#219: Dash To The Draft 2020 (Offensive Line Class Breakdown with Nick Kendell of Mile High Huddle)

What this episode covers

1. Tristan Wirfs is an EXTREMELY athletic, versatile lineman from Iowa, which is arguably college football’s main offensive line factory for the NFL. He has experience at both left and right tackle, and many also believe he has the skill-set to be a good guard as well. Also, he delivered an historic performance in the vertical jump and broad jump. In your view (and your Hawkeye bias aside), what makes Tristan Wirfs the best OL prospect in this draft class? 2. The other prospect neck-and-neck with Wirfs to be the first OT off the board is Mekhi Becton of Louisville. A mountain of a man at 364 pounds, he moves incredibly light on his feet and ran a jaw-dropping 5.10 40 at the Combine. Why do you think many analysts and teams view Becton as the best OL in this class? 3. Alabama’s Jedrick Wills rounds out the first tier of offensive tackles. However, there were rumors coming out of the Combine that his stock may be falling a bit. Tony Pauline, respected draft analyst and NFL insider, reported that teams think Wills isn’t quick enough to process more complex blocking schemes and projects far better at guard than at tackle. Do you think he’d be a better guard? 4. Georgia OT Andrew Thomas is a very interesting prospect. Entering the fall, most draftniks had him as a sure-fire, can’t miss, top-10 prospect. Now, it has been reported that his stock can vary from a top-15 pick, to a late first-round pick. Why do you and many others think that Thomas isn’t in the same tier as Wirfs, Becton and Wills? Can he play guard? 5. One of THE biggest winners at the Combine was Boise State OT Ezra Cleveland. He finished best among OL in the three-cone and 20-yard shuttle, and he also finished in the top-five amongst OL in the bench press and 40. But in as early as late December or early January, Tony Pauline was reporting several around the league believed that Cleveland could go in the first round. Based on what you’ve seen on his game tape so far, do you think that such beliefs are justified? 6. While this interior OL class is relatively unspectacular, there are two REALLY good center prospects in this year’s class: Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz and LSU’s Lloyd Cushenberry III. Many project the two to be selected in the top-50. Give us your impression of both and where/why you currently rank them on your board. 7. Buy Or Sell: Josh Jones, Lucas Niang, Austin Jackson, Isaiah Wilson, Matt Peart, Colton McKivitz, Damien Lewis, Ben Bartch, Robert Hunt, Matt Hennessy, Keith Ismael, Michael Onwenu 8. Best Team Fits -Wirfs: -Becton: -Wills: -Thomas: -Jones: -Niang: -Ruiz: -Wilson:

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