The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine: Day 4 – The Protectors, The Enforcers, The Giants in the Trenches
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis.
The glamour players had their time. The quarterbacks stood in the spotlight, launching moonshots and threading passes through invisible windows. The speed merchants left vapor trails in the 40-yard dash, rewriting scouting reports in real time. The running backs danced through the cones, selling dreams of broken ankles and game-breaking cuts.
But today? Today belonged to the men who make football possible.
No player in the NFL operates without them. No quarterback hits his target, no running back finds a lane, no offense functions without the men in the trenches. Today was for the offensive linemen.
They don’t sell jerseys. They don’t get the glory. But ask any head coach, any general manager, any defensive lineman who’s tried to move one of these mountains, and they’ll tell you—you don’t win without them.
And today, on the final day of the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, the next generation of protectors stepped forward.
The Athletic Marvels: Tackles Who Move Like Tight Ends
Will Campbell (LSU) – The Big Man With the Small Man Feet
6’5, 319 pounds, 4.98 in the 40-yard dash.
That shouldn’t be possible.
To put it in perspective, since 2003, only two linemen weighing over 315 pounds have run a sub-5.00 second 40-yard dash and cleared a 30-inch vertical at the combine:
- Trent Williams (arguably the best tackle of his generation)
- Tristan Wirfs (already a Super Bowl champion and All-Pro)
Now? Add Will Campbell to the list.
The LSU product moved like an oversized tight end in position drills. His lateral agility was stunning. His balance in kick slides, the effortless way he absorbed contact and reset his feet—this is the kind of guy you trust with a franchise quarterback’s life.
Now, some scouts are whispering about his arm length. Could it be too short for left tackle? Does it move him inside to guard? But if you watch Campbell move—really watch him move—you know the truth.
He’s a tackle. A damn good one. And after today, he might be the first one off the board.
Armand Membou (Missouri) – The Freak of the Week
The whispers started the second his name was called.
“Watch this guy.”
“He’s gonna test out of his mind.”
“This could be a top-10 pick when it’s all said and done.”
They weren’t wrong.
6’4, 332 pounds. 4.91 in the 40. 34-inch vertical.
That’s not a lineman. That’s an edge rusher. That’s an outside linebacker. That’s a missile disguised as an offensive tackle.
Membou’s tape already told the story of an elite right tackle prospect. He’s powerful, violent at the point of attack, and he moves with a rare natural aggression. But today?
Today, teams started whispering about something else.
Left tackle.
It’s the money position. The spot reserved for the most elite of elite offensive linemen. And now? Membou is officially in that conversation.
Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota) – The Explosion in the Trenches
Some guys win with power. Some win with finesse. Ersery?
He wins with explosion.
- 6’6, 331 pounds
- 1.75-second 10-yard split in the 40 (which, if you’re wondering, is faster than some defensive linemen)
What that means is simple: he’s in your face before you can even react. His first step is lightning quick, and once he gets his hands on you? Forget about it.
In positional drills, Ersery showed elite balance and clean hand placement. His punch was violent, yet controlled. He’s not just some raw athlete—he’s a lineman who knows how to use his gifts.
NFL teams value pass protectors who can handle speed rushers without help. After today? Ersery proved he’s that guy.
Josh Conerly (Oregon) – The Fastest Big Man on the Field
You know who ran the fastest 10-yard split of any offensive lineman at the combine?
Josh Conerly.
1.71 seconds.
That’s skill-position burst. That’s defensive-end quickness. That’s the kind of explosion that lets a tackle cut off a pass rusher before they even get started.
Conerly isn’t just an athlete. His balance in drills, his ability to reset against counter moves, his recovery footwork—it all screams high-level pass protector.
With the way the game is played today, teams need tackles who can move in space, handle speed, and still be strong enough to anchor. Conerly just checked every box.
The Big Brains of the Offensive Line: Centers Who Lead the Pack
Jared Wilson (Georgia) – The Quarterback of the Line
Centers don’t always get the love they deserve. But if you’re an offensive coach, you know:
You can’t do a damn thing without a great center.
Wilson was the fastest lineman on the field today.
- 40-yard dash: 4.84 seconds (best of any offensive lineman)
He’s more than just speed. He’s the smartest guy on the field. He sees the defense before they move. He calls out protections before the quarterback. He makes sure the entire line is operating as one.
Scouts were already high on his IQ and leadership. Now? They know he’s got the athleticism to match.
Teams looking for an instant starter at center? Wilson is their guy.
The Underrated Maulers: The Versatile Big Men
Grey Zabel (North Dakota State) – The Underdog Who Won’t Be Overlooked
- 36½-inch vertical jump.
For an offensive lineman? That’s absurd.
Zabel isn’t just strong—he’s an athlete. And he’s played everywhere. Guard. Tackle. Center. If you need a guy who can plug in anywhere and not miss a beat? He’s your man.
Tyler Booker (Alabama) – The Leader in the Locker Room
Booker didn’t just show up physically. He won the interviews.
This guy commands a room. He’s confident, smart, and understands the game at a level that some NFL vets don’t.
At 6’5, 332 pounds, he’s got the frame to play guard or tackle. And with his mindset? He’ll be a tone-setter in any locker room.
Stock Watch: Who’s Rising, Who’s Falling?
Stock Up
Will Campbell (LSU) – Cemented himself as a top tackle in the class.
Armand Membou (Missouri) – Might have moved himself into the top 10.
Jared Wilson (Georgia) – The best center prospect in the draft.
Josh Conerly (Oregon) – The quickest lineman in the class.
Stock Down
Few disappointments. The big men came ready to prove themselves.
What Comes Next?
The combine is over. The testing is done. The numbers are locked in.
Now? The real work begins.
Pro Days. Private workouts. Endless debates in draft rooms.
And when draft night arrives, and a team turns in a card for one of these giants, remember this—
They don’t just protect the quarterback.
They protect the franchise.
- – Joseph Angel | Chief NFL Draft Analyst for TheNSR Network