Keith Ismael 2020 Draft Profile

In the world of pro football, the center position is widely regarded as one of the most important positions on the field. When you Combine 300 pounds, some great football IQ, excellent technique, and great leadership, what do you get? You get a starting-caliber center! And one of those starting-caliber centers available in the 2020 NFL Draft is San Diego State’s Keith Ismael.

Coming out of high school as a two-star recruit, Ismael had a decent amount of interest from colleges around the country. After turning down nine other offers, Ismael decided to sign with San Diego State and begin his academic and athletic career with the Aztecs. After playing his first two years at SDSU at both the left guard and right guard position, Ismael made the move to the center position, where he became the clear-cut starter. In 2019, the versatile center was named to the PFF All-American Third-Team after an impressive season. Moreover, he was also selected to the All-Mountain West First-Team for the second time in his collegiate career. After finishing his junior season and receiving some interest from NFL teams, Ismael made the decision to declare for draft.

Strengths

Has great mobility and functional athleticism for an IOL;

Possesses exceptional football IQ;

Hustle and Heart are his calling cards;

Smooth snap-to-step quickness;

Tends to take good angles; stays alert and always aware of his positioning on the field;

Great in pass protection.

Weaknesses

Core strength leaves a bit to be desired;

Unclear if he possesses enough power and drive from his lower body;

Can become overeager and get top-heavy at times;

Falls off too many blocks;

Appears not t0 play with complete extension.

Projection: Early 5th – Late 6th

Bottom Line on Keith Ismael

When taking a look at the prospect side of Keith Ismael, he seems poised to become a starter in the NFL one day. With the proper trainers who can improve his upper and lower body strength, he could find himself leading an offensive line in the league someday. His mix of functional athleticism and exceptional football IQ make him an instant target for teams who are looking to improve their depth at the center position late in the draft. While there are many other centers who will likely be drafted before him, Ismael shows a ton of raw potential after playing the position for only one season.

Ismael’s flexibility and athleticism will set him apart from many other centers in the draft, and could even boost up his draft stock. He’s got true talent and has great technique when it comes to his hands. If he can fix some of his weaknesses when he enters the league, he has the ability to make an NFL franchise very happy. In short, Ismael may not be able to start for a team immediately, but he could definitely handle a backup/rotational role if he entered the league tomorrow.