NFL Draft: Top five OL heading into the Combine
The NFL Scouting Combine is about to get underway in Indianapolis. Here is a look at our rankings of players at each position heading into the event. We move on to the offensive line.
NFL COMBINE: Top five QBs | RBs | WR/TEs | Breaking down the Power Five conferences
Recruiting: Originally from Atlanta, Williams moved to Folsom, Calif., early in high school but heading back to the SEC always seemed like a priority to the five-star offensive tackle. His mother went to Auburn and his dad went to Georgia, but Williams picked the Crimson Tide in April of his junior year.
Stats: Williams started every game of his Alabama career - 29 at left tackle and 15 at right tackle - was a national champion and helped a rushing attack this past season that averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored 33 rushing touchdowns.
Farrell’s take: Williams was the rare five-star prospect who didn’t attend camps, didn’t care about all-star games and just dominated on the football field with pads and a helmet. We saw him in game action but never got to see him go against the elite defensive linemen in the country at any events. But it didn’t matter to us, because he was so good in person and on film, and he had that throwback, nasty attitude of the greats of yesteryear. Williams just wanted to destroy the player in front of him and help his team win - he didn’t care about gear, free trips or rankings. He’s clearly showing our faith in his film was warranted. He’s the first offensive lineman off the board.
Recruiting: An early commitment to Texas A&M, Little decided to make his pledge to Ole Miss over Alabama and many others in mid-December of his senior season.
Stats: A first-team All-SEC selection, Little helped pass block for an Ole Miss offense that led the conference and finished fifth nationally in passing offense.
Farrell’s take: Little was a two-time participant at the Five-Star Challenge, making back-to-back solid performances in Baltimore in 2014 and 2015 and he always impressed me. He’s a special prospect with light feet, the ability to re-set quickly and has a nice punch. I fully expected him to be a star in college and beyond. He’s been improving year to year in college and is easily one of the top offensive linemen for the draft.
Recruiting: Ford had been committed to TCU earlier in his recruitment, but after an offer from Oklahoma early in the summer before his senior season, the four-star offensive lineman took some time and decided to flip his commitment to the Sooners.
Stats: This past season, Ford started all 14 games for the Sooners at right tackle and the offense averaged more than 48 points per game. In his redshirt sophomore season, Ford played in 12 games and made four starts at left guard.
Farrell’s take: Ford was a four-star outside the Rivals250 who didn’t carry a lot of bad weight at 320-plus pounds and was very physical but needed some refinement in his technique. He had light feet but he would get out of position at times. When he did engage, he was hard to move. He projects as a guard at the NFL level but he has shown he can play right tackle.
Recruiting: Taylor had been committed to Miami, but when Florida offered in the middle of his senior season, the three-star prospect decided to flip his commitment to the Gators. His relationship with high school teammate Chauncey Gardner-Johnson played a role in his decision.
Stats: Taylor played in all 13 games this season and started 12 at right tackle as Florida’s offensive line allowed just 18 sacks all year. As a freshman, Taylor started all 12 games at right tackle and as a sophomore he mainly played right tackle but moved over to LT as well.
Farrell’s take: Well, we didn’t see this one coming. Taylor was a massive kid who carried some bad weight for most of his high school career. That led to a projection as a prospect who could play tackle at the prep level but would probably move to guard in college because he wasn’t quick enough. He was strong and a powerful run blocker, but struggled in pass protection against faster players. Now slimmed down, he’s become an elite SEC tackle and is a guy rising on many boards for the NFL.
Recruiting: Considered his dream school, Kansas State earned Risner's commitment in March of his junior year. He said he would be cutting off communication with other schools and not taking any other trips. Arizona State, Cal, Colorado and Missouri were some other programs involved in his recruitment.
Stats: Risner has basically started his entire career at Kansas State, first at center and then moving to right tackle. He was on the Outland Trophy watch list numerous times during his career in Manhattan.
Farrell’s take: Risner was a highly-ranked three-star coming out of high school in Colorado and a road grader and mauler as a run-blocker. He also had good feet in pass protection and was a guy we liked at a position that’s hard to project. Now’s he rising on the boards of many NFL teams because of his ability to run and pass block and his nasty streak. He wasn’t that big in high school, but has added good weight. His versatility is intriguing for sure.
TWO TO WATCH
Recruiting: Ranked as a two-star prospect, Dillard committed to Washington State in December of his senior season. His only other offers came from Idaho, Eastern Washington and Portland State. His father, Mitch, played for the Cougars in the 1980s.
Stats: A fifth-year senior, Dillard started the final 39 games of his career at left tackle. He has played in 42 games for Washington State.
Farrell’s take: Dillard was thought to be just a legacy offer out of high school as a kid who was only 240 pounds and needed a lot of work in the weight room. Now he’s turned into a potential second- or third-rounder and has kept his athleticism while adding good weight.
Recruiting: In the spring before his senior season, Lindstrom committed to Boston College after numerous visits to the school. The three-star had only one other offer from Old Dominion.
Stats: In his junior season, Lindstrom mainly played right tackle and moved to right guard as a senior. At Boston College, he led the team in career starts and in career games played.
Farrell’s take: Lindstrom was a small lineman out of Massachusetts that Boston College took a chance on and it paid off in a big way. He was a nasty kid and held his own with bigger defensive linemen despite being around 240 pounds and he’s kept that aggressive style while adding weight and power. He’s a very good run blocker.
