In a deep offensive tackle class in the 2020 NFL Draft, there may not be a more intriguing prospect than Auburn’s Prince Tega Wanogho.
This 2020 NFL Draft class is a rather deep one when discussing the offensive tackle position: from the technicians like Andrew Thomas and Jedrick Wills, to the highly athletic Tristan Wirfs, options abound for teams in need of offensive line help. One prospect to include in this list is Auburn’s Prince Tega Wanogho.
From Nigeria, Wanogho is not only new to the sport of football, but also to the offensive tackle position after being recruited to Auburn as a defensive end. A former basketball player, the athleticism is of Wanogho is evident when watching his film, but so is his newness to the sport and to the position at tackle.
This article will take an in-depth look at the Auburn big man, his film, traits, upside, and potential landing spots. Starting with his bio, we will get to know Wanogho as he preps for his future in the NFL and for the upcoming draft. He has one more game with the Tigers, a game he has not announced whether he will be playing or not, but he will be in Mobile Alabama for the Reese’s Senior Bowl next month.
The book on Prince Tega Wanogho
Committing to Auburn in February of 2015, Wanogho was the fourth overall rated prospect in the state of Alabama, and the ninth best defensive end prospect in the nation. A four star prospect coming out of high school, Wanogho was the 113th overall prospect in the entire nation.
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After redshirting his freshman season in 2015 after recovering from an injury, Wanogho switched to the offensive side of the football and has put together quite the illustrious career with the Tigers. Wanogho graduated in December of 2018 from Auburn, but returned to school in order to improve his draft stock ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He has been on the Academic Honor Roll every year of his career at Auburn, and saw his first action on the field in 2016 as a redshirt freshman. In 2017, Wanogho started the first four games of the season at left tackle for the Tigers; last year is when Wanogho burst onto the scene for the Tigers and entered into draft discussions.
Last year, Wanogho started every game at left tackle for the Tigers, and finished the year by being named to Pro Football Focus’ first team All-SEC. On the radar for the 2020 NFL Draft, Wanogho returned to Auburn where he has started every game for the Tigers in 2019 as well.
Wanogho’s strengths
There is no doubt about it: Prince Tega Wanogho has all of the tools to be a successful offensive tackle at the next level, having been born with all of the size and length in the world. He is a versatile player as well, as Auburn their left and right tackles in certain scenarios, so he has experience playing on both sides of the line.
On top of his athleticism, his Honor Roll status in the classroom translates to the field as well; it is evident that Wanogho is well aware of his responsibilities on a play-by-play basis, and plays with a cerebral savvy for the Tigers. He flashes on film with that athleticism and brilliance, but struggles to put it all together on a consistent basis.
When his tools are on full display for the best, Wanogho is able to stonewall edge rushers, often showing elite footwork to hang with pass rushers, sometimes five yards into the backfield. One thing that cannot be overlooked when discussing Wanogho, and maybe most importantly: he shows improvement week in and week out (especially in the run game).
After looking at Wanogho’s strengths, we now turn to the parts of his game that he must improve upon as he continues his path towards the 2020 NFL Draft.
Wanogho’s weaknesses
Watching Wanogho, it is evident that he has only been playing along the offensive line for four years as a redshirt senior; he is raw with his mechanics, but the upside with the Auburn tackle is tremendous. He flashes on film one play, then looks sloppy with his technique on the next; consistency is a massive concern when discussing Wanogho.
Listed at 6-7 and 307 pounds, Wanogho has a tremendous amount of athleticism for a man his side, however he struggles to use his massive length to his advantage. He can be a bit top-heavy at times, reaching towards defenders; this allows for him to be moved off the point of attack relatively easily. Looking at the Alabama game, Terrell Lewis and Anfernee Jennings were able to get around the edge early and often.
Hand placement is also another concern when looking at Wanogho’s tape, as he tends to struggle to get his hands inside the numbers of defenders, taking away leverage from his anchor. Wanogho also takes a shallow first step in pass protection, putting himself in compromising position right off the snap.
Overall, however, Wanogho is a big ball of clay that one NFL team will fall in love with his athleticism and upside, and hope that their offensive line coach can mold him into a star at the next level.
Closing the book on Wanogho
Right now, based on his film, Prince Tega Wanogho has a grade of a third round grade; this could change drastically, however, after he takes his trip to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine in March. He will test off the charts at the combine, and will rank near the top of the tackle class in his athletic testing.
With Wanogho, an NFL team will have to know what they are investing in and will need to take the good with the bad in hopes that they can mold him into an elite offensive tackle at the next level. With that being said, one desperate team may be willing to reach up and snag him as early as the first round by the time the 2020 NFL Draft rolls around.
He is ultra athletic and smart; these are two tools that lay a good foundation for a player who is both coachable and able to be molded into a starter in the National Football League. As Wanogho continues through his pre-draft process, starting with the Senior Bowl, to the combine, and into interviews with teams, his stock seems to be only on the rise.
He may be raw right now, but Wanogho is not one to bet against.