The 2019 NFL Draft is over and teams are getting comfortable with their new draft picks. The next class of players is getting prepared now for another year of college football. Each position will be analyzed in the coming days. Here are the best 2020 NFL Draft prospects: Guards and Centers.
Note: Players will not be ranked in the article.
Biadasz has started on a good Wisconsin offensive line for two seasons now and is heading into his third season anchoring the line at center. He is 6-foot-3 and 318 pounds, which is solid enough to play center in the NFL.
He redshirted in his first season on campus, but started as a redshirt freshman in 2017 and made the Freshman All-American Team. As a sophomore, he was an All-American Honorable Mention. His play over the last two seasons has helped Jonathan Taylor become one of the best running backs in the country. He will likely be the first center selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Tommy Kraemer (Photo by ndinsider.com)
He has played both tackle and guard in his college career, but most recently played guard for the Fighting Irish. Kraemer has good size for both at 6-foot-6 and 319 pounds, which could hive him some valuable versatility in the NFL.
Kraemer did not play in his first season on campus, but started at right tackle in 2017 at Notre Dame. In 2018, Kraemer played most of the time at guard. His blocking helped the Notre Dame offense take a real step forward and the team was able to make the College Football Playoff. He could have been drafted if he left after the 2018 season, which means if he puts another solid campaign together, Kraemer will be one of the first interior linemen selected.
Leatherwood is another player who could play either tackle or on the interior, but is currently playing guard for Alabama. The Crimson Tide junior is 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, so like Kraemer, he has good size, which will allow him to play multiple positions on the offensive line.
In 2017, Leatherwood was a freshman and saw limited action. He played most of the time at right tackle, but made the move to right guard in the 2018 season. Leatherwood was an All-SEC Second Team selection and helped the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff. If he can show improvement this season, he’ll be picked before the end of the second day of the 2020 NFL Draft.
As one of the most experienced guards in the class, Lemieux is also projected to be one of the first guards selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. He is 6-foot-4 and 317 pounds, making him an adequate size for an NFL guard.
He redshirted in 2015, but started at left guard in 2016. Lemieux has started at left guard ever since and has shown a proficiency for pass blocking. After getting plenty of snaps at guard, Lemieux can log one more season then be selected early in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Zach Shackelford (Photo by 247sports.com)
Texas is still trying to make their big comeback, but they do at least have a good center for the upcoming season. Shackelford stands 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds. He’ll look right at home on an NFL offensive line once he makes the move to the next level.
He was a Freshman All-American at center in 2016. As a sophomore, he made 10 starts, as he was dealing with a back injury. For his junior season, he was named First Team All-Big 12. Shackelford decided to go back to school for his senior season and should be one of the best centers in the country once again.
Williams could’ve left school after last season to go pro, but decided to return for his senior season, despite already having a solid career. He is on the smaller side for centers at 6-foot-2 and 310 pounds, but should still be able to be successful in the NFL.
He has experience at guard, but will likely play center this year for the Bulldogs. Williams entered the starting lineup as a redshirt sophomore at guard and hasn’t given up his spot in the starting lineup. Moving to center should only make him more valuable to NFL teams and raise his draft stock.
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