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Graham Shuler, C, Stanford: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report

By Kyle Sumner McKinnon

October 3, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Michael Rector (3, top) is congratulated by center Graham Shuler (52) for scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats during the third quarter at Stanford Stadium. Stanford defeated Arizona 55-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 3, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Michael Rector (3, top) is congratulated by center Graham Shuler (52) for scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats during the third quarter at Stanford Stadium. Stanford defeated Arizona 55-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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An underrated center that helped pave the way for Christian McCaffrey’s Heisman-worthy season, Graham Shuler will be looking to squeak into the top-160 of the draft.

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey is next season’s Heisman-favorite for a reason. Obviously, he was as impressive as any player in the country in 2015, but the five men he lined up behind deserve a chunk of the credit for making that possible.

Center Graham Shuler is one of those men, as he played a big role in McCaffrey’s historic sophomore campaign. While he enters the draft as a relative unknown, Shuler is a polished prospect that played his best ball towards the end of his senior season.

Do teams think enough of the standout Cardinal to make him a top-160 selection? Let’s take a look at where Shuler’s draft stock currently stands.

Vitals

Ht: 6-4

Wt: 285 pounds

Class: Senior

Hometown: Franklin, TN

Prospect Video

Strengths

Standing at 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, Shuler sports great size for his position. He’s able to create a nice push off of the line and can handle defenders with relative ease. A fine pass-protector and run blocker, Shuler is simply a mauler.

Playing in a pro-system at Stanford gives a huge boost to his draft stock.

Weaknesses

Though Shuler is an all-around solid prospect, he needs to improve upon the technical aspects of his game. He gets overpowered at times and needs to clean up his foot work so he can handle more powerful defenders at the next level.

Shuler’s biggest flaw is that he lacks speed, which can be a difference-maker depending on the offensive system.

Verdict

A strong, refined prospect at center, Shuler could potential surprise a team with how pro-ready he really is. His speed is a concern, as is his footwork, but with time, Shuler can become a productive starter in the league.

A sixth round selection likely awaits the former Cardinal.

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