Big Board ranking: #74
Positional ranking: #3
Overview
Position: C
College: LSU
Class: Junior
Age: 22
Measurables
Height: 6’3 1/8”
Weight: 312 lbs.
Arm length: 34 1/8”
Hand size: 10 3/8”
Athletic testing
40-yard dash: 5.27 sec.
Vertical jump: N/A
Broad jump: N/A
Bench press: 25 reps
3-cone drill: N/A
Short shuttle: N/A
Strengths
High-end football intelligence. Thick and powerful. Prototype size with elite length for the interior. Hands are big and heavy. Not very explosive but has plus smoothness and athleticism. Plays with good overall balance. Great anchor against power in pass protection. Length allows him to recover when beaten. Has a second anchor when pushed back at the step. Keeps a solid base. Pad level stays low out of his stance. Able to engage and drive defenders to the ground. Hands are technically sound. Will pin guys after he wins. Good acceleration to the second level or leading the way in space. Very effective on double teams. No hesitation working to push the pile. Has the size/skillset to play guard. Challenged by and played well against top competition. A+ leadership and character.
Weaknesses
Reaction time seems a bit slow in pass protection. Has trouble recognizing stunts/blitzes. Would like to see more foot speed from a modern day center.
NFL comparison
Ryan Kelly
Conclusion
Overall, Cushenberry is an intelligent anchor on the offensive line, and he should bring as much to the team from a leadership/character perspective as he will on the field. Teams with a hole anywhere on the interior could likely start Cushenberry immediately, so he has a good shot at coming off the board early on Day 2.
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