2017 NFL Draft Prospects: Centers

By Charlie Campbell.
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The top 2017 Center prospects available for the 2017 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2018 prospect. ** – denotes 2019 prospect.

This page was last updated April 25, 2017. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

1. Ethan Pocic, C/G, LSU
   Height: 6-6. Weight: 310. Arm: 32.63. Hand: 10.13.
   40 Time: 5.15.
   Projected Round (2017): 2-3.
   4/25/17: Pocic played well overall in 2016. He is an technician at center who is well-balanced as a run blocker and pass protector. Pocic did a nice job of opening holes at the point of attack and was reliable with giving his quarterback time. Pocic isn’t a bulldozing interior offensive lineman, but he fires to the second level to hit blocks while being effective on double teams. For the NFL, it would help Pocic to add more strength to create more movement in the ground game and hold up against bull rushers. He had a decent week at the Senior Bowl.
   
   8/6/16: Pocic was very good in 2015. The second-year starter made an impact at the point of attack with well-rounded play in the ground game and reliability in pass protection. Pocic helped open a lot of holes for Leonard Fournette to have a massive 2015 season.
   
   Pocic has natural athleticism and is excellent at hitting blocks on the second level. He does a quality job of sustaining his blocks and has strong technique with hand placement. While Pocic isn’t a true bull as a run blocker, he is effective at opening holes in the ground game.
   
   In pass protection, Pocic has been very reliable. He is good at hitting double teams on tackles and also is smart in his positioning. He also has the athleticism and quickness to help handle interior speed rushers. Adding some strength to his base will help him against the heavy, powerful 3-4 nose tackles who are in the NFL. Pocic has an interesting body type for the next level. He is taller than most teams like to have at center, but that is if his listed height is accurate, and more often than not, schools exaggerate the height and weight of players.





2. Jon Toth, C, Kentucky
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 308. Arm: 33.13. Hand: 10.
   40 Time: 5.51.
   Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
   4/25/17: Toth had a fine senior season and career at Kentucky. He started 47 straight games and was a big part of the Wildcats having a team average of 5.5 yards per carry in 2016. Toth has good size to be a center in the NFL and enough athleticism. He turned in a decent week at the Senior Bowl. Toth has strength in his base and developed technique.



3. Pat Elfein, C/G, Ohio State
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 303. Arm: 33.25.
   40 Time: 5.32.
   Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
   4/25/17: Elflein blocked well for Ohio State. He is a strong run blocker at the point of attack. Sources say that the Ohio State staff has raved about Elflein to NFL evaluators for his character and work ethic. However, teams have some concerns about how Elflein’s size and lack of length will translate to the NFL. He had some real struggles with Clemson to close out the season.
   
   8/6/16: Months ago I wrote, “Elfein is undersized for an NFL guard, so moving to center could be his best move.” That appears to be the plan as Elflein is projected to play center for Ohio State in 2016. Elfein was perhaps Ohio State’s most impressive offensive lineman in 2015, and that is saying something considering left tackle Taylor Decker was a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
   
   As a power run blocker, Elflein is superb. He has a very strong upper body that he uses to get movement at the point of attack. Constantly, Elflein fires out of his stance and pushes defensive tackles out of their gap to open a hole for his running back. He seals lanes by getting on the hip of the defender, and defensive linemen have a really hard time holding their gaps when Elflein locks onto them. Elflein plays with excellent leverage to lean on and push his defender. Elflein blocks through the whistle and has an aggressive demeanor.
   
   In pass protection, Elflein is reliable and solid. He sustains his blocks well and has the strong base to anchor against bull rushers. Elflein shows some intelligence to help out his teammates when teams don’t send a rusher against him. A challenge for Elflein will be the speed rushers of the NFL, but moving to center should help him.
   
   As a redshirt sophomore, Elfein had a strong 2014 season where he was an impactful run-blocker for the Buckeyes. He has power to him and can pull.





4. Kyle Fuller, C, Baylor
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 306. Arm: 34. Hand: 10.
   40 Time: 5.24.
   Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
   4/25/17: Fuller blocked well for Baylor in 2016, but the Bears’ offense never got back to the level of play it had in early 2015. Fuller did a nice job of opening holes for Shock Linwood in 2016. Fuller had a so-so week at the Senior Bowl.
   
   8/6/16: Fuller has produced two quality seasons starting on the inside for Baylor. At the point of attack, he is effective at opening holes in the ground game and is generally reliable in pass protection. Fuller has versatile size to play guard or center. As a sophomore, he started every game and did a nice job of protecting quarterback Bryce Petty. Fuller has upside to get better.



5. Tyler Orlosky, C, West Virginia
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 298. Arm: 31.75. Hand: 9.88.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.18.
   Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
   4/25/17: Orlosky turned in a quality senior year as he did a good job in the ground game and was generally reliable in pass protection. Sources say they like Orlosky as a fourth- or fifth-round pick, but some team might take him a little earlier. They say they like Orlosky for what he is as an angle blocker. He isn’t the strongest blocker, but they think he could find a way to become a starter in the NFL. Teams don’t think Orlosky can play guard, making him only a center.
   
   8/6/16: Orlosky is a good college blocker who is equally effective in run blocking and pass protection. If he could add some weight to his frame, he could rise up the rankings.



6. Isaac Asiata, C/G, Utah
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 325. Arm: 32.75. Hand: 10.
   40 Time: 5.34.
   Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
   4/25/17: Asiata is a quality run blocker who has to improve his pass protection. Injuries ravaged the Utes in 2016, and as a result, Asiata took some snaps at center after J.J. Dielman went out for the season. Guard might be a better fit for Asiata in the NFL, and that was reinforced at the Senior Bowl.
   
   8/6/16: Asiata is a tough run blocker who has strength at the point of attack. He was effective at opening holes for Devontae Booker in 2015. Asiata has been a starter at guard the past two seasons with the majority of that time spent at left guard. As a redshirt freshman, Asiata had four starts at right tackle, but guard is his natural position. He is very strong, but needs to improve in pass protection.





7. Cameron Tom, C, Southern Miss
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 287.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.00.
   Projected Round (2017): 6-FA.
   4/25/17: Tom blocked well for Southern Miss in 2016, but he needs more weight for the NFL.
   
   8/6/16: Tom is an athletic interior blocker who has been playing since his freshman season. He has quickness and agility on the inside, but could stand to get stronger for the NFL.



8. Riley Sorenson, C, Washington State
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 319.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.44.
   Projected Round (2017): 7-FA.
   4/25/17: Sorenson played well for Washington State in 2016. It was impressive for him considering he had a bout with testicular cancer in the summer before his senior year.
   
   8/6/16: Sorenson broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore and had a good season for the Cougars in 2014. As a junior, he played well while dealing with family illnesses. Sorenson would be a big center by the NFL’s standards.





9. J.J. Dielman, C/OT, Utah
   Height: 6-5. Weight: 309. Arm: 32.25.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.20.
   Projected Round (2017): 7-FA.
   4/25/17: Because of an injury, Dielman was moved to center for the Utes, and he turned in quality performances for the first five games of the year. Things went off the rails though as Dielman suffered a foot injury and missed the rest of the season. Center could end up being a better fit for him than tackle in the NFL.
   
   9/3/16: Dielman is a solid blocker for the Utes and was very good at opening holes for Devontae Booker in the ground game. For the NFL, Dielman needs to improve his pass protection. He wisely decided to return for his senior year. Moving inside to guard could be his NFL future.



10. Jay Guillermo, C/G, Clemson
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 325.
    Projected 40 Time: 5.32.
    Projected Round (2017): 7-FA.
    4/25/17: Guillermo and Clemson had some disappointing games in terms of point scoring in run blocking, but the protection for Deshaun Watson was good throughout the 2016 season. Guillermo didn’t participate in the combine.
    
    8/6/16: Guillermo had an excellent season for Clemson in 2015. He was a steady pass protector for Deshaun Watson while also contributing to a tough ground game led by tailback Wayne Gallman. That should continue for Guillermo in 2016 with Watson and Gallman returning. Additionally, a lot of the Tigers’ other linemen are coming back. Guillermo is a bit of finesse player, but if the senior shows more power and tenacity, he could rise.



11. Deyshawn Bond, C, Cincinnati
    Height: 6-1. Weight: 291.
    Projected 40 Time: 5.34.
    Projected Round (2017): FA.
    4/25/17: Bond didn’t impress against Houston in Week 3 and struggled with freshman sensation Ed Oliver. Bond was better in the weeks afterward, but looks too undersized for the NFL.
    
    8/6/16: Bond became a starting center as a freshman and has been a steady contributor for the Bearcats over the past three seasons. Bond needs to add weight for the NFL.

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