The 2022 NFL Draft saw four interior linemen selected in the first round: Kenyon Green, Zion Johnson, Tyler Linderbaum, and Cole Strange. However, the 2023 class seems to lack Day 1-star power. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t talented prospects worth monitoring. Here are the top 10 iOL in the 2023 NFL Draft following the 2022 season.
Top 10 iOL in the 2023 NFL Draft
10. Andrew Vorhees, G, USC
A large man under a mask that’s known for his consistency and hatred toward those against him? While that sentence applies to Jason Voorhees, it fits just as well for USC’s Andrew Vorhees. The 2022 season was his fifth year as a starter for the Trojans, and he’s conceded just 11 sacks across 3,000+ snaps.
At 6’6″ and over 320 pounds with solid movement skills, it’s no wonder USC felt comfortable starting him at left tackle last year. Leverage will always be an issue at that size, but Vorhees is as reliable a pass and run blocker as they come.
9. Ricky Stromberg, C, Arkansas
As a tenured SEC offensive lineman, you know what you’re getting with Ricky Stromberg. He fits his hands well and has the lower body strength to hunker down vs. power rushers. Despite being a bit stiff, Stromberg has played 100+ snaps at each interior position (although he hasn’t started at guard since 2019).
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
Nevertheless, deficiencies in arm length, short-area agility to match defenders with a quick first step, and footwork drop Stromberg a tad behind the other top centers on this list. But with impressive grip strength and displacement ability, he shouldn’t have to wait too long to hear his name called in April.
8. Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State
Although not a guarantee to declare as a redshirt sophomore, Ohio State’s Luke Wypler has already garnered attention on the NFL draft circuit. He owns a lighter build at 6’3″ and 300 pounds, so larger opponents will naturally provide a mismatch.
Yet, Wypler is a stout center with proportional length, footwork, and rapid hand usage. His athleticism buoys a profile tailor-made for the zone-heavy systems the NFL has cultivated.
7. Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin
There are few players higher on this list with superior physical traits than Joe Tippmann‘s. He shined as a first-year starter in 2021, and although he’s taken a bit of a step back, the foundation is there to be a dominant center.
Tippmann’s combination of size (6’6″, 317 pounds), mobility, and power is rare, landing him on Feldman’s Freaks list. Tippmann explodes off the snap, operates well as a puller, and stuns defenders at the point of attack.
6. Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State
Outside of a handful of snaps, Cody Mauch has exclusively played offensive tackle for North Dakota State across five seasons. His highlight tape is full of NFSW plays, burrowing his opponent into the dirt. Yet, with limited length, a move to guard seems destined.
And while we haven’t seen Mauch there much at all, his traits and temperament translate to the interior. The NDSU OL is an easy mover with a nasty mean streak, punishing defensive linemen that volunteer their bodies as rag dolls. Mauch needs to prove he can handle power rushes from FBS/Power Five-level competition, and he will get the opportunity to do so at the Senior Bowl.
5. O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
O’Cyrus Torrence entered 2022 as a projected top-five interior lineman after transferring from Louisiana to Florida. Troubles with lateral mobility and stiffness have led to some poor reps, but he’s still a force to be reckoned with.
Torrence’s brand of physicality fits perfectly along the interior, as his size and strength overpower most defensive tackles he’s faced, even in the SEC. His wide frame, controlled aggressiveness, and plus run blocking make him an ideal candidate for power/gap schemes.
4. Layden Robinson, G, Texas A&M
With Texas A&M struggling for success, their top draft prospects have received little fanfare. But Layden Robinson is one of the most physically imposing linemen in the 2023 class. He can bury opponents in a phone booth with copious amounts of power.
MORE: Top 10 OTs in the 2023 NFL Draft
On top of his raw strength, Robinson possesses a swift initial burst and cinder-block hands to shock opponents at the line of scrimmage. He may not go in the first round like Kenyon Green last season, but Robinson is yet another Aggies OL to watch in the NFL draft.
3. Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia
Georgia’s defense gets all the praise, but the offense is also a powerhouse. And redshirt sophomore Sedrick Van Pran is right in the middle of it. The Bulldogs center is extremely explosive, firing off the line and into the chest of the man across from him.
As a younger prospect, Van Pran can still clean up hand placement and pad level, but he has the makings of a starting-caliber center. In fact, he could be the first Georgia linemen to go in the first two rounds since OTs Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson went on Day 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft.
2. Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State
Death, taxes, and Kansas State OTs converting to NFL interior linemen. First, it was Cody Whitehair, then it was Dalton Risner. Next up: Cooper Beebe. The Wildcats product sports a burly 6’4″, 320-pound frame. Anchoring is second nature, and he’s light enough on his feet to counter speedier rushers.
But what excites scouts most about Beebe is his raw power. Few others can move massive human beings against their will as Beebe can. His lack of arm length and top-tier mobility hinders his ceiling. But we already know what Beebe’s floor is — a mauler in the ground game and a sentry in pass protection.
1. John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota
We started the list of top 10 iOL with a sixth-year senior, so it’s only right we end off with one. John Michael Schmitz was a key cog in a Minnesota rushing machine that was all systems go this season. And while he hasn’t seen a single snap outside of center, Schmitz has the athleticism to fill any interior position.
He’s a sturdy 6’4″ and 320 pounds and knows how to play to his size. Schmitz’s immense play strength overwhelms opponents, and he has the football IQ, awareness, and technique you’d expect from a seasoned lineman.
Honorable Mentions
- Olusegun Oluwatimi, C, Michigan
- Javion Cohen, G, Alabama
- Steve Avila, C, TCU
- Jarrett Patterson, OL, Notre Dame
- Alex Forsyth, C, Oregon
- Emil Ekiyor Jr., G, Alabama
- Jake Levengood, G, Oregon State
- Clark Barrington, G, BYU
- McClendon Curtis, G, Chattanooga
- Jarrett Patterson, OL, Notre Dame