The center position has experienced a revival of sorts in recent years. Gone are the days of the short, compact center. Teams are now looking for centers who have size, length and offer versatility. Offensive line coaches want centers who can also kick outside and play guard.

Here are our top ten centers in this draft.

XNOJOE’S Top Ten Centers

1. Billy Price, Ohio State, 6-4 305

2. James Daniels, Iowa, 6-3 306

3. Scott Quessenbury, UCLA, 6-4 315

4. Frank Ragnow, Arkansas 6-5 312

5. Bradley Bozeman, Alabama, 6-5 314

6. Mason Cole, Michigan, 6-4 307

7. Will Clapp, LSU, 6-4 311

8. Austin Corbett, Nevada, 6-4 306

9. Brian Allen, Michigan State, 6-1 300

10. Sean Welsh, Iowa, 6-3 295

Thoughts on the Class

• The age of the combo center is upon us. Teams are looking for center, guard combo types that offer versatility. Most teams only carry seven offensive lineman on game day so having two swing guys is of paramount  importance.

 

• Billy Price of Ohio State is as fundamentally sound as any lineman in this draft. He plays with a good base at the point of attack, has good upper body strength and gets inside position consistently as a run blocker. Price is a good athlete. He can mirror, punch and recoil as a pass blocker and he can be used in the run game as puller.

 

• Alabama’s Bradley Bozeman is country strong and country tough. Bozeman was a three year starter at Alabama and the anchor of the Tide’s offensive line. Bozeman plays with a good base, gets consistent movement against nose tackles and holds up against bull and rip pass rushers.

 

• James Daniels will be the next great interior lineman from Iowa. He has heavy hands, gets good movement as a run blocker and is athletic in space. He can pull and lead perimeter run plays. Daniels is versatile. He could play guard at the next level as well.

 

• Arkansas’ Frank Ragnow wins with technique and power. He is a road grader at the point of attack in the run game. Arkansas ran a lot of A gap and B gap run plays because of Ragnow’s ability to win one on one blocks.

 

• Will Clapp of LSU and Sean Welsh of Iowa are two lineman that I like fundamentally but I also like them because they are long and can kick outside to guard and play there full time.

This class is solid and as many as five centers could go in the first rounds of this draft. Teams value this position but it is even more valuable now because of the versatility many of the players at this position offer.