2010 Guard Rankings
Overall it is a poor crop of guards in April’s draft. After one sensational prospect at the top then another trio of potential starters, the talent quickly thins out. Several of the middle round blockers are sound developmental prospects yet for the most part the majority of players drafted at this position are going to be back-ups. (updated: 2/6/2010)
RankRndNameAnalysis
11-2Mike Iupati
Idaho
Tremendous athlete with a great amount of upside potential. Fluid, explosive and dominant. May eventually develop into a left tackle. Very effective blocking in motion.
22-3Mitch Petrus
Arkansas
Former fullback who really improved his game in 2009 after sitting on the sidelines the prior season. Strong at the line of scrimmage and can block on the move.
33rdShawn Lauvao
Arizona State
Terrific prospect with a good amount of upside. Nice combination of size, strength and athleticism. Effective at the line of scrimmage or in motion. Definitely someone to watch.
43-4Jon Asamoah
Illinois
Nasty lineman who plays strong and easily controls defenders at the point of attack. Bends at the waist, not light on his feet and best in a very small area.
53-4Mike Johnson
Alabama
Tough, small area blocker with average strength and limited upside.
64-5John Jerry
Mississippi
Powerful small area blocker who easily controls defenders at the point of attack. Stiff, does a lot of leaning on defenders and all too often does not finish blocks.
75thReggie Stephens
Iowa State
Strong, wide bodied blocker who moves well on his feet. Turns defenders off the ball or engulfs opponents. Needs to improve his blocking balance yet if focused, can play at the next level.
86thAlex Parsons
USC
Quick lineman who blocks with good fundamentals. Must improve his strength yet comes with an upside.
96thBrandon Carter
Texas Tech
Massive lineman best in a small area. Strong, shows tremendous punch with his hands and a load at guard. Struggles blocking any distance off the line of scrimmage and has a tough time if he does not immediately get his hands on defenders.
106-7Chris Marinelli
Stanford
Versatile lineman that can play tackle or guard. Effective with his hands and bends his knees. Moves well on his feet and very effective in motion. Really needs to improve his overall body strength as he struggles to finish blocks or hold the point.
117thZane Beadles
Utah
College tackle best inside at guard. Strong and stout at the point but only good in a small area.
127thDace Richardson
Iowa
137thKevin Haslam
Rutgers
Resilient blocker really best in a small area. Keeps is head on a swivel and good with his hands but must improve his strength.
147-FAJeff Byers
USC
Versatile blocker who can line up at guard or center. Uses effective body positioning to ride defenders from the action but must improve his strength at the point.
157-FAMarshall Newhouse
TCU
College tackle likely to move inside at the next level. Offers potential in a number of systems.
167-FAJoseph Hawley
UNLV
Versatile lineman who can play center or guard. Rising up boards.
177-FAChris DeGeare
Wake Forest
18FASergio Render
Virginia Tech
Explosive, strong blocker who anchors in pass protection while showing skill blocking in motion. Shows some stiffness in his game and not as good as many give him credit for.
19FADorian Brooks
James Madison
20FAKurtis Gregory
Missouri
Strong, small area blocker best for a power running game.
21FAShelley Smith
Colorado State
Athletic blocker with a nice upside. Has struggled with injuries at CSU and never put together a complete game.
22FACharlie Tanner
Texas
Position blocker best in a very small area.
23FAJoe Thomas
Pittsburgh
Unathletic lineman that's been severely overrated for several years.
24FAThomas Austin
Clemson
Versatile interior lineman who can play center or guard. Strong in a small area but has limited blocking range and a small upside to his game.
25FAAllen Smith
Stanford
One time highly rated prospect that never developed because of injuries. Flashes skills and dominance yet needs work on his game and must show some durability.
26FAAdrian Martinez
Colorado State
Strong, small area blocker with limited upside. Works hard and an easy player to like. Experienced at both guard and tackle which gives him a chance.
27FAJason Onyebuagu
Northern Illinois
Short, wide bodied blocker best in a small area. Powerful and easily controls defenders. Runs hot and cold but offers next level ability.
28FAAndrew Lewis
Oklahoma State
Nasty lineman who blocks with good pad level and mechanics. Lacks agility which hampers his ability to finish blocks.
29FAJeff Hansen
Montana State
30FACord Howard
Georgia Tech
Fluid, zone blocking lineman who shows a lot of skills in motion.
31FALaupepa Letuli
Hawaii
Strong, small area blocker who can play several positions. Best in confined quarters. Coming off a knee injury.
32FAZipp Duncan
Kentucky
Hard working blocker only effective in a very small area.
33FATerran Hillesland
Montana
34FAMatt McCracken
Richmond
35FAJames Williams
Harvard
Athletic Ivy league blocker with nice size and footwork. Must get stronger but has an upside.
36FAAlonzo Durham
Nevada
Nifty college tackle who projects to guard or center in the NFL. Must get stronger.
37FACasey Bender
South Dakota State
38FAMike Hicks
Connecticut
Small area blocker with good strength at the point. College tackle likely to move to guard in the NFL.
39FALevi Horn
Montana
40FARobert Lyle Hitt
LSU
Short, hard working guard with limited upside.
41FAGregg Peat
Oregon State
Arm wrestler who must improve the strength of his base.
42FAMike Diaz
Arizona
College tackle who projects to guard in the NFL. Plays a smart brand of football but athletically limited.
43FADoug Palmer
East Carolina
Nasty senior lineman underrated at present time. Combines strength with the ability to block on the move.
44FAMichael Shumard
Texas A&M
One time highly thought of prospect whose game has never improved.
45FADavid Moosman
Michigan
Strong lineman who blocks with good leans and controls opponents once engaged at the point. Better in a small area and struggle in motion. Offers a lot of upside yet must play at a high level consistently in '09.
46FANick McDonald
Grand Valley State
Fundamentally sound blocker who must get bigger and stronger.
47FANick Charles
Air Force
Potential zone blocking lineman.
48FAJohn Malecki
Pittsburgh
Former defensive lineman with potential as a zone blocking guard.
49FAChet Teofilo
California
Strong, small area blocker who makes effective use of angles and technique. A little stiff and not effective in motion.
50FAMoses Punzal
Portland State
51FATim McAvoy
Michigan
Flashes ability as a position blocker or when put in motion. Must be monitored this season.
52FANicholas Royal
Hampton
53FAGabriel Manns
North Carolina Central
54FAReid Neely
Mississippi
55FABrady Minturn
Bowling Green
Nasty lineman with adequate size and solid footwork. Needs to improve his overall strength yet a possible zone blocking guard.
56FADan Doering
Iowa
Updated 2/21
RankRndNamePosYear
11stNdamukong Suh
Nebraska
DT5Sr
21stEric Berry
Tennessee
S3Jr
31stGerald McCoy
Oklahoma
DT4Jr
41stRussell Okung
Oklahoma State
T4Sr
51stJoe Haden
Florida
CB3Jr
61stDez Bryant
Oklahoma State
WR3Jr
71stAnthony Davis
Rutgers
T3Jr
81stJason Pierre-Paul
South Florida
DE3Jr
91stBruce Campbell
Maryland
T3Jr
101stDerrick Morgan
Georgia Tech
DE3Jr
111stBrian Price
UCLA
DT3Jr
121stDamian Williams
USC
WR4Jr
131stRolando McClain
Alabama
ILB3Jr
141stEarl Thomas
Texas
S3So
151stDan Williams
Tennessee
DT5Sr
161stSam Bradford
Oklahoma
QB4Jr
171stSergio Kindle
Texas
OLB4Sr
181-2Mike Iupati
Idaho
G4Sr
191stTaylor Mays
USC
S4Sr
201stBryan Bulaga
Iowa
T3Jr
211-2Demaryius Thomas
Georgia Tech
WR4Jr
221-2Brandon Graham
Michigan
DE4Sr
231stJimmy Clausen
Notre Dame
QB4Jr
241stJared Odrick
Penn State
DT4Sr
251-2Arrelious Benn
Illinois
WR3Jr
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