Testing offensive linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine can often feel like a silly exercise. How much does it actually matter if a team’s guard can run 40 yards in 4.9 seconds instead of 5.1?
But there’s also little doubt that the athleticism of NFL offensive linemen has continued to progress over the decades. It’s not a coincidence that Trent Williams has parlayed the freakish combo of size, speed, and strength that he showed off at the 2010 combine into 11 Pro Bowls.
With Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line coach Phil Rauscher on the field for drills, the next generation of linemen worked out at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.
Here are the six players who stood out most on the final day of workouts:
Notre Dame OT Joe Alt
Player tracking data is revealing new insights about traditional combine drills.
Joe Alt showed explosiveness during his forty-yard dash, reaching the fastest speed during the first five yards of any offensive linemen over the last two combines (14.14 mph). pic.twitter.com/lNKrYnDFHF
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 3, 2024
Alt stands an astounding 6’9, 321 pounds, which may raise concerns about his ability to keep leverage at that height, but he showed an ability to move pretty impressively for a guy his size. He impressed with a 112-inch broad jump and, while his 5.05 40-yard dash won’t blow anyone away, he was the fastest of all linemen in the first five yards, which is more important anyway.
South Dakota State OT Garret Greenfield
Garret Greenfield had a great day in Indy:
🔥 38.5 vert (new OL record)
🔥 9.5 broad jump
🔥 5.22 40📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/xzyltuoO8s— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2024
Breaking a record will always earn you a spot on a combine winners list. The experienced FCS starter recorded a 38.5-inch vertical, the best ever for an offensive linemen and higher than players like Keon Coleman, Quinyon Mitchell, and Terrion Arnold.
Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga
Taliese Fuaga 1.77u#NFLCombine2024 pic.twitter.com/cM9NrFM1n4
— WalkTheMock (@WalkTheMock) March 3, 2024
Fuaga did his best work Sunday in the part of the day that probably mattered most, the positional drills. The Oregon State lineman moved smoothly and easily through offensive line drills and made a strong case to be the first tackle off the board in April.
Wisconsin C Tanor Bortilini
A 4.94u on Bortolini's 2nd run! 🔥
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/cNPR3VU2Sp— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2024
Bortolini isn’t a well known name in this draft class, but he made people take note Sunday. His 4.94 40 was tied for the best of the first group of linemen to run, as was his 10-yard split.
Wyoming OT Frank Crum
Frank Crum also runs a 4.94u! The power of the flow 🤩
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/LKkCyXnAw1— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2024
The aforementioned Bortilini was matched in both the 40 and the 10-yard split by Crum, who managed to record those marks at 6’8, 313 pounds. His curly mane of hair also ensured he didn’t go unnoticed.
Georgia OT Amarius Mims
Amarius Mims people 9’3” pic.twitter.com/mIRPn7fEjm
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) March 3, 2024
Mims is a mountain of a man at 6’8, 340 pounds. While his day ended early due to a hamstring injury, he showed off impressive athleticism for a player his size, including a 111-inch broad jump and 5.07 40 yard-dash.
