NFL.com draft profile "Good Backup Who Could Become Starter"

[www.nfl.com]
JARED HOCKER
TEXAS A&M
G

Prospect Info

COLLEGE
Texas A&M

HOMETOWN
North Richland Hills, TX

CLASS
Senior

HEIGHT
6' 6"

WEIGHT
327 lbs

ARMS
32 1/8"

HANDS
11"

Prospect Grade
6.10
GOOD BACKUP WHO COULD BECOME STARTER

Player Bio
Hocker stepped into the starting lineup for two games at right guard (six total appearances) as a true freshman for his home-state school, just one year after starring at Birdville High School. He started the first eight games of his sophomore season, four at right guard and then four at left guard but suffered a season-ending knee injury. Hocker returned in 2019 to start all 13 games at left guard, and then switched back to the right side for all 10 contests in 2020 to allow talented sophomore Kenyon Green to step in left of the center. -- by Chad Reuter


Analysis
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst

Draft Projection
Rounds 6-7

NFL Comparison
Ben Powers

Overview
Three-year starter and key cog in run game success in 2020, helping to propel his unit to a Joe Moore Award (best O-line) finalist position. Hocker plays heavy and powerful behind his pads with an ability to strike, leverage and drive to open up running lanes for his backs. He's a pure power-based guard and will struggle if asked to consistently make reach blocks or play in space. He carries some heat in a stiff jab to stall his opponent's rush plans and has the anchor to sit down and fight it out against a pure bull rush. Ranging laterally and mirroring athletes is going to be an issue for him against athletic sub-package rushers and he might need help in those matchups. He could start off as a backup but has the size and power to make it as a starting guard in time.

Strengths
Thick-boned with girthy build along the interior.
Uses choppy settle steps into contact.
Plays with inside hands in run game and pass pro.
Upward strikes to leverage and lift defender's pads.
Fits into down-block with enough force to move opponent.
Makes block adjustments if defensive front moves post-snap.
Able to pull across formation, find target and secure block.
Plus leg drive through contact to build an advantage.
Works to achieve lateral positioning before striking.
Very good hip-to-hip positioning on double teams.
Fires his punch with booming pop.
Upper-body power and core strength to stall bull-rush tries.

Weaknesses
Mechanical pass sets could be exploited.
Limited slide quickness and range to secure both gaps.
Leans into initial punch at times.
Heavy hips and feet in recovery mode.
Needs faster recognition of defensive games in pass pro.
Slow out of his stance and into lateral steps for reach blocks.
Needs to stay diligent with pad level.
Good phase-one blocker but will lose his advantage during sustain.
Tardy breaking down for second-level blocks, allowing linebackers to escape.

Sources Tell Us
"He was way better (in 2020) than he was (in 2019). That entire offensive line was. He's got really thick calves and ankles and he carries his weight well, like you want to see from a guard." -- National scout for NFC team

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Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2021 10:18AM by Rams Junkie.