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Connor McGovern 2019 NFL Draft Profile

Connor McGovern enters the 2019 NFL Draft after spending three years shoring up the interior of the Penn State offensive line.
Connor McGovern

Overview
Position: Center/Guard
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 312 pounds
School: Penn State Nittany Lions

Combine Performance Data
Bench press
: 28 reps
Broad jump: 9 feet, 4 inches
Three-cone drill: 7.66 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.57 seconds

Connor McGovern 2019 NFL Draft Profile

There’s about to be another Connor McGovern playing offensive line in the NFL. Despite not having a blood relation to the Denver Broncos guard, the two McGoverns have a lot of similarities. The Penn State product spent three years in the collegiate ranks, starting 34 of a possible 39 games. Boasting the versatility to play guard and center, McGovern provided a steadying presence along Penn State’s offensive line. McGovern’s play was so impressive that he earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors at the conclusion of the 2018 season.

McGovern hails from the small town of Larksville, PA. After playing for his hometown Lake Lehman High School football team, McGovern stayed in state to play for Penn State’s football program. Playing guard as a first-year, McGovern became the first offensive lineman in history to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Following his successful 2016 season, McGovern moved to center and spent the next two seasons in the middle of the offensive line.

Strengths

  • Ideal quickness and footwork for getting to second level and operating as a pull blocker;
  • Versatility to play center and guard;
  • Ideal height and length for the NFL;
  • Strong core strength allows him to push around defenders when he makes first contact;
  • Above-average run blocker capable of moving his man and opening holes.

Weaknesses

  • Fundamentals could use improvement, especially his handwork;
  • Oftentimes fails to knock away defenders hands and allows chest contact;
  • Far more developed as a run blocker than a pass blocker;
  • Struggles to pick up stunts;
  • Uses strength to overcompensate for fundamental weaknesses, which could be a problem at the NFL level.

Player Comparison: Clint Boling

Teams With Need at Position: Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals

Projection: Fourth to fifth round

Bottom Line

Connor McGovern has the tools to be a solid starter along the interior of any offensive line. He’s got solid size and has shown flashes of being a starting-caliber lineman. His quickness and agility allow him to be a good pull blocker and he consistently clears lanes in the run game. He has the build for the NFL and his plus strength lets him push defenders around when he gets his hands on them.

That said, McGovern is still a work-in-progress. His fundamentals have a long way to go, especially as a pass-blocker. He oftentimes allows defenders to get their hands on his body and push him back. While he uses his strength to overcome this contact, this strategy might not work out against the stronger NFL defensive linemen. On top of that, McGovern struggles to recognize stunts and oftentimes gets too locked in on a small portion of the field.

It’s in McGovern’s best interest to spend 2019 as a backup. The right offensive line coach should be able to iron out his fundamental shortcomings and get him ready to compete for a starting role in 2020. His versatility can make him an ideal backup in the short-term while a team grooms him to be a long-term answer at either guard or center.

Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images

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