Laremy Tunsil: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Laremy Tunsil is one of the best offensive linemen eligible for the 2016 NFL Draft, but he’s also one of the best players in general. Here’s how we see the Ole Miss prospect…
At a glance…
Strengths
Tunsil is a very good looking offensive tackle prospect on the whole. He has shown quick feet, great effort, great hand usage, and an ability to dominate opposing pass rushers. He can play out in space, and he can win in a phone booth situation. His technique at this young of an age is very solid, and even coming off of a major injury and suspension, he was able to do this early on in his return to football in 2015:
Laremy Tunsil has outstanding foot quicks and he knows how to reposition his hands. Check out this Chuck No... https://t.co/kuPI61kkZi
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) October 28, 2015
Laremy Tunsil is pretty good. https://t.co/wAvGIwI5Kb
— Dakota Moyer (@DakotaMoyer) December 14, 2015
There’s plenty of things to like about Tunsil’s game. It’s why he’s widely considered a top 5-10 prospect by most draft analysts and scouts. His ability to overpower rushers at times is exactly what has gotten him the recognition he has, even if there are legitimate concerns about him to this point.
I like that he sets a good, wide base and uses his physicality to move defenders off their spot. He is so strong, most defensive players have to find a way to make him miss with their speed and his aggressiveness in order to get by him.
Weaknesses
There are always weaknesses, no matter how good a prospect may seem at a glance. Tunsil suffered a broken fibula against TCU in January of 2015, and was arrested and charged with domestic violence six months later. He turned himself in in that situation, and was suspended to start the NCAA season as a result.
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It was, to speak kindly, an horriffic start to his junior season at Ole Miss but Tunsil proved when he got back on the field exactly why he was so highly rated, not only going into this season but coming out of high school as a prep as well.
The injury and the domestic violence charge are two massive red flags waving in the wind here, but Tunsil’s not perfect as a player, either.
As aggressive as he is, that can tend to be a problem for him at times and like an aggressive hitter in baseball, Tunsil will whiff at times.
Overall
The positives of Tunsil as a player don’t necessarily outweigh the negatives if he’s going to get in trouble off the field, but he’s a heck of a football player who has great footwork, a nasty streak on the field, and really sound mechanics all-around. His footwork is outstanding for a big man, he can move and make blocks in space, and his initial hand punch is as violent as I’ve seen from an offensive line prospect.
He should be a day one starter in the NFL and while it’ll obviously take him some time to adapt, he can also be a star player at the next level. The sky is the limit.