Big Board ranking: #75
Positional ranking: #3
Overview
Position: C
College: Kentucky
Class: Senior (RS)
Age: 23
Measurables
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 307 lbs.
Arm length: 33 1/8”
Hand size: 10”
Athletic testing
40-yard dash: 5.21 sec.
Vertical jump: 24.0”
Broad jump: 102.0”
Bench press: N/A
3-cone drill: 7.75 sec.
Short shuttle: 4.95 sec.
Strengths
Ideal build with very good natural strength. Possesses desired length on the interior. Versatile with starting experience at center, right guard, and left guard. High intelligence and awareness. Great balance. Very technically sound as a run blocker. Excellent feel for positioning and leverage. Quick hands to latch on and extends with accuracy. Tremendous strength in his hands to stay connected. Quick at the snap in general. Has some mauler to his game and plays with grittiness. Able to uproot and/or power opponents to the ground. High-level understanding of positioning to create a lane. Exceptional ability to shield off defenders in space. Good patience on screen passes. Torqued Jordan Davis down on the second snap of the game and held his own versus talented Georgia defense (2021).
Weaknesses
Slower moving his feet in pass protection when unattached. Can get too upright scanning in pass protection. Average acceleration and speed in space. Seems to rev up and put his head down at times for blocks with more distance. Would like to see him wipe out defenders more on the second level.
NFL comparison
Connor McGovern (NYJ)
Conclusion
Overall, Fortner is a versatile, intelligent interior offensive lineman that does his best work in the running game. The play versus top competition should help offset concerns about his pass protection as an excellent selection on Day 2.