2021 NFL Draft: Notre Dame OT Liam Eichenberg scouting report

2021 NFL Draft scouting report for Notre Dame offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg.

The 2021 NFL Draft will not be quite as loaded with offensive tackles at the top as last year’s class, but there are still plenty of prospects who deserve to be in the first-round mix. Oregon’s Penei Sewell stands tall at the top of the class, but the race for OT2 will be an interesting one and Liam Eichenberg out of Notre Dame is a legitimate contender.

Let’s dig into Eichenberg’s game and try to find out where he fits in the 2021 NFL Draft class.

Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

Class: Redshirt Senior
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 302 pounds

Eichenberg was a four-star offensive tackle prospect out of Ohio who chose Notre Dame despite holding offers from other major programs including Alabama, Ohio State and Michigan. He redshirted and did not see the field at all as a freshman in 2016, but did see some action as a reserve player in 2017.

Notre Dame made Eichenberg their starting left tackle at the start of the 2018 season, following in the footsteps of back-to-back top 10 picks in Ronnie Stanley and Mike McGlinchey. Eichenberg obviously had big shoes to fill and was up for the challenge. He has not missed a single game since taking over as Notre Dame’s starting left tackle and has been a stalwart of one of the best offensive lines in the nation over the last few years.

With good overall size and adequate arm length, Eichenberg has the build to translate to offensive tackle at the next level. He also shows solid overall athleticism, who shows particularly impressive short-area quickness up front.

Eichenberg consistently shines as a run blocker, showing impressive initial quickness and fantastic natural power at the point of attack. He displays a powerful initial punch and also maintains impressive grip strength at all times. Once Eichenberg gets his hands on the defender in the run game, it is typically game over.

The Notre Dame product also shows fantastic mental processing as a pass protector. His on-field awareness is top-notch and is shown in his ability to diagnose and take care of blitzing players and not being fooled by stunts. Eichenberg also shows solid range in pass protection, snapping into his pass set quickly and cutting off angles for quicker edge defenders. His ability to sink in and anchor against power also stands out as a positive trait.

While Eichenberg is a solid overall athlete, he does lack ideal lateral mobility and is average at best in space. Eichenberg can take care of most first-level defenders in the run game, but he is not the kind of guy who you want reaching too far or consistently making blocks at the second level. He would undoubtedly be better suited in a gap scheme as opposed to a heavy zone scheme.

Overall, Eichenberg is a rock-solid offensive tackle prospect who could provide immediate stability up front. He is not going to be a perfect fit for every team, but in the right situation, will be a stable starting left tackle for many years. He is a first-round worthy prospect but likely lacks the long-term upside to be one of the first few offensive tackles off of the board in the 2021 NFL Draft.