Vi Teofilo, OG, Arizona State: NFL Draft Scouting Report

2016 NFL Draft: Vi Teofilo was a three year starter at Arizona State. He might not be a guy who jumps off the screen when you watch him, but he has great intangibles.

Vi Teofilo is a kid that I find very easy to root for.  He has a good story and he does all the little things well.  These great intangibles combined with functional athleticism made him a 3+ year starter for the Sun Devils.  Anyone who starts that long in a power five conference deserves some attention from scouts.  However, that doesn’t always mean their a strong prospect to play in the NFL.  Sadly I believe this is the case for Teofilo.

Strengths

Everything that you can’t measure, Teofilo does well.  He is very durable, having started 40 consecutive games for Arizona State.  Not just because he’s been lucky enough to avoid major injuries, but because he is very tough.  In fact, Teofilo even played through an ACL tear late in 2014.  This is something that can’t be coached, it’s a state of mind that you have to be born with.

In terms of his skills on the field, Teofilo has some positive attributes.  He uses his hands pretty well when he gets into his opponents chest.  This is likely a reflection of his championship wrestling background in high school.  Teofilo also shows a good understanding of the game, picking up stunts and taking good angles as a run blocker.

Weaknesses

Where Teofilo needs work is as an athlete.  His functional strength is only average at best by NFL standards.  While that can be improved, there is nothing that can be done about his short arms. Teofilo’s arms don’t even measure in at 31 inches which is well below NFL average for an offensive lineman.  This means he will always be fighting an uphill battle against his defender.

Teofilo needs to improve his technique.  His footwork isn’t very good and he will often times lunge and just try to push opponents with his upper body.  If he doesn’t learn how to use his feet properly in driving his man back then he won’t last long at the next level.  However, it is worth noting that he seems to have the balance and ability to move to the second level to develop his footwork.

Overview

As of now, Teofilo is an unimpressive athlete who has bad footwork.  That’s an undraftable combination for an offensive lineman.  However, everything else makes me want to believe he can find a role in the NFL.  His toughness and durability are not things you’ll find in most prospects.  And because he has some ability to move at his large size, it makes me believe he can develop his technique to a point where his footwork wouldn’t be a liability.  If he’s drafted it will likely be late on day three and probably won’t ever be more than a backup at the NFL level.