2009 NFL Draft: Center Rankings

The top 2009 center prospects available for the 2009 NFL Draft in the order in which I believe they will be drafted. * – denotes 2010 prospect.

This page was last updated April 24, 2009.

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Alex Mack, California
Height: 6-4. Weight: 307.
Projected 40 Time: 5.13.
Combine 40 Time: DNP.
Pro Day 40 Time: 5.17.
Benchx225: 20. Arm: 33.
Projected Round (2009): 1.
1/8/09: Still on top and still a first-round prospect. Alex Mack was an AP All-America third-teamer.

11/2/08: Alex Mack continues his dominance on the field and atop these rankings. It’s hard to imagine that he’ll make it past the Cardinals, Steelers and Bills in the first round.

5/26/08: Alex Mack nearly left for the NFL a year early. That’s not surprising, as the unanimous All-Pac-10 first-teamer is the best center prospect in a long time.

2007: Alex Mack started every game in 2006, earning a spot on the All Pac-10 first team.
Max Unger, Oregon
Height: 6-5. Weight: 309.
Projected 40 Time: 5.20.
Combine 40 Time: 5.27.
Benchx225: 22. Arm: 33 1/2.
Projected Round (2009): 1-2.
2/19/09: Max Unger did a good job of putting on about 10 pounds since the end of the 2008 regular season.

1/8/09: The most versatile lineman in this class, Max Unger has emerged as a first-round prospect, thanks to a dynamic senior year. An All-Pac 10 first-teamer.

5/24/08: An extremely athletic and smart center who can also play offensive tackle. Max Unger’s not as strong as some GMs would like, but he’ll be an effective pass protector in a zone scheme.

2007: Possibly a candidate for a team with a zone-blocking scheme.
Eric Wood, Louisville
Height: 6-4. Weight: 310.
Projected 40 Time: 5.09.
Combine 40 Time: 5.17.
Benchx225: 30. Arm: 33 3/4.
Projected Round (2009): 2.
1/8/09: Eric Wood has made 49 consecutive starts. Crazy. He was voted to the All-Big East First Team.

5/26/08: You’re getting a rock at center if you draft Eric Wood; he’s started 37 consecutive games. He was voted to the All-Big East first team last year.

2007: A member of the All-Big East second team in 2006, Eric Wood started all 13 games as a sophomore.
Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas
Height: 6-4. Weight: 301.
Projected 40 Time: 5.14.
Combine 40 Time: 5.14.
Benchx225: 26. Arm: 31 1/4.
Projected Round (2009): 2-3.
1/8/09: An All-SEC second-teamer, it’s unfortunate for Jonathan Luigs that he’s stuck in a class with two of the best center prospects the NFL has seen in a while.

5/26/08: Another center who nearly came out early. Jonathan Luigs won the award as the nation’s top center last year, but we’ll see how he does without Darren McFadden and Felix Jones behind him.

2007: Jonathan Luigs has started every game at Arkansas thus far. Probably needs to get his 40 time down to make it into the first two rounds.
Antoine Caldwell, Alabama
Height: 6-3. Weight: 309.
Projected 40 Time: 5.13.
Combine 40 Time: 5.23.
Benchx225: 23. Arm: 34.
Projected Round (2009): 2-3.
1/8/09: Antoine Caldwell – not Alex Mack or Max Unger – was voted to the AP All-America First Team.

11/2/08: Should challenge Jonathan Luigs as the No. 2 center. A great leader and an outstanding talent.

5/26/08: Antoine Caldwell saw his 32-game consecutive start streak snapped because he was suspended for some weird situation involving his textbooks. School officials must have been confused that a talented player actually studied and took tests without help.

2007: A candidate for a zone-blocking scheme, Antoine Caldwell was a member of the All-SEC second team in 2006. He has started 25 consecutive games.
A.Q. Shipley, Penn State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 304.
Projected 40 Time: 5.09.
Combine 40 Time: 5.19.
Benchx225: 33. Arm: 29 3/4.
Projected Round (2009): 4.
3/22/09: Scored a 40 on his Wonderlic.

2/22/09: Ridiculously short arms could cost him, though he’s very talented and will be taken in the middle rounds.

1/8/09: A.Q. Shipley started the final 39 games of his collegiate career. He was an AP All-America second-teamer.

5/26/08: A.Q. Shipley has started every game the past two years and was named to the All-Big Ten first team. Co-captain for the Nittany Lions in 2008.

2007: I’d like to see A.Q. Shipley put on a few more pounds of muscle. He has two years to do so, meaning he still has time to move up my rankings. Shipley has has 14 career starts as of the first week of September.
Cecil Newton, Tennessee State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 300.
Projected 40 Time: 5.15.
Pro Day 40 Time: 5.13.
Benchx225: 25.
Projected Round (2009): 4-5.
1/8/09: A four-year starter and a qualifier for the All-OVC First Team. Tennessee State was renowned for running the ball effectively in 2008.

5/26/08: A third-year starter on Tennessee State’s offensive front.
Jon Cooper, Oklahoma
Height: 6-2. Weight: 291.
Projected 40 Time: 5.09.
Combine 40 Time: 5.17.
Pro Day 40 Time: 5.09.
Benchx225: 32. Arm: 31 1/4.
Projected Round (2009): 6-7.
1/8/09: A member of the All-Big XII Second Team.

5/26/08: In his second full year as Oklahoma’s starting center, Jon Cooper was voted to the All-Big XII first team by some publications. Cooper started 26 of 27 games the past two seasons.
Dallas Reynolds, BYU
Height: 6-5. Weight: 328.
Projected 40 Time: 5.30.
Pro Day 40 Time: 5.28.
Benchx225: 20.
Projected Round (2009): 7.
1/8/09: Voted to the All-Mountain West First Team, Dallas Reynolds was the leader of a unit that blocked for one of the top offenses in the nation.

5/24/08: In addition to having solid workout numbers, Dallas Reynolds can play four positions on the line. He’s also reliable; Reynolds has 37 consecutive starts.
Edwin Williams, Maryland
Height: 6-2. Weight: 308.
Projected 40 Time: 5.35.
Combine 40 Time: 5.43.
Benchx225: 22. Arm: 34 1/2.
Projected Round (2009): 7.
Brett Helms, LSU
Height: 6-2. Weight: 286.
Projected 40 Time: 5.15.
Combine 40 Time: DNP.
Pro Day 40 Time: 5.39.
Benchx225: 25. Arm: 31 3/4.
Projected Round (2009): 7-FA.
5/26/08: Brett Helms can play all three interior line positions, though he’s primarily a center; he made 13 starts there in 2007.

2007: Definitely needs to get bigger or quicker in the 40. Brett Helms started every game in 2006. Can play guard as well, though that’s not a need with the interior linemen LSU has.
Juan Garcia, Washington
Height: 6-2. Weight: 307.
Projected 40 Time: 5.24.
Combine 40 Time: 5.48.
Benchx225: 34. Arm: 33.
Projected Round (2009): 7-FA.
Alex Fletcher, Stanford
Height: 6-2. Weight: 299.
Projected 40 Time: 5.20.
Combine 40 Time: 5.37.
Benchx225: 31. Arm: 32 1/8.
Projected Round (2009): 7-FA.
1/8/09: Made the All-Pac 10 Second Team after transitioning to center this season.

5/25/08: Though Alex Fletcher thrived at guard last season, he’ll be moving to center in 2008.

2007: Suffered with a back injury in 2006. Can play all three of the interior line positions.
Robby Felix, UTEP
Height: 6-3. Weight: 302.
Projected 40 Time: 5.18.
Combine 40 Time: 5.19.
Benchx225: 33. Arm: 32 3/8.
Projected Round (2009): 7-FA.
1/8/09: Robby Felix has started 46 games in a row. He was on the All-Conference USA First Team.

5/26/08: An honorable mention on the all-conference team, Robby Felix will be entering his fourth season as a full-time starter at UTEP.

2007: Started every game for UTEP in 2006.
Ryan McDonald, Illinois
Height: 6-5. Weight: 297.
Projected 40 Time: 5.04.
Projected Round (2009): 7-FA.
1/8/09: Took a step back in the trophy category, becoming just an All-Big Ten honorable mention.

5/26/08: Blocking for a lethal rushing attack, Ryan McDonald was a member of the All-Big Ten second team.
Alex Derenthal, Temple
Height: 6-4. Weight: 295.
Projected 40 Time: 5.04.
Projected Round (2009): FA.
1/8/09: Finished his Temple career with 47 consecutive starts. Voted to the All-MAC Second Team.

11/2/08: Alex Derenthal has started 44 straight games.

5/26/08: Alex Derenthal has started 35 consecutive games and was consequently named to the 2008 preseason All-MAC team.

2007: As a sophomore, Alex Derenthal was the leader of the improving Temple Owls. NFL coaches and GMs pay attention to that stuff, especially when drafting on the second day.
Dominic Green, Nevada
Height: 6-3. Weight: 295.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2009): FA.
5/26/08: Despite playing through an ankle injury last season, Dominic Green qualified for the All-WAC first team. He anchored a line that blocked for the nation’s seventh-most productive offense.

2007: Nevada’s most experienced lineman despite being a junior. Dominic Green broke his foot in the offseason and needs to get back on the field for Nevada ASAP.
David Washington, Oklahoma State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 308.
Projected 40 Time: 5.13.
Projected Round (2009): FA.
5/26/08: Once a fourth-round prospect on this list, David Washington broke his leg in September. He made 27 consecutive starts up until that game.

2007: David Washington runs a nice 40 at his size. Problem is, he needs to get better at the fundamentals.
Daniel Sanders, Colorado
Height: 6-2. Weight: 316.
Projected 40 Time: 5.29.
Pro Day 40 Time: 5.44.
Benchx225: 21.
Projected Round (2009): FA.
5/26/08: Daniel Sanders struggled at center in 2007. He also gained about 15 pounds and has become less agile.

2007: Daniel Sanders can play guard and center. Expected to be the anchor of Colorado’s line in 2007.
Rob Bruggeman, Iowa
Height: 6-4. Weight: 293.
Projected 40 Time: 5.12.
Combine 40 Time: DNP.
Pro Day 40 Time: 5.05.
Benchx225: 32. Arm: 30 3/4.
Projected Round (2009): FA.
Ryan Shuman, Virginia Tech
Height: 6-2. Weight: 289.
Projected 40 Time: 5.25.
Pro Day 40 Time: 5.17.
Benchx225: 23.
Projected Round (2009): FA.
Xavier Shannon, Miami
Height: 6-1. Weight: 297.
Projected 40 Time: 5.14.
Projected Round (2009): FA.
2007: Son of Randy Shannon, Xavier tarted every game and anchored Florida International’s offensive line in 2006.
Blake Schlueter, TCU –
Height: 6-3. Weight: 282. Projected 40 Time: 5.00. Projected Round (2009): FA.
Jordan Bedore, Kansas State –
Height: 6-3. Weight: 300. Projected 40 Time: 4.88. Projected Round (2009): FA.
Jason Bosley, Auburn –
Height: 6-4. Weight: 288. Projected 40 Time: 5.24. Projected Round (2009): FA.
Tommy Crowley, West Texas A&M –
Height: 6-4. Weight: 289. Projected 40 Time: 5.20. Projected Round (2009): FA.