New York Giants Draft Prospect: OT Jeremy Flax
Jeremy Flax, OT
Height: 6’6
Weight: 325 lbs.
Class: Senior
School: Kentucky
A former four-star recruit out of Robichaud High School in Detroit, Michigan, where he was the number one ranked tackle and the fourth prospect of Michigan during the 2020 cycle. However, Flax started his college football journey at the JUCO level and garnered much attention while playing at Independence Community College.
Flax has played 1,341 snaps for the Wildcats but struggled to find the football field early in the SEC. Flax played 696 snaps during his third season in Lexington (2022); he surrendered seven sacks and 22 pressures. Despite rumors that he may be replaced in 2023, Flax earned the starting job and had a fantastic senior season. Almost all of his collegiate snaps were at RT.
He only allowed 12 pressures and two sacks in 2023 and declared for the NFL Draft, and he will be in attendance at the Reese’s Senior Bowl; he was a late addition to the roster.
Strengths
- Massive, rare type of frame
- Long extremities - could have over 36” arms
- Has a very low stance for someone of his size
- Size/AA combination is functional, albeit could pose a problem against certain body types
- Athletic for his size with good acceleration
- Surprisingly good hip mobility and redirection skills
- Adequate overall foot speed
- Good overall footwork in the trenches and in pass protection
- Scary in space with a full head of steam
- Removes defenders with ease on down blocks
- Solid job in chip and climb situations in inside zone
- Good overall zone defender
- Devastating play side power-gap defender
- Excellent play strength and power - dominating finisher
- Plenty of blocks on tape where he buries defenders
- Good discipline on vertical sets in pass protection
- Solid overall eyes in pass protection
- Stays square to the target, good timing with his hips
- Plays through the whistle with excellent competitive toughness
Weaknesses
- Size does limit his overall athletic ability
- Too often noticeably late off the snap
- Can get high out of his stance
- Size may limit his effectiveness against smaller/quicker pass rushers
- Can lean too much into contact and get his chest over his toes
- Susceptible when square to target vs. elusive pass rushers due to adequate overall foot speed when stationary
- Did not often pull in power/gap
- Hands get wide - can tong
- Hands engagement can be predictable and low winding into contact
- Punch in pass protection lacks vigor - more of a placement & control pass protector
- Has 11 penalties in the last two seasons
Summary
Jeremy Flax has rare NFL size and length that will pique the interest of OL coaches. He’s not the most fleet of foot, but his combination of length and foot speed is functional. However, defenders who can stay low and are quick could pose a problem for Flax in a phone booth. He flashed discipline in his pass sets, solid eyes, and a fantastic finishing ability that devastated defenders attempting to defend the run.
His punch isn’t authoritative in pass protection; he’s more of a latch-and-control type of offensive lineman, but good luck getting around him. For a player of his size, he has functional bend but may naturally struggle up the pass-rushing arc with bendy speed. His hands are still raw, and the timing/location can be improved, but there are a lot of traits to appreciate with Flax. He may be best suited as a zone-blocking right tackle, but he may earn guard reps at the Senior Bowl to see how he performs.
GRADE: 6.14
Nick Falato
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