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Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

• Height: 6-5, Weight: 325
• 40 Time: 5.0
• Projection1st round

Overview

Before opting out of his junior season, the prototypically-built Sewell established himself as one of the elite blockers in Pac-12 history.

Sewell, a consensus four-star recruit, won the starting job at left tackle in his first season on campus. As a sophomore, he won the Outland Trophy as the country’s best interior lineman in a Rose Bowl-winning season.

Also that season, he became the first sophomore to win the Pac-12’s Morris Trophy, given to the top offensive lineman in a vote of the league’s defensive linemen.

Analysis

Strengths

• Massive and freakishly athletic, possessing an NFL-caliber frame as a teenager.
• He’s a naturally large man who isn’t carrying extra, needless weight. Shockingly quick and agile at his size, dancing off the line of scrimmage and zipping to the second level.
• Adjusts on the fly, showing an almost unfair combination of balance, agility and awareness.
• The proverbial bear in a china closet in space, not only intimidating smaller defensive backs by getting in their way but actually catching and obliterating them.
• Capable of making difficult down and seal blocks due to his quickness and power.
• Terrific grip strength and upper-body power to lock on to defenders, often rendering them useless once he gets his hands on them.
• Isn’t a cheap-shot artist but shows plenty of nasty on double-team blocks, looking to knock defenders to the ground when they are occupied with others.
• Natural knee bender with the core strength to remain balanced against bull rushers, sinking his hips and anchoring.
• Sees twists and stunts coming and reacts quickly, passing off one defender to latch onto another. No known injury or off-field issues.

Weaknesses

• Can’t forget his technique if he is to maximize his talents.
• Pad level rises as he tires and will get away with leaning into defenders at times.
• Almost too athletic for his own good, attempting to make extra blocks that can border on illegal, extending his arms too far outside of his frame or hitting defenders on the side or back.
• Relative lack of dominant DLs (including speed rushers) in the Pac-12 raises questions for some about Sewell’s level of competition.

Pro comparison

Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers: The 6-5, 320-pound Williams was the fourth overall selection of the 2010 draft and has been voted to eight Pro Bowls, dominating the NFL’s defensive linemen with his remarkable blend of size, strength and athleticism. Like Williams, Sewell is a top five lock and future Pro Bowl fixture.



–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)