Overview
Position: Offensive Guard
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 314 pounds
School: Arkansas Razorbacks
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 5.45 seconds
Bench press: 22 reps
Broad jump: 7 feet, 8 inches
20-yard shuttle: 5.02 seconds
Sebastian Tretola 2016 NFL Draft Profile
Sebastian Tretola, a San Bernardino, CA native, has taken a circuitous path to the NFL. He began his collegiate career at the University of Nevada, where he redshirted in 2011. He started four games in 2012 before issues with academics led to his dismissal from the team in July of 2013. He then transferred to Iowa Western Community College that fall and spent the 2013 season playing there.
In 2014, Tretola signed with the University of Arkansas. He went on to become a two-year starter for the Razorbacks, eventually becoming the leader of the largest offensive line in all of football (including both college and the NFL). Arkansas produced three 1,000 yard rushers during Tretola’s tenure there. Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins both rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2014, and Collins repeated the feat in 2015.
Tretola was named co-winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 2015, given to the SEC’s best offensive lineman (he shared the award with Alabama’s Ryan Kelly). He was also named Second Team All-American and First Team All-SEC by the Associated Press for the 2015 season. He parlayed these accolades into an invite to the Senior Bowl, as well as the NFL Scouting Combine.
Strengths
- Big-bodied offensive lineman.
- Uses his size to bully opposing players in the run game.
- Exceptionally lower-body strength drives opponents off the ball.
- Ideal anchor at the point-of-attack.
- Leader in the locker room.
Weaknesses
- Short arms makes blocking harder in space.
- Lacks agility, making lateral movement more difficult.
- Inconsistent technique: sometimes plays too high coming out of his stance, costing him leverage.
NFL Comparison: La’el Collins
Teams with Need at Position: Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks
Projection: mid second to early third round
Botton Line
The biggest weaknesses Tretola displayed during the 2015 season (inconsistent technique and his weight) were sufficiently addressed at the Senior Bowl, where he arrived in the best shape of his career. He proceeded to outplay all the other interior offensive lineman during the game, solidifying his status as potentially the best guard in the 2016 Draft. Too many teams need offensive line help, and it is hard to pass up a day one starter at left or right guard.
