Seahawks 2023 Combine Confidential: Guards/Centers
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Kicking the offseason schedule into overdrive, coaches, scouts and executives will descend upon Indianapolis for the annual NFL Scouting Combine this week to continue evaluating and assessing top prospects for the upcoming 2023 draft.
Holding two first-round selections, including the No. 5 overall pick courtesy of the Russell Wilson trade with the Denver Broncos last March, the Seattle Seahawks face one of their most critical drafts with a prime chance to further fortify their roster after a surprising playoff berth last season.
One year after landing two bookends at the tackle position in Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, the Seahawks find themselves entering stage two of rebuilding their offensive line following the retirement of center Austin Blythe and possible release of veteran guard Gabe Jackson. Even with Phil Haynes re-signing on a one-year deal and Damien Lewis returning for his fourth season, they could be seeking two new starters sandwiched between their young tackles.
Heading into this week's festivities at the combine, here's a look at 11 guard and center prospects who the Seahawks should be keeping close tabs on as potential first-round, second/third round, and day-three targets in the trenches.
First Round
John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
A load of blocker at 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, Schmitz plays bigger than his size at the pivot position and earned a well-deserved reputation as a menacing, tenacious road-grader. Playing with ideal leverage and powerful, active hands, he consistently created push off the snap on gap-run plays and showcased enough lateral quickness to excel on zone concepts as well.
While Schmitz overall athletic profile may not be the best at his position from this class, he's difficult to overpower in pass protection and sets a heavy anchor, preventing defenders from bullying him back into the quarterback's lap. After allowing only two sacks in his final season with the Golden Gophers, he may be the center best positioned to hear his name called in the opening round.
O'Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
A hulking guard with better than expected lateral quickness, Torrence weighed in at a lean 337 pounds at the Senior Bowl and turned in an impressive week blocking against the best seniors in the country. His success shouldn't have come as a surprise, as he didn't allow a single sack in four collegiate seasons at Louisiana Lafayette and Florida, showing no issues stepping up to SEC competition.
Torrence can be susceptible to lapses in technique, particularly in the run game when he gets caught leaning. But when he fires out of his stance and lands a firm strike with good technique, he takes defenders for a ride off the line of scrimmage and exhibits sufficient movement traits on zone concepts. Though unlikely to excel in some testing in Indianapolis compared to his peers, his ability to dominate in the trenches could push him into first round conversations for guard-needy teams.
Second/Third Round
Steve Avila, G/C, TCU
Only a cheeseburger or two short of Torrence at 332 pounds, Avila stands out amongst his peers as one of the biggest guard prospects in this class. Excelling both at center and left guard for the Horned Frogs, he received All-Big 12 honors each of his final two seasons on campus and was named a consensus All-American selection protecting Max Duggan as a senior in 2022.
Light on his feet for his size, Avila mirrors well against all types of defenders, sliding to keep pass rushers at bay and allowing zero sacks as a senior. While he can play a bit upright at times and lose leverage in the run game while also slipping off blocks rather than maintaining them, he fires heavy hands into defenders and regularly knocks them off the ball. With a chance to show off his athleticism in Indy, he's a borderline first round talent with starter potential at guard or center.
Olusegun Oluwatimi, C, Michigan
An integral part of a top-tier offensive line for the playoff-bound Wolverines, Oluwatimi earned the seventh-best run blocking grade among centers in the country according to PFF. Though he's not a mauler at the pivot position, he's capable of creating displacement at the line of scrimmage with a strong initial punch and his lateral quickness caters well to zone blocking.
In pass protection, Oluwatimi is astute at calling out blitzes and setting calls for the rest of the offensive line, as he logged over 3,500 snaps at the college level. Offering immense experience, including playing in Michigan's pro style offense, he has a chance to push for playing time right away and a strong combine could secure a day two selection for him after playing well in the Senior Bowl.
Cody Mauch, G/C, North Dakota State
Missing teeth and flaunting long blonde locks, Mauch looks like he should be starring in the show Vikings rather than suiting up on Sundays for an NFL offensive line. But after initially arriving in Fargo as a 221-pound tight end with minimal recruiting fanfare, he's transformed himself into one of the most intriguing offensive line prospects in this year's class and could project as a starter at three or four different positions.
Now built with a powerful 303-pound frame and offering ample versatility after playing left tackle for the Bison in 2022, Mauch's athleticism and nastiness at the point of attack drew plenty of attention in Mobile. After holding his own against top-tier talent and playing three different positions at a high level in the all-star showcase, including center, the two-time All-American can further solidify his standing as a high draft choice by showing out at the combine against his peers.
Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State
An overlooked cog in the Buckeyes high-octane offensive machine, Wypler shined as a starter at the pivot position in each of his final two seasons in Columbus. Allowing no sacks and 14 pressures combined in 2021 and 2022, he kept star quarterback C.J. Stroud clean while garnering Third-Team All-Big Ten recognition as a junior last season.
While undersized at only 303 pounds, Wypler has more than functional athleticism executing reach blocks, pulling on counter and power, and climbing to the second level. He isn't an enforcer at the line of scrimmage and rarely wins with power or strength at the point of attack, but he understands the art of body positioning and sterling pass pro against speed and power should make him one of the first centers to fly off the board on day two.
Jarrett Patterson, G, Notre Dame
Benefiting from a redshirt season in his first year with the Fighting Irish, Patterson moved into the starting lineup in 2019 and held a spot at guard for the next four seasons. Never yielding a single sack on nearly 1,500 pass blocking snaps, he emerged as one of the best interior pass protectors in the country protecting numerous quarterbacks in South Bend.
While standing 6-foot-5, Patterson has unideal 31 3/8-inch arms that could pose problems at the next level. But at Notre Dame, he compensated for the lack of length with quick hands and accurate strikes into defenders, allowing him to gain quick advantages at the point of attack. He had a tendency to give up pressures to more athletic interior defenders with stagnant feet at times, but his immense experience and ability to potentially play center should put him in the mix for a third round selection.
Joe Tippman, C, Wisconsin
Heralding from one of college football's best offensive line factories, Tippman has long been lauded by Wisconsin coaches and teammates for his high football IQ and outstanding communication skills. Following in the footsteps of eventual Cowboys starter Tyler Biadasz, he became a full-time starter as a sophomore in 2021 and helped anchor one of the nation's best rushing attacks.
Far taller than most centers at 6-foot-6, Tippman fights a constant leverage battle to get underneath the pads of defenders and his hands tend to sneak outside too frequently. But he has excellent movement skills for his size, capable of reaching defensive tackles and swinging his hips open as a puller to kick defenders out. Coupled with his quality pass protection skills and top-notch communication, he's a strong all-around center with early starter potential and scheme flexibility.
Day Three Sleepers
Ricky Stromberg, C, Arkansas
One of the most experienced players in this draft class, Stromberg became a starter in the rugged SEC immediately upon joining the Razorbacks. Stout in the middle as a run blocker and pass protector, he garnered Second-Team All-SEC recognition as a junior and improved to First-Team status in 2022 as a senior.
Another stellar communicator who has made line calls against all types of fronts as a four-year starter, Stromberg can create push in the run game despite weighing only 306 pounds and plays an aggressive brand of football. This can lead to him flying towards blocks out of control at times and catching himself in recovery mode with rushers shooting past him, but he made major improvements allowing no sacks last season. Possibly able to transition to guard as well, his versatility as a gap and zone blocker will put him on the fringe of day two.
Andrew Vorhees, G, USC
Making Stromberg look like an unseasoned prospect, Vorhees took advantage of an extra year of eligibility afforded by the pandemic and wound up starting for five seasons for the Trojans. After being named Honorable Mention All-Pac 12 as a senior in 2021, he returned to receive First-Team accolades protecting Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams last season.
Another tall glass of water for an interior lineman, the 6-foot-6 Vorhees is a capable drive blocker who consistently gets his hands into the frame of opposing defenders and takes quality paths to zone blocks. His pass protection can be suspect at times, as he gave up two sacks and 15 pressures last year and his feet can lag behind his hands, allowing defenders to shoot past him. He will need some refinement technique wise, but with so much experience starting for a Power 5 program, he should be an early day three pick who can compete to start in the NFL on day one.
McClendon Curtis, G, Chattanooga
The latest Mocs offensive lineman to make a splash at the Senior Bowl, Curtis demonstrated his power and surprisingly good leverage at 6-foot-6 as a blocker in Mobile, dominating opponents in the run game to create creases for backs to run through. Having prior experience playing tackle, he could potentially provide excellent flexibility as a swing lineman right away.
Curtis' footwork leaves much to be desired at times in pass protection and he will need refinement in that area to make it at the next level against NFL pass rushers, but he held up well against top-tier competition from the FBS level. Likely a developmental prospect from the outset, he's a day three pick with enough upside to potentially start in the interior down the road.
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