We watched the incredible athletic traits of the quarterbacks on Saturday, but on Sunday we had a chance to see the guys who protect them. With the 2023 NFL Combine coming to an end, we’re going to talk about the big guys up front in the trenches. There is some talent in this class that was able to showcase their true athleticism to scouts and personnel. I for one am all about cutting on the tape and watching guys in shoulder pads. If I was a scout, I would want to see their footwork and ability to drive first-level defenders and the ability to get to linebackers. We are going to talk about some standouts in today’s festivities.
You Gotta Have That Canadian Beef
There has been an uptick in Canadian football talent coming south of the border and really becoming comfortable and dominating the game. More notably, schools in the north are taking the time to scout these club teams in Canada for high school prospects. They see that they are projects but they can tap into their potential in the end. There are a few that stood out at the combine today that caught my eye.
Sidy Sow – Eastern Michigan
At 6-foot-5 and 323 pounds, Sidy caught my eye running two 40-yard dashes at subsequently low 5.1 and even a 5.0. His name is not at the top of the list when it comes to offensive linemen, even being projected as an undrafted free agent. His numbers spoke for themselves ranking amongst the top in every category. He moved very well in the agility drills showing his lateral quickness from a quick kick to a post step. When you watch his film at Eastern Michigan, where he was a left guard, you see he is a mauler and tends to be high in run blocks, but those things can be coached. He was drafted in the USFL a few weeks back, but I could see his name being called on Day 3 potentially.
Matthew Bergeron – Syracuse
Coming in at 6-foot-5 and 318 pounds, Matthew Bergeron came in as a name to look out for and he did not disappoint. Though he did not run the 40, he showed out in the on-the-field drills. He was able to show his fluidness in his lateral quickness and show natural overall athleticism as a swing player. He could be a Day 2 guy but when you watch the film, he can be a day one starter. He has the natural ability to kick step against very good edge rushers, when I watched him in on-the-field drills, I could see a team wanting to plug him at guard and use him for a lot of GT counter and pin and pull schemes.
The Tides That Roll
Coming into the draft, there were some questions about a few linemen coming into the combine to see how they would fare with the other prospects. Alabama linemen Tyler Steen and Emil Ekiyor Jr. had to address some allegations about their overall movement as offensive linemen and they beat them. Steen came in at 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds, and he showed his explosiveness in the broad jump measuring at 9-foot-1. In the stunt pickup drill, he flashed his footwork along with his powerful punch, impressing the coaches on the field. Ekiyor measured in at 6-foot-2.5 and 314 pounds, and his body looked in great shape. In the drills, he showed his ability to get depth on a true kick slide and the ability to get square with his inside post step. Both of these guys are going to be players that can contribute to an organization right away. It would’ve been nice to see them run the 40, but in the end, that doesn’t matter. Scouts want to know if they can move in a phone booth.
Sleepers
Asim Richards – North Carolina
Asim Richards was a three-year starter for the Tar Heels at left tackle. He has a lot of tools to work with. I thought in Sunday’s drills, he showed what type of mobility he has when moving side to side, and was able to get his strong hands on guys at the point of attack. He can react to stunts very well. I can see him as a Day 3 guard.
Wanya Morris – Oklahoma
Wanya Morris was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, signing with the Tennessee Volunteers before transferring to Oklahoma. His college career wasn’t as outstanding as folks would like, but he flashed that five-star potential showing his explosiveness broad jumping a 9-foot-3. His 10-yard split was the best in the group landing at a 1.73, ranking near the top of his group. He didn’t finish the day but I think people should take a look at the film and see what he does on the line of scrimmage.
