Luke Wypler NFL Draft Overview
Position: Center
Height: 6′-3″
Weight: 303 pounds
School: Ohio State
2023 NFL Draft: Luke Wypler Scouting Report
After spending the past three seasons Ohio State, Luke Wypler has decided to forego his remaining eligibility and declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. The center is coming off of an impressive season, seeing the field for 827 snaps while only allowing one sack, no hits, and seven quarterback hurries.
Luke Wypler originally joined the college football world in 2020. Spending the vast majority of his time on the bench, the New Jersey native only played 15 snaps as he took a redshirt season. However, after that quiet campaign, Wypler earned a starting job in 2021 and quickly established himself as one of the best centers in football. Playing 860 snaps, Wypler didn’t allow a single sack and only gave up one quarterback hit and seven hurries.
Strengths
- Fundamentally sound and always engages his lineman early;
- Plays strong through the whistle – if he gets his hands on you, you’re not breaking free;
- Quick on his feet with the lateral agility required to match speed rushers;
- Above-average athleticism – can be used as a pull blocker and can get to the second level;
- Communicated responsibilities and called out blocking protections;
- Takes smart angles to defenders to maximize blocking efficiency.
Weaknesses
- Undersized for the position – too small for a guard, will only play center;
- Can struggle to hold his own against bull rushes – will need to add strength in the NFL;
- Shorter arms could be a problem at the next level;
- Slow to react to stunts;
- Gets pushed back into pocket in one-on-one situations.
NFL Comparison: David Andrews
Teams With Need at Position: Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants
Projection: Round 2
Bottom Line on Luke Wypler
In an NFL Draft class that lacks an elite talent at center, Ohio State’s Luke Wypler could easily be the best of the bunch. The most important thing for any offensive lineman is to keep his quarterback upright, and he’s pretty good at that. Wypler is an above-average athlete for the position with quick feet, and he’ll be able to match the speed of just about any defender he faces. Additionally, in the run game, Wypler makes up for his lack of size with his impressive leverage and can drive back players much bigger than him. On top of that, he also has the speed and quickness required to be a pull blocker and get into the second level and take on linebackers.
Wypler will likely compete to start as a rookie, but he’ll need some time before he’s ready to reach his ceiling. While his smaller build allows him to keep up with speedier rushers, it does mean that he lacks the strength to hold his own against stronger opponents. This wasn’t too much of an issue in college, but it could be a problem in the NFL, where everyone is bigger and stronger.
The good news is that Wypler will only be 22 when the season starts, so he has plenty of time to add more muscle. The bad news is that if he’s not starting, he won’t be a very good backup. Most backup centers have the ability to play guard in an emergency situation, but Wypler is far too small to get away with handling that responsibility in the NFL. Ultimately, Wypler should be able to step in and compete to start as a rookie, and if he adds some muscle, he could be a starter for a long time.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
