The Senior Bowl is quickly approaching but before things kick off down in Mobile, Alabama we continue to break down each position group giving an in depth look at each prospect and their draft potential.
Note: Ohio State's Taylor Decker who at one point had accepted his Senior Bowl invite has dropped out of the event.
Offensive Tackles
Vadal Alexander, LSU
A 2015 All-SEC Selection, Alexander is a four-year starter who took over for La’el Collins at on the left side before swinging back over the right tackle. While he does not have the feet for left tackle in the NFL Alexander could excel inside at guard at the next level.
Projected Draft Pick: Due to his position limitations it's unlikely he will hear his name called on day-one however the SEC all-star will be too good of a talent to pass up on day-two.
Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech
A Outland and Lombardi Trophy award finalist Clark has been named to the All-Big 12 team for three-consecutive years. Clark swallows up pass rushers with his big frame and long arms.
Playing in the pass happy conference will set Clark back entering the league and will need much refinement in his technique which will knock his draft stock down but his ceiling and potential remains high.
Projected Draft Pick: Clark owns the size, athleticism, and football savviness to be a first-round pick however, his Big-12 label and Raiders playbook will likely drop him to the bottom of the top-100 picks.
Spencer Drango, Baylor
Drango and the above mentioned Clark share a eerily similar story as players whose draft stock are handicapped by their schools pass-happy playbook and conference. Saying that, Drango made the most of what he was asked and helped the Bears offense dominate while at left tackle.
Drango has all the accolades you want being honored Big-12 offensive lineman of the year in both 2014 and 2015. As well as being named unanimous All-Big 12 selection.
Projected Draft Pick: While he has all the pins and patches you want from a player on paper Drango suffers from the pass happy curse that is Baylor’s offense. Still, Drango’s impressive pedigree is more than you can ask for and his outstanding skill-set could intrigue a team like Denver or Seattle to snatch him up at the end of round-one.
Joe Haeg, North Dakota State
While Haeg is our first non-FBS tackle on the list he is already use to the big stage and bright lights as he has been part of the Bison four straight national championships. Haeg was underrated and annunciated as a recruit as he was forced to walk on to the program.
Haeg took over for now Miami Dolphin Billy Turner at left tackle and has started every game. With excellent feet to mirror his defender and adequate enough size, Haeg has enough skill-set to be a surprise early selection, especially if he can put together a solid week of Senior Bowl practice.
Projected Draft Pick: Haeg arguably has the most riding on his performance down in Mobile as he has the potential to skyrocket his draft stock with a good showing in front of scouts and coaches who are excited to get a closer look at the small school product.
If Haeg can hold his own against top tier competition than he is a legitimate day-two pick. If not, than Haeg could still be worth the price of a cheap late pick for one of the 32 teams as a developmental player.
Kyle Murphy, Stanford
Murphy has the NFL genes already in place with his big brother Kevin (who played at Harvard) being signed with the Minnesota Vikings last year during training camp. Murphy already has a leg up on Kevin though with better size at 6’7” and long arms to latch on to his defenders and drive them backward.
Murphy has the tall and long size you want from an NFL tackle but look unnatural and unathletic at times progressing into the second-level of the defense.
Projected Draft Pick: Murphy certainly is limited in his ceiling and how good he could be with certain athletic limitations. However, with the lack of overall talent at the position in the league Murphy has a high enough floor to be picked up on day-three with even the potential of being a third-round pick.
Jason Spriggs, Indiana
Spriggs is one of my favorite offensive tackles of not just the Senior Bowl but the whole bunch. With a background in basketball Spriggs started his journey out at tight-end before the eventual switch to tackle.
Spriggs has excellent feet as well as athleticism to due more than just intrigue scouts for how untapped his potential still is. He has a long way to go physically though to be able to take on NFL defensive lineman as upper body strength and power will be needed.
NFL Draft Stock: With his athletic background and big time potential Spriggs seems like a perfect candidate to be a surprise top-20 pick by the time this thing is all said and done.
If coaches feel like they can harness his natural ability and movement skills while adding NFL strength than they will presume Spriggs can be their starting left tackle for years to come.
John Theus, Georgia
Any time you are selected to the first-team All-SEC coaches and scouts will take notice. Such is the case with Theus who plays is the most talented all-around conference in the nation and held his own more times than not.
While Theus hasn't quite lived up to his five-star recruiting label he has stilled proved his team with a reliable and consistent starting tackle making 51 consecutive starts.
NFL Draft Stock: Theus debated turning pro last offseason but wisely returned for his senior season. The stability and consistency he provided the Bulldogs could be enough to warrant a top-200 pick.
This is a prospect who has a lot riding on the Senior Bowl as he could dramatically help or hurt his stock in just one week as a bit of an unknown for an SEC starter.
Cole Toner, Harvard
With last years emergence of small-school prospects like Quinten Rollins and Ali Marpet, Turner hopes to take full advantage of the prime spotlight and invaluable time spent with coaches on and off the field.
Toner has a big boy NFL frame at 6’7” 300 pounds that is set to only get bigger. With his big frame and above average feet and fluidity Toner has plenty to like as a project pick.
NFL Draft Stock: On paper Toner has the size and length you want to see from a starting offensive tackle however, playing at an Ivy league school scouts will need to see him perform adequately enough against some of the country's most talented competition.
If he can do that Toner should stamp himself as a legitimate draftable selection as a very intriguing project that could turn into a viable starter three years down the road and a capable backup out of the gate.