2020 NFL Draft Prospects: Centers

By Charlie Campbell.
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The top 2020 Center prospects available for the 2020 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2021 prospect. ** – denotes 2022 prospect.

This page was last updated April 21, 2020. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

1. Cesar Ruiz, C/G, Michigan
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 307. Arm: 33.13. Hand: 11.
   40 Time: 5.08.
   Projected Round (2020): 1-3.
   4/21/20: Ruiz decided to skip his senior year to enter the 2020 NFL Draft after putting together a quality collegiate career for Michigan. He is a well-balanced blocker in the ground game and in pass protection. Additionally, Ruiz has a lot of experience from being a 3-year starter. He has enough size to also compete at guard as well. Ruiz had a good combine performance to help himself. He looks like a future starter early in his NFL career.





2. Lloyd Cushenberry III, C, LSU
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 312. Arm: 34.13. Hand: 10.38.
   40 Time: 5.27.
   Projected Round (2020): 3-4.
   4/21/20: Sources from a handful of teams say they have Cushenberry graded in the mid-rounds with the chance of going on Day 2. Cushenberry was a solid blocker for the Tigers in 2019, as he was dependable in the ground game and reliable in pass protection. At the Senior Bowl, Cushenberry struggled in the pass-blocking one-on-ones. He has developed some strength but has some limitations.



3. Tyler Biadasz*, C, Wisconsin
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 314. Arm: 32.25. Hand: 10.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.20.
   Projected Round (2020): 3-4.
   4/21/20: Overall, Biadasz put together a quality 2019 season. He handled one-on-ones in the passing game, showing a strong anchor to handle bull rushes and the strength to sustain his blocks through the whistle. In the ground game, Biadasz was a steady contributor to help Jonathan Taylor produce another massive season. He showed a nice ability to pull around the tackle and hit blocks in space. He is a polished blocker who could play quickly in the NFL. His only blemish was a rough game against Ohio State.
   
   8/17/19: Biadasz played well for Wisconsin in 2018, opening a lot of holes at the point of attack. After redshirting in 2016, Biadasz broke into the starting lineup in 2017 and performed very well for the Badgers. Biadasz was a tough run blocker who helped open a lot of holes for Jonathan Taylor. Biadasz could be even better in 2019.



4. Matt Hennessy*, C, Temple
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 307. Arm: 32.25. Hand: 10.
   40 Time: 5.18.
   Projected Round (2020): 3-4.
   4/21/20: Hennessy played well while on the field, but he missed time with a concussion in 2019. He could have returned to school, but he entered the 2020 NFL Draft. As a redshirt junior, he was eligible to play at the Senior Bowl, and he had a solid week of practice in Mobile. Team sources say Hennessy helped himself on the field and in the interview room. He has upside with athleticism and quickness, but Hennessy lacks strength and power. He needs time in a NFL strength and conditioning program.
   
   8/17/19: Hennessy practiced some at guard and tackle for Temple, but for the NFL, he is a center. He has some natural strength and intelligence to be an effective interior blocker. It would help Hennessy if he could add more strength to his frame for the next level.





5. Nick Harris, C, Washington
   Height: 6-1. Weight: 302. Arm: 32.38. Hand: 9.5.
   40 Time: 5.10.
   Projected Round (2020): 4-6.
   4/21/20: Team sources said Harris impressed them during fall training camp, and they see him as having mid-round potential. They think Harris could be a player who starts out as a backup before developing into a starter in the NFL, but he has to be in the right scheme because he short and lacks length. Despite his scheme limitations, he could be a solid starter in the right situation.
   
   Harris is built strongly to pack a punch on defenders. He also shows some quickness and athleticism to pull around the tackle. Harris is limited to being a center only in the NFL because of his size, but he could be a mid-round pick who turns into a starter and ends up being a nice pick if he lands in the right situation. Harris plays with tenacity and physicality.
   
   8/17/19: Harris is a tough center for the Huskies who does a solid job of protecting the quarterback and contributing to the running game. He was a First-Team All-Pac-12 selection as a junior for manning the middle of Washington’s line. In 2017, he played right guard. Harris would be rated higher if he were bigger, but his lack of height and length hurts his ability to translate to the NFL. Harris was put on NFL teams’ preseason watch list for the 2020 NFL Draft, and one team had him with a projection of a late-round pick or undrafted free agent.



6. Trystan Colon-Castillo*, C, Missouri
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 313. Arm: 30.5. Hand: 9.25.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.27.
   Projected Round (2020): 4-6.
   4/21/20: Colon-Castillo should have returned to school to improve before going to the NFL, but he decided to skip his senior year. He is a tough and smart blocker who needs to improve his body and has athletic limitations. Some team sources said they gave Colon-Castillo a very late draft-able grade, and others feel he could be a third-day pick. He also might slip to the undrafted ranks.



7. Jake Hanson, C, Oregon
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 304. Arm: 32.75. Hand: 9.25.
   40 Time: 5.50.
   Projected Round (2020): 4-6.
   4/21/20: Overall, Hanson was solid for Oregon and blocked very well in 2019. Some team sources said they were impressed with him. Hanson is a decent technician with size and lots of experience. He could start out his career as a swing backup at guard and center. In time, Hanson might work his way into a starting job.
   
   8/17/19: Hanson is a solid and dependable interior blocker for Oregon, but he has room for improvement. He could stand to improve his strength for the NFL, but he is reliable inside blocker who made 34 straight starts before a targeting penalty ended the streak. Hanson shouldn’t go unnoticed in 2019, because he’s the center for star quarterback Justin Herbert. Some NFL team sources have Hanson as having the potential to be a pick in the top half of the 2020 NFL Draft.





8. Darryl Williams, C, Mississippi State
   Height: 6-2. Weight: 304. Arm: 32.13. Hand: 9.75.
   40 Time: 5.23.
   Projected Round (2020): 4-6.
   4/21/20: Williams was moved to center for the Bulldogs in 2019, and that is the position that would fit him best in the NFL given his lack of length. Over his college career, he was a tough competitor for Mississippi State. He is a well-rounded blocker who is effective in the ground game and dependable in pass coverage. At the East-West Shrine, a good week of practice illustrated that Williams could become a starter in the NFL.
   
   8/17/19: The Bulldogs ran well in 2018, and Williams was a big part of that. He was wise to return for his senior year and should move to center with Elgton Jenkins having moved on to the NFL. Williams put together an impressive sophomore season in 2017 and was one of the best guards in the SEC. He started at left guard and was a tough run blocker while being a steady pass protector. Williams’ size and lack of height would translate better to center as a pro rather than staying at guard. Area scouts say that Williams is an impressive and tough blocker. If he moves to center and plays well there, they could see him being a second-day candidate for the 2020 NFL Draft. If he stays at guard, he probably will be a late-rounder given his lack of height and length.



9. Keith Ismael, G/C, San Diego State
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 309. Arm: 32.25. Hand: 10.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.22.
   Projected Round (2020): 4-6.
   4/21/20: Ismael was a versatile interior blocker for San Diego State, playing left guard, center and right guard over his collegiate career. For the NFL, his best fit could come at center, but he could start out his career battling for a roster spot as a backup guard/center.



10. Frederick Mauigoa, C, Washington State
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 310.
    Projected 40 Time: 5.17.
    Projected Round (2020): 6-FA.
    4/21/20: Mauigoa was a solid starting center for Washington State in 2019. He could stand to get stronger for the NFL.
    
    8/17/19: Mauigoa has been the starting center for Washington State over the past two seasons and a solid blocker. For the NFL, it would help for Mauigoa to get stronger and show an ability to fire off the ball. Given the Washington State spread offense, he may not be able to show that until an all-star game after the season. Mauigoa was put on NFL teams’ preseason watch list for the 2020 NFL Draft, and one team had him with a projection of a late-round pick or undrafted free agent.





11. T.J. McCoy, C, Louisville
    Height: 6-1. Weight: 308.
    Projected 40 Time: 5.24.
    Projected Round (2020): 6-FA.
    4/21/20: McCoy was solid for Louisville early in 2019, but he was also rotated somewhat during the year.
    
    8/17/19: Louisville landed McCoy as a graduate transfer. McCoy played pretty well for Florida in 2018, but did not impress against Kentucky and had some issues in other games. McCoy looks like a backup center for the next level and may have the potential to develop into being a starter. For the NFL, he is hurt by his lack of height and length.
    
    McCoy started out his collegiate career at N.C. State before transferring to Florida to be near his father, who was battling cancer. McCoy worked his way onto the field as a redshirt freshman and then became a starter at center in 2017. He was having a solid season before going down with left foot injury that cost him the final two games.



12. Kenny Cooper, C, Georgia Tech
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 305.
    Projected 40 Time: 5.07.
    Projected Round (2020): 7-FA.
    4/21/20: Georgia Tech’s offensive line really struggled in Week 1 taking on Clemson. Cooper looks like a late-round or undrafted free agent competitor.
    
    8/17/19: Cooper is a smaller center, but he functions well in the Georgia Tech rushing offense. If he can add strength, it would help him to compete in the NFL.



13. Zach Shackelford, C, Texas
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 305.
    Projected 40 Time: 5.28.
    Projected Round (2020): 7-FA.
    4/21/20: Shackelford was okay for Texas, but may not have the skill set to stick in the NFL. He could be an undrafted free agent.
    
    8/17/19: Shackelford has started 27 games for Texas after breaking into the starting lineup as a sophomore. Adding strength would help Shackelford as a senior.

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