• Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe: The redshirt senior is a dominant pass protector, both at tackle and guard.
• Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson: The former five-star recruit began to live up to the hype in his sophomore season.
• Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran: SVP has let up just one sack and one hit in the past two seasons as the Bulldogs’ center.
Estimated Reading Time: 4 mins
No interior offensive linemen were selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, a year after the 2022 class produced four first-rounders.
Early returns on the 2024 NFL Draft suggest that it’ll be somewhere between those two classes. Here are 10 interior offensive linemen to know as we head into summer scouting for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Other position groups:
Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
Beebe spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons at offensive tackle before moving inside to left guard in 2022.
Over the past two seasons, the junior’s 94.0 pass-blocking grade leads all offensive linemen in college football, as he hasn’t allowed a sack over the course of his 770 pass-blocking snaps in the span. He’s also the most valuable returning interior offensive lineman in the country over those two years, according to PFF’s wins above average metric. No matter where Beebe lines up, he produces elite play. He went No. 26 overall in PFF's way-too-early 2024 NFL mock draft.
The Kansas State ring of honor includes players like Jordy Nelson, Darren Sproles and Collin Klein.
Soon, it should feature Cooper Beebe.
“Why not me?”
My conversation with the best IOL in the country, @KStateFB’s @cooper_beebe ????https://t.co/3kiRH0De6d
— Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) May 19, 2023
Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
Jackson was a top-15 recruit in the 2021 class, according to On3 Sports’ consensus ratings.
The sophomore began to live up to the hype this past year in his first season as a starter. His 76.7 grade was a top-10 mark among Power Five guards in 2022, while his nine big-time blocks tied for sixth.
How about former Bellaire (TX) Episcopal 5⭐️ and Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson
His first career start against Notre Dame… Moving. People.#GoBucks X #TXHSFB @Bucknuts247 pic.twitter.com/ihjSqVChr3
— Collin Kennedy (@CKennedy247) September 5, 2022
Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
Van Pran has started at center over the past two years for Georgia, allowing only one sack and one hit across 887 pass-blocking snaps. He needs to improve as a run-blocker but looks like one of the early top centers in the class.
Sedrick Van Pran teed off???? pic.twitter.com/1fRik7wrlh
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) November 14, 2021
Connor Colby, Iowa
Colby started at right guard for Iowa as a true freshman before splitting time at left guard and right tackle this past season. It’s important to recognize that before making any judgments on his 37.4 pass-blocking grade in 2022. He earned an 18.5 pass-blocking grade when lined up at right tackle and an 81.3 mark at left guard.
Connor Colby is one of the top IOL in next year’s draft.
Split time at LG and RT for Iowa this past season but was substantially better on the interior.
LG #77 here just people-moving for a 1st down. pic.twitter.com/ZS9ehLivTB
— Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) May 3, 2023
Javion Cohen, Miami (FL)
Cohen transferred to Miami following three years at Alabama. He struggled mightily in pass protection in 2021, allowing 34 pressures — nine more than any other Power Five guard that season. He turned things around in 2022, posting a 99.1 pass-block efficiency score that tied for sixth among Power Five guards.
Javion Cohen slab. pic.twitter.com/15QlsvYVqC
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) September 18, 2021
Bryce Foster, Texas A&M
Foster played only four games this past season before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He wasn’t very impressive on those limited snaps, earning just a 22.0 pass-blocking grade. It’s what he did as a true freshman that earns him a spot on this list. Playing in the toughest conference in college football, he started all 13 games at center for Texas A&M. He was a PFF freshman All-American and led all true freshmen centers with a 73.0 run-blocking grade. If Foster makes serious strides as a pass protector, he could very easily be the top center in this class.
Can’t wait to dive into Bryce Foster/Layden Robinson this summer… pic.twitter.com/tswRJ94GRX
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) April 17, 2023
Beaux Limmer, Arkansas
Limmer is an all-around stud at right guard. The redshirt junior was one of only three Power Five guards who recorded 80-plus grades as both a pass- and run-blocker this season.
Among returning FBS interior offensive linemen over the last two seasons, only Beebe has been more valuable than Limmer according to PFF’s wins above average metric.
Arkansas’ Beaux Limmer was one of only three P5 guards with 80+ pass- and run-blocking grades this season per @PFF.
Here he (RG, #55) does an excellent job of getting to the second level and taking out the LB.
My #2 IOL in CFB heading into 2023.pic.twitter.com/01juN519q1
— Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) February 4, 2023
Zak Zinter, Michigan
Zinter is one of Michigan's three returning starters on the offensive line, which is the first two-time defending winner of the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s best offensive line.
The junior was the second-most-valuable guard in the Power Five this season, according to PFF’s wins above average metric. On 389 pass-blocking snaps, Zinter surrendered only nine pressures.
.@Zak_zinter is nasty ???? pic.twitter.com/o1ygyuzxE0
— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) November 8, 2022
Christian Haynes, UConn
UConn made its first bowl game in seven years this past season, and one of the biggest reasons was the dominance of its interior offensive line.
Haynes was the star of that unit, as his 91.0 pass-blocking grade led all guards in college football and his 84.6 run-blocking grade ranked sixth. His 16 big-time blocks (PFF’s highest-graded blocks) led all FBS guards, as well.
UConn guard Christian Haynes was dominant this season.
Led all FBS guards in @PFF pass-blocking grade and big-time blocks.
RG #64 here does a great job sealing off the NC State DL before tossing him aside.
Top-5 IOL heading into next year.pic.twitter.com/GAJ1GQsv7s
— Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) February 4, 2023
Christian Mahogany, Boston College
Mahogany missed the entire 2022 season after tearing his right ACL in June, but he still deserves a spot on this list for his performance last year.
As a redshirt sophomore, he was one of six Power Five guards who earned 80.0-plus grades as a pass- and run-blocker. For his efforts, he was named a PFF second-team All-American. If he can return to form following his knee injury, Mahogany should be near the top of this list.
All-ACC OL Christian Mahogany with the rare Lineman Wildcat TD
And a Keg Stand celebration pic.twitter.com/82kpGcyIHF
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) April 10, 2022
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