NFL Draft Profile: Alex Palczewski, Offensive Tackle, Illinois Fighting Illini
Alex Palczewski
Illinois Fighting Illini
#63
Pos: OT
Ht: 6060
Wt: 314
Hand: 0928
Arm: 3338
Wing: 8258
40: 5.25
DOB:8/3/1999
Hometown: Mt. Prospect, IL
High School: Mount Prospect
Eligibility: 2023
Background:
Alex Palczewski was a three-star Offensive Tackle coming out of Mount Prospect, Illinois. During his time at Prospect High School, Palczewski suffered a fractured vertebra in his neck that ended his junior season. It took weeks of donning a neck brace and physical therapy for him to return for his senior year. After choosing to attend Illinois, Palczewski started right away at Guard for the Fighting Illini. With his help at Right Tackle, Illinois was the most improved running game in the country from 2017 to 2018. This success led to Pro Football Focus ranking Palczewski as the 30th-best tackle in the country and adding him to the All-Big Ten First Team. In 2019, he remained at Right Tackle and earned All-Big Ten third team from coaches and All-Big Ten honorable mention from the media. Palczewski’s 2020 season was cut short due to a knee injury and a torn Lisfranc resulting in the need for three surgeries in a single year. After missing the last four games of the 2020 season, Palczewski was unable to begin training for the 2021 season until July. To simultaneously work himself back into shape and put together NFL-worthy tape, he transitioned back to Guard during the 2021 season. Still, coaches and media nominated him as an All-Big Ten honorable mention. Bouncing back, Palczewski had a very successful sixth season with Illinois, finishing with 65 career starts for the most in Big Ten history and tying the FBS record. Additionally, he was ranked the 10th-best Tackle in the country, earned All-American Third Team, and played 668 pass-blocking snaps without surrendering a sack.
