Offensive prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft to watch at the East-West Shrine Bowl
By Rob Paul
West IOL- Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas (6-4, 313)
To put it nicely, this center class is lacking, but if recent NFL Draft history has taught us anything it’s that starting centers can be found on Day 3. Those center steals tend to have two things in common, high IQs and a ton of starts at the Power Five level.
Arkansas’ Ricky Stromberg checks both those boxes as a four-year starter in the SEC whom renowned offensive line coach (turned Razorbacks head coach) Sam Pittman trusted to run the show-up front.
Though Stromberg isn’t the best athlete, he wins with leverage, hand placement, and nastiness in the run game. He’s got good initial pop in his hands and can sink his hips enough to use his leg drive to knock defensive linemen off the line. In pass pro he’s adept at helping his line pick up blitzes for the quarterback and does a good job using his hands, though he can struggle when left on an island.
Needing to see him play with a more consistent anchor vs. power and better footwork vs. speed, Stromberg in one-on-ones will be a must-watch for NFL scouts at the Shrine Bowl.