2015 NFL Scouting Combine: OL to Watch

The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine is well underway with interviews, medicals, and orientations. The OL are first up in the positional on field workouts, which commence on Friday. The other positions will come in the traditional staggered manner. So in that fashion, I'll be breaking them down in on field workout order.

*note* I'll be breaking down the OL by their original position as listed on the Combine invite list

Tackle

1. Ali Marpet 6'3 307 Hobart (Illinois)

- Can the Division 3 prospect continue his surprising ascent on the boards in Indy? Marpet is probably the biggest winner out of everyone in Mobile. He more than held his own against much tougher competition. He noticeably shined during both one on ones and the team portion. Marpet has shown a lot of good things including quick feet and a surprising amount of strength as well. AM is very quick on the pull block and transitions his feet almost immediately.

2. Rob Havenstein 6'8 333 Wisconsin

- It will be interesting to see what he comes in at during the weigh in process. He had a positive impact at the Senior Bowl. A Bryant McKinnie type with Wisconsin's famed OL tradition. Can he live up to the hype of former Badger lineman past?

3. T.J. Clemmings 6'6 315 Pittsburgh

- He really needs a bounce back week in Indy after a miserable experience in Mobile. The hype train really created unfair expectations on him last month. Probably the lineman who stands to gain/lose the most this week.

4. Jake Fisher 6'6 300 Oregon

- Needs a solid week in the medical room and on the field to allay concerns about his health. He suffered a knee injury that knocked him out of several games in 2014. Also needs to answer questions about Oregon's "system" and how that fits for the pros.

5. Terry Poole 6'5 310 San Diego State

- Poole has played both tackle spots but is still raw as a prospect considering he didn't pick up football full time until his senior year of high school. He could be worth a seventh round pick and stashed on the practice squad to develop. The potential is there to be a backup swing tackle. He needs to improve upon his Shrine Game performance.

Guard

1. Laken Tomlinson 6'3 323 Duke

- With some luck, he could be the highest draft selection for a guard for Duke in either the NFL or NBA drafts this year (hey, it's almost March Madness time). One of the bigger winners of that week in Mobile. Tomlinson was the star on the OL for either side this week. He shows a good high low balance and isn't easily bullied by bigger tackles and ends. Footwork was a little sloppy for my tastes though.

2. Tre Jackson 6'4 330 Florida State

- The "least" heralded member of the Seminoles OL unit. He more than held his own at the Senior Bowl and was named Most Outstanding Player at the festivities there. Well coached on the fundamentals. Needs to work on conditioning and weight. Could he be the next standout OL for Rick Trickett's legendary CV as the country's best OL coach?

3. John Miller 6'3 315 Louisville

- Miller isn't the greatest athlete but is a durable, fundamentally sound, and intelligent technician of the game. He had a good showing at the Shrine Game and needs to build on that performance.

Center

1. Reese Dismukes 6'3 295 Auburn

- The Rimington Trophy (given to the nation's best center) winner had a standout career at Auburn. He is undersized for the position and needs to gain weight to cope with the bigger tackles. Also had an unfortunate highlight in 2014 that could rival the ButtFumble for its epic failure. In the final seconds of that wacky Texas A&M game, he snapped the ball when QB Nick Marshall wasn't looking, which resulted in a fumble and an Aggie kneeldown win.

2. Max Garcia 6'5 305 Florida

- The only Gator lineman to make every start during the past two years. Garcia battled Dismukes for the right to be the country's best center. Like Dismukes, had a good Senior Bowl effort. Versatile as he's played guard, tackle, and center. A transfer from Maryland.

3. Hroniss Grasu 6'3 298 Oregon

- Needs a great week in medicals and on field work like teammate Jake Fisher. He missed several games in 2014 due to injury (seriously the Ducks were down to their fourth string tackle, third string guard, and second string center at various points).

Additional notes

- I'm interested to see how the OL from Florida do as the Gators offense has been abysmal during Will Muschamp's tenure. There could be some talent to be mined in Gainesville.

- The South Carolina contingent (AJ Cann and Corey Robinson) also bears watching.

- Cameron Erving from Florida State could be interesting as he's been great at center despite only starting only 5-6 games there since moving from left tackle. Erving was a franchise tackle type of performer before making the switch.