Overview
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 301 pounds
School: Indiana Hoosiers
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.94 seconds (best among offensive linemen)
Bench press (225 pounds): 31 reps (fourth-best among offensive linemen)
Broad jump: 9 feet, 7 inches (best among offensive linemen)
Three-cone drill: 7.70 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.44 seconds (second-best among offensive linemen)
Jason Spriggs 2016 NFL Draft Profile
During his time as head coach, Indiana’s Kevin Wilson has sought to bring formidable offensive line play to Bloomington. Jason Spriggs initially wasn’t part of that plan. He was recruited as a tight end, having played the position in high school. But Wilson saw some promise in him and shifted him over one position on the line to tackle. And it’s a move that would eventually pay off from the standpoint of his pro prospects.
Spriggs would start all four years for the Hoosiers. And it was during his senior year last season when everything began to click. The Elkhart, IN native anchored an imposing offensive line that was the foundation for Indiana’s explosive offense. The Hoosiers finished in the top 20 nationally with 504.3 total yards per game. And it was the big guys up front, including Spriggs, that played a major role.
The IU offensive line allowed just 13 sacks which was tied for best in the Big Ten with Nebraska. And their ability to prevent negative plays in the running game was exceptional. Indiana’s 8.52 rushing attempts per tackle for loss led the conference. And Spriggs contribution to these numbers earned him first-team All-American honors by the Football Writers Association of America. He was also a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy given to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman.
Strengths
- possesses size and stature of a quintessential player at the position.
- could possess the most pure athleticism of any tackle in this year’s draft.
- solid lateral agility makes him a reliable pass blocker.
- good explosion off the line of scrimmage gives him good leverage when blocking.
- positions hands nicely which gives him edge at point of attack.
- squares body to the player he’s blocking very well.
- has the positional awareness to guide edge rushers away from quarterback.
- high fitness level allows him to be effective all game.
- avoided injury for virtually entire college career.
Weaknesses
- might need to get stronger to match NFL-level physicality in the trenches.
- tackles coming out of up tempo offenses have tended to struggle at next level.
- has a tendency to lose center of gravity on initial move in pass protection.
- athletic defensive ends could pose a problem on inside moves.
- plays too upright at times.
- can get overpowered by initial bull rush.
- could do a better job at popping his hands onto oncoming rushers.
- sometimes ends up on an island when blocking downfield.
NFL Comparison: Ryan Schraeder
Teams with Need at Position: Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks
Projection: early second round with possibility to move into first
Bottom Line
Spriggs wowed scouts at both the Senior Bowl and the Combine. His athleticism for a player of his size is about as good as it gets. The Big Ten has produced plenty of exceptional tackles and he has the potential to follow in their footsteps. But there are concerns about his ability to take on tough, physical edge rushers. And teams like the Denver Broncos feasted on tackles unable to match the pace and strength of their perimeter players on defense. Spriggs will need to work on that aspect of his game. But he certainly has many qualities teams are looking for in an NFL caliber left tackle.
