Overview
Position: Center
Height: 6‘7”
Weight: 302 pounds
School: LSU Tigers
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 5.15 seconds
Bench press: 26 reps
Vertical jump: 27 inches
Broad jump: 8 feet, 11 inches
Three-cone drill: 7.89 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.81 seconds
Ethan Pocic 2017 NFL Draft Profile
LSU’s Ethan Pocic stands at the top of this year’s NFL Draft prospects at the center position. He was a three-year starter in college who has played other positions on the line and has the size to do the same in the NFL. The Illinois native was a top offensive line prospect in 2013, but played mostly in a reserve role in his first year in Baton Rouge. The following year began his stint as a three-year starter on the Tigers’ offensive line. He played mostly center, but started some games at guard or tackle as well.
At 6’7” and 302 pounds, Pocic is unusually tall for a center. In fact, his size is closer to former LSU basketball center Shaquille O’Neal’s than to the average NCAA football center. This adds value for teams, as Pocic could possibly play tackle in an emergency situation as he did in one game during his senior season at LSU. Another advantage to having a center with this kind of size is that it can help in your overall pass protection. Since he has a longer reach than his shorter counterparts, he can line up farther off the ball. This means that his hips are farther from the line of scrimmage. A player is judged to be on or off of the line of scrimmage based on his relationship to the center’s hips. So with a 6’7” center like Pocic, the offensive tackles can line up deeper helping to establish a pocket and creating a wider edge for pass rushers.
Pocic is an excellent pass blocker who defenders have a difficult time getting around. He needs to improve his strength and leverage as when he does have problems pass blocking it it is the result of getting overpowered by the bull rush. He is athletic enough to pull and be an effective lead blocker, but he does not dominate in the run game generally achieving little more than a stalemate. He plays high at times, and struggles when defensive linemen stunt across his face. His size gives him added value as he could potentially play every position on the line.
Strengths
- defenders have a hard time disengaging from his blocks;
- tough to get around;
- very good pass blocker;
- athletic, can pull and move in space;
- high effort player, keeps working;
- versatile, has played some guard and tackle as well;
- unprecedented size at position.
Weaknesses
- doesn’t always use his length which allows defenders to get into him;
- a decent run blocker, but certainly not a dominant one;
- needs to play with better leverage;
- has trouble adjusting to stunts in the run game;
- will get bull rushed at times;
- needs to add strength;
- does not seem to have a mean streak.
NFL Comparison: Max Unger
Teams with Need at Position: New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks
Projection: Second or third round
Bottom Line
Ethan Pocic is an excellent pass blocker who will need to add strength and work on his technique in order to become a better run blocker. He has experience playing guard and tackle which will make him more valuable as NFL teams rarely carry more than a hand full of reserve linemen.
