By Charlie Campbell.
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This page was last updated April 7, 2016. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
Position Review: Centers
Center Class
Early-round talent: B+
Mid-round: B+
Late-round: B
Overall grade: B+
2016 prospects vs 2015
Cameron Erving
Ryan Kelly
Mitch Morse
Nick Martin
Ali Marpet
Hroniss Grasu
Max Tuerk
Graham Glasgow
Evan Boehm
Shaq Mason
Max Garcia
Jack Allen
Isaac Seumalo
Jake Brendel
Andy Gallik
Austin Reiter
This year’s draft class features a deeper group of centers, but doesn’t have a top-shelf prospect like last year’s did with Cam Erving. Erving was a top-20 pick, and this year’s center class probably won’t have a player selected on Thursday night. However, this year’s class has more talent for the second day, mid-rounds and late-rounds.
If you were to mix the classes, Erving would be the first one selected. Kelly and Martin are on a par with last year’s second-rounders of Morse and Marpet. Tuerk, Glasgow, and Boehm are in the Rounds 3-4 range. The trio of Allen, Seumalo and Brendel should go on Day 3 ahead of where Gallik and Reiter were selected.
Safest Pick: Nick Martin, Notre Dame
I think Martin is a very safe pick to become a good center in the NFL. He was rock solid for Notre Dame the past few seasons and played his senior year with a high ankle sprain. Martin is a balanced blocker who is effective at protecting the passer and opening holes in the ground game. He is an intelligent, polished technician who should be able to compete quickly at the next level. Martin could go in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and at the latest should be selected in the third round. I think he is good bet to turn into a quality 10-year starter in the NFL.
2015 Pick: Cam Erving
2014 Pick: Weston Richburg
2013 Pick: Barrett Jones
Biggest Bust Potential: Jack Allen, Michigan State
This was a tough choice, but I went with Allen because he could be a mid-round pick and I see some issues that could keep him from panning out. At 6-foot-1, 294 pounds, Allen is undersized for the NFL. He lacks length and strength for taking on heavy nose tackles. He also doesn’t make up for it with overwhelming quickness and athleticism. Allen had a rough week at the Senior Bowl in the pass protection one-on-ones and he is going to need guard help in the NFL. I think Allen could end up not translating to the pro game.
I’m definitely happy to be accountable and say that I completely blew this projection in 2013. This is what I wrote two years ago about Frederick having bust potential, “This only is in regard to center, since Frederick should, at worst, be a solid guard in the NFL. The 6-foot-4, 312-pound Badger is a misfit for center. He is not as mobile as most teams want their centers to be as a result … can struggle with speed-rushers, and if he were a center in the NFL, he would see a lot of speed tackles being matched up against him. Frederick doesn’t fit a zone-blocking system either. If he is forced into center, there is the capacity for him to go bust.”
So clearly, I was wrong in that evaluation because Frederick has been a rock-solid center who does everything well. At least I prefaced it by saying at worst he would be a solid guard.
2015 Pick: Hroniss Grasu
2014 Pick: Marcus Martin
2013 Pick: Travis Fredrick
Center Rankings by Attributes
Pass Protection:
NFL prototype: Max Unger, Saints
- Ryan Kelly
- Nick Martin
- Max Tuerk
- Graham Glasgow
- Jack Allen
- Jake Brendel
- Isaac Seumalo
- Evan Boehm
Recap: The NFL is all about the passing offense, so centers must be be an asset at protecting the quarterback and helping to keep a clean pocket. They need to be able to effectively stop interior blitzes, bull rushes from heavy nose tackles, speed rushes from three-techniques and double teams. Fortunately for teams needing a center, this year’s class has some good pass-blockers.
I think Kelly is the best pass protector of this group and his skill set translates the best to the NFL. Kelly (6-4, 311) is quick, agile and has great balance. He can move with speed rushers and has the technique to stop heavy bull rushers. On the inside, Kelly has the size to single-block defensive tackles to go with the speed and athleticism to take on fast rushers. He also went against great talent in practice along with SEC competition while being a 3-year starter. Kelly could be a real asset as a pass protector quickly in the NFL.
Martin (6-4, 301) was a good protector for Notre Dame and got better over the past few seasons. He is smart to set the line well and pick up interior blitzes. Martin could use more weight and strength to handle the heavy nose tackles who he’ll battle against, especially from 3-4 defenses.
Tuerk was an excellent pass protector for Cody Kessler before an injury knocked him out for a significant portion of his senior year. Tuerk is nimble and quick on the inside. The 6-foot-5, 298-pounder has added weigh and should continue to do that for the NFL.
Allen and Glasgow (6-6, 306) blocked in pro-style, balanced offenses. They did well in pass protection when called upon, but I see them trending in different directions. Glasgow really did well at the East-West Shrine and Senior Bowl. He has more size for taking on NFL defensive tackles than Allen. Conversely, Allen didn’t impress in Mobile. I think he could have issues getting run over by good zero-techniques.
Brendel had some pass-protection issues earlier in his career but showed steady improvement. Seumalo and Boehm have room for improvement in their pass blocking. They should develop on the bench before taking on NFL defensive linemen.
Run Blocking:
NFL prototype: John Sullivan, Vikings
- Ryan Kelly
- Nick Martin
- Graham Glasgow
- Evan Boehm
- Jack Allen
- Jake Brendel
- Max Tuerk
- Isaac Seumalo
Recap: Derrick Henry had a lot of success running behind Kelly. He can help get a push on defensive linemen and open holes on the ground. Kelly also explodes out of the line and fires to the second level to get on linebackers before they expect him. He has the size, strength and athleticism to be a tough run blocker in the NFL.
Martin isn’t as big as some of these other centers, but he is a tough run blocker and did a nice job of opening holes for C.J. Prosise last year. Martin also was playing injured with an ankle sprain that could’ve hurt his explosion and lower body power.
Glasgow was a tough run blocker for Michigan last season. He has enough strength to move linemen and showed nice quickness and agility to get to blocks on defenders at the second level at the East-West Shrine.
Boehm has strength to him and can pop some defenders. Allen was a solid run blocker for the Spartans. He has good technique and gets in position to hit his blocks. UCLA ran well behind Brendel the past few years, and his run blocking improved improved over that time.
Tuerk and Seumalo doesn’t pack as much punch as the players above. They need to add power for the NFL. Tuerk is on his way to doing that, but early on, both he and Seumalo could struggle to move defenders at the point of attack.
Speed:
NFL prototype: Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers
- Max Tuerk
- Ryan Kelly
- Nick Martin
- Isaac Seumalo
- Jake Brendel
- Graham Glasgow
- Evan Boehm
- Jack Allen
Recap: Tuerk is the fastest center. He moves really well at the point of attack. Kelly and Martin are both very quick off the snap and are able to pull well. All three of those centers rapidly hit blocks on the second level.
Seumalo is a center with quickness, and he looked great early in his career before injuries slowed him down in 2014 and 2015. Brendel and Glasgow have underrated quickness. They both move well for their size. Boehm and Allen aren’t all that fast.
Strength:
NFL prototype: Nick Mangold, Jets
- Ryan Kelly
- Graham Glasgow
- Nick Martin
- Evan Boehm
- Jack Allen
- Jake Brendel
- Isaac Seumalo
- Max Tuerk
Recap: Kelly is clearly the strongest center of the group as he can can push linemen around. Glasgow and Martin both pack a nice punch when they hit a block on the second level. They have more power than the other centers.
Boehm and Allen are strong for their respective sizes. They aren’t overly powerful, but they’ve developed some strength in their base. The problem for those two is at their heights, they could be about maxed out in terms of strength for their body.
Brendel, Seumalo and Tuerk need to get stronger for the NFL. None of them has the power on their own to move strong NFL defensive tackles. However, all three are well-rounded blockers otherwise, so if they add weight in a NFL strength and conditioning program, they could be strong blockers at the point of attack.
Zone Blocking:
NFL prototype: Mike Pouncey, Dolphins
- Ryan Kelly
- Nick Martin
- Max Tuerk
- Graham Glasgow
- Isaac Seumalo
- Jake Brendel
- Evan Boehm
- Jack Allen
Recap: The athletic Kelly is the best fit as a zone-blocking center in the NFL. He is agile, quick and athletic, which makes him a perfect fit to be part of the moving wall of a zone-blocking scheme. Alabama ran a lot of zone over the past few seasons, so Kelly has experience in that.
Martin also ran a lot of zone for Notre Dame. He will be a good fit as he has the quickness, athleticism and intelligence to thrive in a zone scheme in the NFL. Tuerk would probably fit a zone scheme well as he is a mobile athlete. Glasgow showed nice quickness at the all-star games and could execute a zone scheme.
Seumalo and Brendel have the skills to execute a zone scheme. Boehm and Allen are probably better fits for man as they aren’t the quickest or most athletic interior blockers.
Power-Man Blocker:
NFL prototype: Alex Mack, Falcons
- Ryan Kelly
- Graham Glasgow
- Nick Martin
- Jake Brendel
- Evan Boehm
- Jack Allen
- Isaac Seumalo
- Max Tuerk
Recap: Kelly and Glasgow are both good fits in a man-blocking scheme. They both can move defenders at the point of attack with power and strength. Each one should be able to step into a man scheme and contribute quickly. Both Martin and Brendel are strong for their size. Teams that run power schemes should like them.
Brendel, Boehm and Allen would be able to play in a power-man scheme, but as stated above, it would be good if they could add more strength for the NFL. Boehm and Allen though might be maxed out physically.
Seumalo and Tuerk could be drafted by man teams, but both should add some power. They would be developmental projects and backups for a time before they’re ready to compete in that scheme.
Versatility:
NFL prototype: Mike Pouncey, Dolphins
- Max Tuerk
- Ryan Kelly
- Graham Glasgow
- Nick Martin
- Isaac Seumalo
- Jake Brendel
- Evan Boehm
- Jack Allen
Recap: NFL offensive line coaches like their interior linemen to have the ability to play guard or center. Young players who are fighting to make the team as a backup help themselves by having flexibility on the inside. On game days, teams need interior linemen who can play both guard or center.
Tuerk was the most versatile blocker in college. Entering his senior year, he had 14 starts at left guard, 13 at center, five at left tackle and one at right tackle. If he’s healthy, Tuerk (6-5, 298) could immediately be a sixth offensive lineman who is a game-day backup at a variety of spots. Tuerk could bring a lot of value as a sixth lineman.
Even though he’s been a center, Kelly translates as the most versatile center in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has the size and strength to start at guard also in the NFL. Center looks like his best position, but on game days he could be an offensive lineman who could play any of the interior spots if needed.
Glasgow, Martin and Brendel have the size to be considered guards as well as centers. If they were to become starters at guard, they would probably have to add more strength, but they have the frames for that position as well as center.
Seumalo has the height to move to guard, but he needs to add weight as there are few guards in the NFL who weigh less than 300 pounds.
I don’t think that Boehm (6-2) or Allen (6-1) have the ability to move to guard. I don’t think they could handle tackles one-on-one. They both are too short for guard, and Allen is too light as he is six pounds short of 300 pounds. Both Boehm and Allen should be centers only in the NFL.
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