2022 NFL DRAFT PROSPECT REPORT

Cole Strange

Film Watched: Kentucky 2021, East Tennessee 2021, Senior Bowl

To read Simon Carroll’s interview with Cole Strange, click here:

Pro's:

  • Experienced offensive lineman with 44 FCS games under his belt at three different spots
  • Absolutely shredded; piled on the weight since arriving in Chattanooga & looks capable of adding more
  • Ultra-competitive; plays with the classic small school chip on his shoulder.
  • 100% effort, non-stop motor on every snap
  • Elite athlete for an o-lineman; arrived at UTC as an edge rusher before converting immediately to OL
  • Has the lateral mobility to reach any landmark as a run blocker; excels blocking on the move
  • Blasts into defenders with good torque, shooting up through his hands to move people freely
  • Strong first punch and able to control the rep thereafter
  • Employs good leverage & knee bend to offer a stout anchor vs power rushers
  • Fluid enough to mirror speed rushers on the interior

Con's:

  • Still slightly undersized for an NFL lineman – just sneaks over the 300lb mark
  • Footwork kick sliding into his pass sets still a work in progress
  • Hands tend to strike wide and liable to slip off blocks, unable to reset and re-strike
  • Driving nose tackles off the ball in power schemes might be a tall ask in the NFL
  • Vulnerable to double moves from savvy pass rushers

The Verdict:

“What a wild ride it’s been for Cole Strange, the kid from Knoxville who very nearly committed to Air Force before choosing to stay close to home. How The Vols wish they’d pursued him now; Strange immediately switched to the offensive line and found a home primarily at left guard - and it wasn’t long before he was dominating defensive fronts and taking names. Anyone concerned with the quality of opposition should see his Senior Bowl performance, where he basically played as a center all week. This was a savvy move by Jim Nagy & his staff; teams will be worried about his size and may project him more as the pivot, and Strange proved he has what it takes at the position. Nobody has seen their stock rise more than Cole Strange in this process, and he’s not going to be on the board come day three.”
Mock Draft
Simon Carroll
Head Of NFL Draft Content

PREDICTION: 3RD ROUND PICK

Mock Draft

SIMON CARROLL

HEAD OF CFB/NFL DRAFT CONTENT

PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN COVERING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL DRAFT SINCE 2009. BASED IN MANCHESTER, SIMON IS ALSO CO-CREATOR & WEEKLY GUEST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST.

5/5