Every year, when draft season rolls, we see a few people who know that most people are incredibly talented, but due to physical limitations, they are outliers in their position is considered to be.
Tennessee Titan'Guard Peter Skolonski entered the NFL Draft as a tackle, but for a 33-inch arm he moved to security. Houston Texans'WR Tank Dell is 5'8, and is probably 165 pounds wet, but if he's healthy he can be one of the most dynamic receivers in the NFL. Because of the ever-changing landscape of college football, these people are increasingly outliers in the NFL Draft ratings.
But what do these benchmarks mean? Why do I have any of these issues? Now, let's dig deeper and understand that.
What is the deal with arm length?
Some of the top prospects this year will hear a lot about arm length. When we discuss this, the two most well-known guys are LSU The OTs are Campbell and Texas OT Kelvin Banks, both of which may have 34-inch arms. For offensive linemen, a 34-inch arm length is the baseline that makes offensive tackles in the NFL, primarily due to the number of people facing it in length to the edge. As your arms get longer, instances where pass rushes can be speeded up and enter the chest will be disabled.
There are several examples of Campbell getting caught up in power from long arm guys like Shemar Stewart, a potential first round pick in 2025. In this rep, Stewart overwhelms Campbell with power and gets Campbell's heel on the toes of QB Garrett Nussmeier, and he forces imperfection. Stewart is an edge rushing giant with nearly 35 inches of arms, but these are the types of players Campbell faces if he has to play consistently at the edge in the NFL.
But it's through his technical prowess and incredible core strength and flexibility that Campbell wins. He has demonstrated the ability to throw away pass rushes using jump sets and 45 degrees sets, and his ability to anchor with a powerful core helps to offset some of the length issues. Above all, Campbell knows he's really good at and can win in those areas as a pass blocker.
He also shows some great torque in the run game, using some impressive grip strength to force the defender into the way. He's a really great down blocker and a guy who can use it with short pulls like how LSU used it in his final year.
So, what do we do with someone who is as technically refined as Campbell, but a little morally limited? From my perspective, I look like this: I think Campbell will be a great tackle, but he could be an all-pro guard. What caught my eye while watching Campbell was some shaking and missed when it came to playing in space. Maybe it's because the defensive back was moving much faster, but at some point it becomes a trend. I'd like to know how he tests at the NFL combine, especially with agility drills.
For the bank, I think there's more future in tackle for him, but I think he should probably move inside for vigilance. Let's start with the good for Texas tackle. It's the knockout power of his hand. He plays with a wide base (we will reach later), which gives him the ability to create so much power in his hands and blow the man completely out of the gap. His ability to drive with his feet in contact is also incredibly impressive, making him an incredibly powerful player.
He can also do this on the screen:
This is a dramatic finish that deserves the release of Super Smash Bros. Bank has a nasty temperament and strong hands, but having a 34-inch arm makes it really difficult for him to live on the edge as a tackle. Texas did not ask tackles to use different sets of passes. What stood out at the bank on the tape was that he was a slightly hip vendor. As for tackles, I would like to bend my knees rather than my hips, as I can maintain my balance and raise my head. Think about it like this. You can squat more with a proper knee bending than if you were trying to bend your hips. This is because proper knee bends and flexion will recruit more muscles. For aggressive linemen, bending at the knees demonstrates more natural athletic ability and ability to hold the feet in place to force. If the head drops as a tackle, it's game over as it's because the head is on top of the string connected to the body. His waist is bent, so his head is also bent.
I thought in a game where Texas had to use a true pass set, he showed more hip bends than he wanted as a tackle. See how the bank's feet become strange, and he has no flexibility in his knee to recover.
There are a lot of people in this draft class like Campbell and Banks right now. They are more vigilant than they tackle due to arm length and other restrictive motor factors. For the same reason, some people fit more into the center than the guard. There are no outliers as many as UNC's Willy Lampkin. At just 5'10 and 270 pounds, Lumpkin is an outlier in every sense. If he was drafted in April, he would be the shortest and smallest lineman selected in the NFL draft for a very long time. Eagles legend Jason Kelce has been reduced in size, but at 6'3 and 280 pounds he warned Lumpkin. However, looking at the UNC tapes reveals Willie Lampkin as a weird baller. He is a former wrestling champion and can see it through his strength in grip, his ability to refit his hands, and outstanding leverage. He knows how to get under people and win as a blocker, whether it's a security guard or a centre.
But he is literally the smallest lineman I've ever scouted. So how does the NFL see such a guy? He'll have to move on to fullback, Ratrick Ricard? If that's a plan, would you draft such a guy? Or, if you want him on your offensive line, how do you alleviate his lack of size? You can make him a center that isn't always on the island against the DT Giants, but his play looks great on the guard. Overall he's an attractive player.
You'll hear a lot of buzzwords between now and April for the NFL Draft. Some are less important than others. However, when it comes to offensive linemen, arm length and speed are extremely important, and you may move a few of the top linemen inside to guard them.
