an outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Travis Johansen’s zone -heavy scheme. Although his college career was marred by back-to-back season-ending injuries in 2021 and 2022, he was a starter the moment he arrived and was consistently productive when on the field (forced eight turnovers in his final 19 games). Harden is a smooth athlete with the physical mentality that shows at the catch point and in run support. He has the mentality for press man, but NFL athletes will present a substantial leap in what he saw over his career in the FCS. Overall, Harden doesn’t offer ideal length or long speed, but he plays quick, confident and is a roughneck competitor in both coverage and run support. With NFL-quality fluidity and ball skills, he can handle coverage duties from multiple techniques (inside or outside) and has the traits to earn a starting nickel job as a rookie. GRADE: 5th Round
  9. LB Rank #17. NATHANIEL WATSON | Mississippi State 6022 | 233 lbs. | 6SR Maplesville, Ala. (Maplesville) 9/1/2000 (age 23.65) BACKGROUND: Nathaniel “Bookie” Watson Jr., who is one of five children, grew up in the small town of Maplesville (population of fewer than 700) in central Alabama. His father was known as “Bookie” or “Big Bookie,” and Watson grew up with the same nickname. He played several sports throughout his childhood, but usually gravitated towards football with his size and athleticism. In a small community like Maplesville, the high school coaches were counting down the days until Watson would arrive. He was a do-everything player on varsity all four years at Maplesville High School, seeing time at quarterback and wide receiver on offense and linebacker and safety on defense. After leading Maplesville to 1A state championships in his first two seasons as a freshman and sophomore, Watson had his best season as a junior and led the team to an undefeated 14-0 record and the program’s third straight state title at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn (he had 134 receiving yards and 72 rushing yards with two touchdowns in the championship game). Watson finished his junior season with 45 catches for 1,070 yards and 12 touchdowns, adding 376 rushing yards, 70 tackles and four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns). As a senior, he helped Maplesville to a 12-1 record (lost in the state playoff semifinals) and finished with 45 catches for 506 yards and three touchdowns with 45 tackles and three interceptions on defense. Watson also ran track in high school and won the state title in the 100 meters (11.27 seconds) as a senior and had a personal best of 23.41 in the 200. A three-star recruit, Watson was the No. 52 athlete in the 2018 recruiting class and the No. 19 recruit in Alabama. Playing in the lowest classification of high school football in Alabama, he didn’t always receive the attention of recruits at bigger schools. But Watson did start hearing from FBS programs as a freshman, and his first offer came from Bowling Green after his sophomore season. He later added offers from Ole Miss, Troy and then Auburn, which was the school many expected him to choose because of his family ties. However, Watson developed a relationship with Dan Mullen and his staff, and he committed to Mississippi Stat e before his senior year. A few weeks before signing day, Mullen took the head coaching job at Florida, but Watson got to know new head coach Joe Moorhead and defensive coordinator Bob Shoop and stayed loyal to Mississippi State. He was the No. 6 recruit in the Bulldogs’ 2018 class. He took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted because of the pandemic and returned to Starkville for his sixth season in 2023. His uncle (Harold Morrow) played fullback at Auburn (1992-95) and had a 10-year NFL career (1996-2005), primarily with the Minnesota Vikings, despite going undrafted in the 1996 NFL Draft. His great-uncle (Tommie Agee) played running back at Auburn (1982-86) and was a fifth-round pick (No. 119) in the 1987 NFL Draft, playing eight seasons in the NFL (won two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in 1992-93). Watson, who twice earned SEC Academic Honor Roll, graduated with his degree in interdisciplinary studies (December 2021) and earned his master’s degree in workforce education (December 2022). He accepted his invitation to the 2 024 Senior Bowl and was voted the top linebacker for the American team STRENGTHS: Outstanding height-weight-speed athlete … has initial burst and fluidity to accelerate quickly to the ball … shows the functional range to make plays outside the numbers at either sideline … quick to read from depth and work around the trash … zeroes on the ball carrier and runs his feet on contact … tackling discipline improved each season, and his missed tackles declined each season … some of his best tape comes from shooting gaps and finding vulnerable spots on the offensive line (led the SEC in sacks in 2023) … extensive special teams experience (576), mostly on kick coverages … highly productive,and Watson and Jett Johnson became the first pair of teammates to finish first and second in tackles in the SEC in back-to-back years … finished his career starting 35 straight games. WEAKNESSES: His lateral agility is more average than above average … aggressive flow opens the door for cutback opportunities for ball carriers … takes the cheese on misdirection and play fakes … will attack climbing blocks, but his disengage strength is ordinary … l ate to turn and find the football in coverage, giving backs or tight ends the chance to separate … allows his emotions to get the best of him at times (threw a punch on the 2022 Memphis tape; missed a game in high school after punching the ground and requiring surgery to repair the resulting fracture) … off-field decision-making will be scrutinized by NFL teams — arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (May 2023); arrested during his final semester of high school and charged with felony first-degree assault and traffic violations (February 2018), after his drag racing resulted in property damage and injuries to the passenger in his car … younger for his grade, but will be a 24-year-old NFL rookie. SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Mississippi State, Watson was the Mike linebacker in former head coach Zach Arnett’s 3-3-5 base scheme. After finishing No. 2 in the SEC in tackles in 2022, he led the SEC with 137 tackles in 2023 and his 11.4 tackles per game ranked sixth-best in the FBS, earning him SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors from the Associated Press. With his first-step burst and tracking skills, “Bookie” Watson was a tackling machine in college, including a 21 -tackle performance vs. Southern Miss in 2023 (most by an SEC player in a game over the last five years). His versatility as a blitzer is a plus, although he can struggle opening up and making plays in coverage. Overall, Watson’s average agility and erratic instincts lead to inconsistencies, but he has size, quick reaction speed and tackling skills to fill up the stat sheet. He will need to shine on special teams to lock up a backup role for an NFL defense. GRADE: 6th Round
  10. WR rank #26. JAMARI THRASH | Louisville 5116 | 188 lbs. | 5SR LaGrange, Ga. (Troup County) 12/19/2000 (age 23.35) BACKGROUND: Jamari (juh-MAR-ee) Thrash grew up in LaGrange (10 miles from the Alabama-Georgia state line). He started playing football at age 8 as a quarterback and running back, and he was also a standout basketball player through middle school. Thrash originally attended LaGrange High School, where he played on varsity for two seasons as a wide receiver. He posted 36 catches for 541 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore. After LaGrange won just two games in 2016, he transferred to Troup County High School for his final two years of high school. Thrash had his breakout season as a junior, when he led Class 4A with 1,410 receiving yards on 61 catches (23.1 average) and scored 19 touchdowns. He earned first team All-State honors and led the team to a 9-3 finish. As a senior, Thrash posted 42 catches for 1,066 yards (25.4 average) and 13 touchdowns and was named All-Region. He helped Troup County to a school-record 12 wins and a spot in the 2018 state playoff semifinals. Thrash was also a standout basketball player throughout high school, and he lettered in track, setting personal bests of 11.42 seconds in the 100 meters and 23.91 in the 200, as well as 18 feet, 2.25 inches in the long jump, 37 -4.75 in the triple jump and 5-10 in the high jump. A three-star recruit, Thrash was the No. 200 wide receiver in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 169 recruit in Georgia. After his All-State junior season, his offer sheet filled up (Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Jacksonville State, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Troy, Tulane and UAB). Thrash committed to Georgia State and was the No. 4 recruit in head coach Shawn Elliott’s 2019 class. After four seasons with the program, he entered the transfer portal in January 2023. Thrash didn’t have any Power 5 offers out of high school, but he heard from several notable programs the second time around and ultimately committed to Louisville over Auburn for his final season of eligibility. Thrash opted out of the 2023 bowl game and accepted his invitation to the 2024 Senior Bowl STRENGTHS: Adequate height/length combination … quick to collect his feet for separation steps out of his breaks … compensates for average burst with crisp cuts as a route runner … catches the ball well in stride with supple adjustment skills to reach back across his body when necessary … made catches at all three levels, including two plays of 70-plus yards in 2023 … controlled athlete in space to give defenders the slip or weave in and out of traffic … finished fourth among ACC receivers with 17 forced missed tackles in 2023 … gutted through a broken hand over the final month of the 2023 season and earned consistent praise from the Louisville coaches (head coach Jeff Brohm: “He’s come in, has been unselfish and hasn’t missed one rep of practice.”) … led his team in receiving each of the last three seasons (two at Georgia State, one at Louisville). WEAKNESSES: Wiry frame with lean limbs and below-average play strength … inconsistent versus the jam and can be knocked off his route path … has a tough time making plays in traffic or finishing catches through contact … put more concentration drops on tape than expected (see 2023 Pittsburgh tape) … average speed by NFL standards and won’t run by NFL cornerbacks on vertical patterns … willing positional blocker but very inconsistent sustain … suffered a broken hand (October 2023) and required next-day surgery (including screws and a plate), but he missed only one game and played with a brace over the final month of his senior season … wasn’t used as a returner in college and didn’t play on special-teams coverages. SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Louisville, Thrash was used primarily as an outside receiver in head coach Jeff Brohm’s spread scheme. After leading the Sun Belt in receiving in 2022 at Georgia State, he transferred to Louisville in 2023 and quickly announced himse lf as the Cardinals’ No. 1 pass catcher (led the team in receiving in seven of the first eight games, before a broken hand hindered him over the final month). Quicker than fast, Thrash is an agil e route runner with natural ball-tracking skills. However, he struggles to finish catches through contact, and his lack of play strength will be more pronounced at the next level. Overall, Thrash doesn’t have a true distinguishing trait as a receiver, but his separation quickness and receiving savvy will be lifelines to an NFL career. His inexperience on special teams will need to change quickly once in an NFL camp. GRADE: 5th-6th Round
  11. I will update as the picks come in meanwhile it may be interesting to look back at previous Brugler profiles of our picks to see how accurate (or not) things have panned out so far..... 2023 2022
  12. G rank #10. ZAK ZINTER | Michigan 6057 | 309 lbs. | 4SR North Andover, Mass. (Buckingham) 4/17/2001 (age 23.02) BACKGROUND: Zak Zinter, the oldest of three children (younger brother and sister) was born and raised in Florida (grew up in the Port St. Lucie area). He started playing flag football at age 3, although he was unable to play Pop Warner because of weight restrictions. Zinter also played baseball, basketball and lacrosse over the years. Prior to Zinter’s seventh-grade year, his father (Paul Jr., who works in the pharmaceutical field) relocated for his job, so the family moved to North Andover, Mass. (just outside of Boston). Zinter enrolled at St. John’s Prep, a private Catholic school with several alumni in the football world, like Brian Kelly and Bill O’Brien. After four years at St. John’s Prep, he transferred to Buckingham Browne and Nichols School for his final two years of high school. Zinter started at right guard as a junior and senior captain and received numerous awards, including All-State and All-Conference both seasons. He was named Buckingham Browne and Nichols School MVP and New England Lineman of the Year in 2019. Zinter was also a standout track athlete at St. John’s Prep (won the shot put and discus titles as a sophomore) and at Buckingham Browne and Nichols School, winning the 2019 New England state shot put championship as a junior (school-record 49 feet, 7 inches). A four-star recruit, Zinter was the No. 10 offensive guard in the 2020 recruiting class and the No. 3 recruit in Massachusetts. Prior to his junior year of high school, he attended several recruiting camps and came away with a handful of FBS offers (Boston College, Duke, Penn State and Purdue). Zinter later added offers from Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State and ultimately committed to the Wolverines. He was the No. 16 recruit in Michigan’s class and enrolled early in January 2020. His younger brother (Preston) was a freshman linebacker at Notre Dame in 2023. His younger sister (Kierstyn) is a standout lacrosse player and has committed to the University of Tampa in the 2024 recruiting class. His father was a standout high school linebacker and played collegiately at UCF. His grandfather (Paul Sr.) was an All State linebacker in high school and an All-American at Eastern New Mexico. Zinter was named a 2022 Academic All-American and 2023 finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy (Academic Heisman). He received an invitation to the 2024 Senior Bowl, but he was unable to participate because of his leg injury. STRENGTHS: Big, physical blocker with above-average length … functional run blocker with quickness to seal and leg drive to create movement … shuffles well to cut off pass-rush angles … not a great bender but still able to anchor at shallow depth to stop a charge … works really well in unison to recognize games and switch off blocks … team captain and universally liked in the program (offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore: “Family-oriented guy. Never late. Takes care of business like a pro.”) … dependable football-playing temperament and plays through pain (tore a ligament in his right thumb at practice his freshman year but started the next game) … spent a lot of time training at center (expected to start there at several points of his Michigan career) … logged 42 starts over the last four seasons. WEAKNESSES: Upright blocker with inconsistent knee bend and hip roll … initial drift leaves him late to react to inside rush moves … flashes pop in his hands but doesn’t consistently jolt defenders at contact … shows stiffness in his lower half and occasionally appears sluggish on combos and climbs … linebackers are able to avoid him at the second level … medical feedback will be important — broken tibia and fibula in his left leg late in his senior season (November 2023), which required surgery and sidelined him for the 2024 NFL Draft process; broken right wrist (September 2021) but wore a club and played thro ugh it; missed one game as a sophomore (October 2021) with a lower-body injury … only played right guard in games and lacks proven versatility at other positions. SUMMARY: A four-year starter at Michigan, Zinter was entrenched as the starting right guard in former head coach Jim Harbaugh’s power-spread offense. A three time All-Big Ten honoree, he played well as a senior (zero sacks allowed, zero penalties) until his broken leg against Ohio State, which unfortunately sidelined him for the entire draft process. An assignment-sound run blocker, Zinter uses body strength and proper positioning to lean on defenders and drive them with churning legs. While he is strong at the point of attack to stand up rushers in pass protection, he struggles to recover versus quickness in one -on-one matchups. Overall, Zinter won’t impress with explosion or leverage, but he is big, smart and physical, which allows him to control defenders, especiall y in closed quarters. He can have a Mark Glowinski type of NFL career, although his leg injury puts a discount sticker on his draft projection GRADE: 4th Round
  13. DT rank #5. MIKE HALL JR. | Ohio State 6026 | 299 lbs. | 3SO Streetsboro, Ohio (Streetsboro) 6/13/2003 (age 20.87) BACKGROUND: Michael “Mike” Hall Jr., the youngest of two boys, grew up in inner-city Cleveland. With rare size and athleticism at a young age, he started playing football at age 6, and the sport became his focus throughout childhood. Hall started his prep career at Benedictine High School, a Catholic al l-boys school in East Cleveland, and played on the freshman team. When his mother changed jobs, the family moved to Streetsboro (about 25 miles southeast of Cleveland), where Hall worked at the local McDonald’s. For his sophomore season, Hall enrolled at Streetsboro High School and started on both the offensive and defensive lines — he saw more time at offensive tackle out of necessity. His breakout season came in 2019, when he earned All-State honors with 71 tackles, 21.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and four forced fumbles, leading Streetsboro to an 11-1 record and the conference title (only loss came in the second round of the state playoffs). After his junior season, he was recruited by IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and came close to transferring but ultimatelydecidedto stay put in Streetsboro for his final prep season. As a senior, Hall again earned All-State honors and was named Division III Defensive Player of the Year, despite missing time with a broken hand. He finished with 24 tackles and 9.0 tackles for loss, as Streetsboro again went undefeated during the regular season and won the 2020 conference title. Hall also lettered in baske tball. A four-star recruit, Hall was the No. 10 defensive lineman in the 2021 recruiting class and the No. 2 recruit in Ohio (behind future OSU teammate Jack Sawyer). He was the No. 53 recruit nationally (three spots ahead of QB Drake Maye). After his sophomore year at Streetsboro, he received his first scholarship offer, from Kentucky, in June 2019. Several schools, including Cincinnati and Michigan State, soon followed and Ohio State formally offer ed him midway through his junior season. Hall had grown up a Buckeyes fan and committed to head coach Ryan Day in February 2020. He kept his recruitment open throughout the process and entertained offers from Alabama, Florida State, Penn State, Tennessee and others but ultimately jumped at the chance to attend his “dream school” and work with defensive line coach Larry Johnson. Hall was the seventh-rankedrecruit in Day’s 2021 class, which ranked No. 2 nationally. His son (Michael III) was born in September 2023. After three years in the program, he elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2024 NFL Draft. Hall accepted his invitation to the 2024 Senior Bowl and was voted the top defensive lineman on the National team during the week of practice. STRENGTHS: Terrific initial quickness to get vertical or cross face blockers … times the snap well to surprise blockers … uses long arms and raw power to push the pocket … go-to attack includes a variety of arm-over/swim moves, mixing in spins and euros … rangy and alert in the run game with the ability to defeat cut blocks on the backside of zone runs … active with his large hands to absorb contact and aggressively stack-and-separate … plants his post leg to fight back through double teams … played on the offensive line in high school and is familiar with blockers’ counter measures (NFL scout: “With his talent, I bet he would’ve been a first-round center if he wanted to stay on offense.”) … his high motor leads to clean-up production … one of the youngest players in the draft class. WEAKNESSES: Lean build for an interior lineman and will be considered undersized for several schemes (NFL scout: “I’d like to see him she d some of the weight and be a 265-pound linebacker.”) … inconsistent base strength and can be moved off his rush path or displaced by blockers in the run game … not the most disciplined tackler and needs become a better finisher … flagged three times for personal fouls in 2023, including roughing the passer penalties on the Maryland and Penn State tapes … career production looks more like a single season … notched only two tackles in the backfield on 413 defensive snaps in 2023 … battled several nagging injuries over his career and averaged just 28.3 snaps per game the last two seasons. SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Ohio State, Hall was interchangeable at one- and three-technique in defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ four-man front. His college stat sheet is underwhelming, especially from his final season in Columbus (2.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks), but his pass rush win rate (18.3 percent) was second best among FBS defensive tackles in 2023 (behind only Byron Murphy II). With his first-step burst and lateral agility, Hall quickly gets vertical and is a tough player to handle one-on-one. He uses his long arms and natural leverage to work underneath blocks, although his lack of size and anchor put him in compromised positions, especially versus the run. Overall, Hall was more of a flash player than consistent force, but his quick-twitch movements and natural energy are the ingredients of a disruptive gap penetrator. If he stays healthy, he will be an immediate rotation player and eventual starting three -technique tackle in a four-man front. GRADE: 2nd-3rd Round (No. 60 overall
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