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1. BRANDON SCHERFF | Iowa 6045|319 lbs|5SR Denison, Iowa (Denison HS) 12/26/1991 (age 23) #68
BACKGROUND: A three-star offensive tackle recruit out of high school, Scherff received scholarship offers from Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas State, but decided to stay in-state and committed to Iowa, the first school that offered him. After redshirting in 2010, he filled in at left guard for the Hawkeyes as a redshirt freshman in 2011, starting three games. Scherff moved to left tackle as a sophomore and started the first seven games of 2012 before a right leg injury prematurely ended his season. He returned healthy in 2013 and started all 13 games at left tackle, earning First Team All-Big Ten and All-American honors. Scherff bypassed the NFL to return for his senior season in Iowa City, starting all 13 games again at left tackle and winning the 2014 Outland Trophy. He was a consensus All-American and named the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in the Big Ten, earning First Team All-Conference honors. Scherff received an invitation to the 2015 Senior Bowl, but declined.
STRENGTHS: Broad shouldered with a stout upper body, wide base and just enough arm length…nice job playing with his feet underneath him, showing a light lower body to shuffle laterally and pick up pressures…balanced and squares well to extend and attack the breast plate of his target with a strong initial punch…rolls his hips as a run defender, using stone hands and leg drive to move bodies – takes his man where he wants…has the grip strength to latch-and-control with the upper body power to keep separation between his reach and the target…good patience and discipline in his set-up, shifting his weight well and controlling his momentum as a pass protector…bursts out of his stance and quickly gets to the second level to throw his body around like a battering ram, getting into position to take out defenders on stretch and outside runs…assignment sound in the run game with improved technique and leverage as a pass blocker…physical, competitive finisher and enjoys the violence of the game, bringing it every snap with intensity that never wavers…plays decisive and sure of himself with consistent hustle…three-year starter (36 career starts) with experience at both tackle and guard, starting every game at left tackle the last two seasons…natural leadership traits with reliable intangibles.
WEAKNESSES: Squares well, but has hip and joint tightness, limiting his redirection skills…tends to lose leverage too easily due to his upright style and needs to play with more consistent pad level and anchor, especially in space where he is susceptible to inside counters and bull rushers who attack his body…lacks elite lateral quickness to routinely cut off speed on the edges…spotty timing and placement with is hands, lacking ideal arm length to quickly recover…will rely on his upper body strength at times and forfeit his technique…will attract penalties with his preference to grab and take down defenders…needs to mature his awareness skills pre-snap to recognize defensive movement and adjust accordingly – head ducker…minor durability concerns after a right knee scope (Sept. 2014), although he didn’t miss any games – missed the second half of his sophomore season after right leg surgery (Oct. 2012) to repair a broken fibula and dislocated ankle.
SUMMARY: A road grader in the run game with top-notch football character, Scherff is well-coached and his tape shows consistent improvement the last three seasons at left tackle for the Hawkeyes. He has above average balance and veracity as a blocker with an eager blocking attitude and finishing toughness, especially at the second level. Although he has lower body quickness and keeps his feet underneath him, Scherff has his hiccups in pass protection with only average range and length to handle speed and spacing responsibilities. He has enough skills to survive on the edges in the NFL, likely at right tackle, but his best position at the next level is inside at guard, which fits his skill-set and mind-set – safe player who can’t be drafted too early in the first round.
BACKGROUND: A three-star offensive tackle recruit out of high school, Scherff received scholarship offers from Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas State, but decided to stay in-state and committed to Iowa, the first school that offered him. After redshirting in 2010, he filled in at left guard for the Hawkeyes as a redshirt freshman in 2011, starting three games. Scherff moved to left tackle as a sophomore and started the first seven games of 2012 before a right leg injury prematurely ended his season. He returned healthy in 2013 and started all 13 games at left tackle, earning First Team All-Big Ten and All-American honors. Scherff bypassed the NFL to return for his senior season in Iowa City, starting all 13 games again at left tackle and winning the 2014 Outland Trophy. He was a consensus All-American and named the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in the Big Ten, earning First Team All-Conference honors. Scherff received an invitation to the 2015 Senior Bowl, but declined.
STRENGTHS: Broad shouldered with a stout upper body, wide base and just enough arm length…nice job playing with his feet underneath him, showing a light lower body to shuffle laterally and pick up pressures…balanced and squares well to extend and attack the breast plate of his target with a strong initial punch…rolls his hips as a run defender, using stone hands and leg drive to move bodies – takes his man where he wants…has the grip strength to latch-and-control with the upper body power to keep separation between his reach and the target…good patience and discipline in his set-up, shifting his weight well and controlling his momentum as a pass protector…bursts out of his stance and quickly gets to the second level to throw his body around like a battering ram, getting into position to take out defenders on stretch and outside runs…assignment sound in the run game with improved technique and leverage as a pass blocker…physical, competitive finisher and enjoys the violence of the game, bringing it every snap with intensity that never wavers…plays decisive and sure of himself with consistent hustle…three-year starter (36 career starts) with experience at both tackle and guard, starting every game at left tackle the last two seasons…natural leadership traits with reliable intangibles.
WEAKNESSES: Squares well, but has hip and joint tightness, limiting his redirection skills…tends to lose leverage too easily due to his upright style and needs to play with more consistent pad level and anchor, especially in space where he is susceptible to inside counters and bull rushers who attack his body…lacks elite lateral quickness to routinely cut off speed on the edges…spotty timing and placement with is hands, lacking ideal arm length to quickly recover…will rely on his upper body strength at times and forfeit his technique…will attract penalties with his preference to grab and take down defenders…needs to mature his awareness skills pre-snap to recognize defensive movement and adjust accordingly – head ducker…minor durability concerns after a right knee scope (Sept. 2014), although he didn’t miss any games – missed the second half of his sophomore season after right leg surgery (Oct. 2012) to repair a broken fibula and dislocated ankle.
SUMMARY: A road grader in the run game with top-notch football character, Scherff is well-coached and his tape shows consistent improvement the last three seasons at left tackle for the Hawkeyes. He has above average balance and veracity as a blocker with an eager blocking attitude and finishing toughness, especially at the second level. Although he has lower body quickness and keeps his feet underneath him, Scherff has his hiccups in pass protection with only average range and length to handle speed and spacing responsibilities. He has enough skills to survive on the edges in the NFL, likely at right tackle, but his best position at the next level is inside at guard, which fits his skill-set and mind-set – safe player who can’t be drafted too early in the first round.
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