2023 NFL Draft Center Rankings

1. Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia

Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Position: Center
Height: 6’ 4”
Weight: 310 Lbs

4 Star consensus recruit out of high school. His tape instantly shows why he received such high praise coming into Georgia. One of the most natural centers I have scouted. He displayed elite pass blocking his first year starting and has the most athletic lower body I have seen from 2023 center prospects. He has all of the makings of the top center prospect going into next year’s draft, he just needs to prove constancy and slightly improve his run blocking.

Pros:

Top tier quickness and lateral speed for his position; Makes for one heck of a puller
Strong communicator for the line
Always keeps his head and body on a swivel if free
Smart and efficient pass blocker
Picks up the blitz well; There was a play in the national championship game where he kicked all the way to outside the right tackle to pick up a blitzing Will Anderson Jr.
Does a great job redirecting players opposite of the ball carrier
Very high effort player
Does not get knocked off base easily, even if hit on blindside
Keeps a nice pad level and stance

Cons:

Does not do a great job at setting himself up for a block downfield
Although he can pick up a blitz pretty well, stunts seem to catch him off guard
Feet aren’t as active when engaged with a defender
Won’t really drive defenders backward

2. Andrew Raym, Oklahoma

Year: Junior
Position: Center
Height: 6’ 4”
Weight: 307 Lbs

High ceiling, high floor player. One of the most natural pass blockers of this class.Plays with a physical mindset and always wants to find extra contact. If anyone has the chance to steal our number one center spot away from Sedrick Van Pran, it’s Andrew Raym

Pros:

Very powerful
Always looking for a block to make; Will consistently climb to second level
Very strong sturdy base; Great pass protection form and technique
Natural pass blocker
Always feeling his blind spot for pressure
Fluid lateral mover

Cons:

Does not explode off the line
Lunges at times
Reacts late to blitzes

3. Olusegun “Victor” Oluwatimi, Michigan

Year: Graduate Student
Position: Center
Height: 6’ 3″
Weight: 310 Lbs

Anchor of a human being that excels in the run game. He constantly wins his hand placement battles, but there are a few concerns with his pass blocking technique. He has all of the physical attributes to be a top three center drafted, but he needs to settle down a bit and grow as a pass blocker.

Pros:

Does a good job staying engaged with defenders
High effort player
Anchor-type play style
Effective run blocker when going behind him
Understands role as a second in a double team very well
Smart football player
Going to be starting center for Michigan in 2022

Cons:

Doesn’t fully commit to a responsibility at times; Plays a guessing game
Dips his head down when trying to engage at times
Needs to improve pass-blocking technique and consistency
Lacks that domination factor

4. Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas

Year: Senior
Position: Center
Height: 6’ 4”
Weight: 318 Lbs

Ricky Stromberg is the epitome of “Play every down like it’s your last”. He is always climbing to the second level when he can and has a vicious initial strike. There are very few times where he is not the initiator in a battle. He is a handful to deal with as a power rusher. He is great against the bull rush and power guys. But if he wants to climb into the top 3 ranking, he’s going to have to show he can handle finesse rushers as well.

Pros:

Shows great athleticism and explosion after the snap
Does not lock and load his arms back, no wasted motion
Consistently engages with defensive line before they engage him
Violent playstyle, has no issues putting a defensive lineman in the dirt
Shows strong intelligence as communicator
Head is always on a swivel if there is nobody to block, picks up blitz, and double teams
Snaps at guard and was effective
Coaches vouch for his toolbox and athleticism
Very active blocker
Dominate in double teams and shedding to get to the next level
Handles his own against very powerful rushers

Cons:

Struggles against speed rushers. If he cant get a good grip on you it’s not a great rep
Has a hard time holding blocks in place if he is on the move
Does not have great hand placement when not stationary at the center position
Lunges and misses his targets if he is running or downfield
Gets pushed back in the pocket by large pass rushing lineman

5. Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame

Year: Graduate Student Senior
Position: Center
Height: 6’ 4”
Weight: 307 Lbs

He is a pass blocking anchor to say the least. He is never going to really bully people into the dirt, but he also makes sure to not ever let that happen to him. He is a prototypical Notre Dame offensive lineman. Big, strong, and smart. Patterson is somebody that has the potential to shoot all the way up to the number 2 spot, but could also fall if he does not improve the quickness of his game.

Pros: