Player: Steve Avila
School: TCU
Measurables:
- Height: 6’3.5” (NFL Combine)
- Weight: 332 (NFL Combine)
- 40: 5.21 (NFL Combine)
- 10 Yard Split: 1.86 (NFL Combine)
- Bench: 28 (NFL Combine)
- Vertical Jump: 29.5” (NFL Combine)
- Broad Jump: 8’2” (NFL Combine)
- 3 Cone: 7.85 (NFL Combine)
- 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.74 (NFL Combine)
Graded Offensive Line Traits:
- First-Level Run Blocking: 8/10
- Second-Level Run Blocking: 7.25/10
- Pass Blocking: 7/10
- Blitz/Stunt Pickup: 4.25/10
- Pulling(if applicable): 7/10
- Footwork: 7/10
- Hands: 7.5/10
- Initial Contact: 7/10
Prospect Grade: 55/80; 68.8%- Top tier/elite level starter with pro bowl potential down the line
Projected Draft Day: Late Round 1- Early Round 2
Player Comparison: Mix of Nate Herbig and Jamon Brown
Player Summary:
Avila is a big guard who moves extremely well and has great body control for a man his size. He is undoubtedly pro ready and a day one starter; however, he has a massive red flag teams need to be worried about.
Avila is a really good first level blocker who can drive and move some defensive linemen, especially when he is asked to double and down block. When Avila is firing out and moving forward it is not often that he will be out muscled. Whether firing out or dropping into a pass set, speed can get the best of him. Avila doesn’t have any issue climbing up to the second level of run blocks; however, every once in a while he will be more of a banger than a sustainer, although his ability to sustain second level blocks isn’t as bad as I had heard. Avila makes really good initial contact, and uses his hands well; however, he could use work on hitting his strike point more consistently. He is also able to get extension on defenders when necessary.
My big red flag with Avila is his ability to see, recognize, and feel twists, stunts, and blitzes is bad. At first I originally noted that it was an “occasional delay”, but the more I watched him the more I saw it. He doesn’t realize that when his guy is crossing something is coming back. He’ll carry his guy crossing too far because he just doesn’t think that something is going to be coming back his way. His awareness and ability to read the field needs to be improved upon.
Overall, Avila is a really good IOL prospect, but if he can’t figure this out sooner than later, he could find his way to the bench despite being a strong prospect in all the other aspects of his game.