NFL Combine – Center/Guard
As the NFL heads towards its annual Combine next week, the invitation list helps narrow the field on the top prospects in the country, both seniors and underclassmen. Over the last week we’ve been previewing and reviewing each position
The pickings will be rather slim at the NFL Combine when it comes to interior blockers. Among the centers and guards 22 will be working at Indianapolis, but there’s no guarantee first round choices in the group. The best appear to be Florida’s Mike Pouncy (above left) and Baylor’s Danny Watkins (above right).
CENTER (8)
| Player | School |
Class |
HT | WT |
| Ryan Batholomew | Syracuse |
SR |
6-1¼ | 300 |
| Brandon Fusco | Slippery Rock |
SR |
6-4 | 302 |
| Jason Kelce | Cincinnati |
SR |
6-3 | 282 |
| Alex Linnenkohl | Oregon State |
SR |
6-1¾ | 303 |
| Kris O’Dowd | Southern Cal |
SR |
6-4¼ | 303 |
| Mike Pouncey | Florida |
SR |
6-4¼ | 310 |
| Zane Taylor | Utah |
SR |
6-2½ | 313 |
| Zack Williams | Washington State |
SR |
6-3 | 307 |
GUARD (14)
| Player | School |
Class |
HT |
WT |
| Justin Boren | Ohio State |
SR |
6-3 |
320 |
| Ricky Henry | Nebraska |
SR |
6-2¾ |
310 |
| Rodney Hudson | Florida State |
SR |
6-2¼ |
291 |
| Zach Hurd | Connecticut |
SR |
6-6½ |
325 |
| Maurice Hurt | Florida |
SR |
6-3 |
320 |
| Andrew Jackson | Fresno State |
SR |
6-5 |
303 |
| Carl Johnson | Florida |
SR |
6-5¼ |
353 |
| John Moffitt | Wisconsin |
SR |
6-4 |
314 |
| Steve Schilling | Michigan |
SR |
6-4¼ |
302 |
| Caleb Schlauderaff | Utah |
SR |
6-4¼ |
311 |
| Isaiah Thompson | Houston |
SR |
6-3½ |
300 |
| JulianVandervelde | Iowa |
SR |
6-2 |
300 |
| Keith Williams | Nebraska |
SR |
6-4½ |
312 |
| Stefen Wisniewski | Penn State |
SR |
6-3 |
306 |
Height-weight in red = official numbers from all-star games.
I’m a homer,forgive me, but no mention of Jake Kirkpatrick of TCU? Rimington Trophy winner as nation’s best center. Film shows his skill, and first hand accounts confirm character. Oversight? Or you have better information?
Because of where he is rated, the Chiefs could land Kirkpatrick in the draft’s latter rounds or as a free agent. And I think it would be a good pickup for KC; he could develop into a solid player. Pouncy and Watkins, especially Watkins, are the guys I like the most. Right now it doesn’t look like a particularly deep draft for interior linemen but, as always with the draft, that is not the final word.