Fansided
Fansided

2019 NFL Draft: First Team Offense

By Brooks Austin

OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 28: A.J. Brown #1 of the Ole Miss Rebels catches a pass over Josh Liddell #28 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Hemingway Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 28: A.J. Brown #1 of the Ole Miss Rebels catches a pass over Josh Liddell #28 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Hemingway Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 11
Next
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 28: Offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins of Mississippi State speaks to the media during day one of interviews at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 28: Offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins of Mississippi State speaks to the media during day one of interviews at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Center: Elgton Jenkins, Miss St.

Just like you the reader, I understand that Garrett Bradbury has been the consensus number #1 center on every “NFL Draft Analyst’s” big board from ESPN, to Bleacher Report, FanSided, Twitter, to Reddit since day one of draft coverage. And hey, I’m all here for Mr. Bradbury.

But Elgton Jenkins is no slouch. This guy simply doesn’t go backward. Not in the passing game against bull rushing from heavy nose tackles, and definitely not in the run game. He wasn’t always this highly regarded though. Out of high school his only Power-5 offer was from Mississippi State, despite living just an hour west of Oxford.

The theme is pretty consistent with offensive linemen in terms of the standard requirements to be good in the NFL. Elgton Jenkins has the ability to walk into any NFL coach’s office and tell him, “I’m a 6’4″ 310 pound center, with arms long enough to clear tackle standards. Oh, and I’ve made starts in the SEC at all five positions across the line of scrimmage, and I did so extremely effectively.”

My favorite part about watching Jenkins’ tape is the fact that you can see the exact moment during every pass rush where the D-lineman realizes he’s just got nothing. Once those 34” arms hit that chest plate it’s a wrap.

Don’t worry, I’m exactly halfway done breaking down o-lineman. It’s not the flashiest thing in the world, but we all know there’s nothing more frustrating than having to watch your favorite team have to constantly pick the quarterback up off of the turf every third drop back.

Home/NFL Draft