2011 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Will Rackley, OT, Lehigh

by Ed Valentine on Mar 23, 2011 1:00 PM EDT in 2011 NFL Draft

It can be very difficult to project small school prospects into the NFL. You just really never know how much of the physical skill you might see on tape or in workouts will translate to the NFL stage, where the competition is unlike anything a small-school player has ever experienced.

That makes judging a player like Lehigh offensive lineman Will Rackley, a 6-foot-3, 310-pounder, a tricky task. Rackley impressed enough at the NFL Scouting Combine that 13 NFL teams spoke to him, including the New York Giants. He is also enough of a prospect that Lehigh held its first-ever Pro Day last week, where the Giants were once again among the handful of teams in attendance.

Rackley played tackle at Lehigh, but NFL analysts appear to see his future at guard, and see him as a second-day type draft pick. The Giants have shown enough interest that this is a name to remember.

Scouting reports after the jump.

Will Rackley
OT, Lehigh
6-foot-3, 310 pounds
Projection: Day 2

Scouting Reports

From NFL.com:

Strengths:
Rackley has a nice combination of size and mobility. Displays a quick set. Can hold up against the bull rush. Gets off the ball, stays low, and establishes good initial position. Can jolt defenders on contact. Is comfortable and productive blocking in space and at the second level.

Weaknesses:
May struggle to slide his feet and mirror quicker interior pass rushers at the next level. Not a true road grader. Doesn't get a ton of movement off the ball. Overall awareness is still developing. Lacks experience dealing with NFL-style blitzes. Will face steep increase in competition level.

Overview:
Rackley's a small-school tackle who projects well as a guard in the NFL. He's above-average in pass protection and as a run blocker and has the mentality necessary to become a starter. Does a good job against power pass rushers but may have some difficulty against defensive linemen with great agility. Fires off the ball, wins the position battle, and is very capable moving to the second level but does not possess the leg drive to move defenders off the ball. Shows average awareness but will may need some time to adjust to the complexity of the NFL. Rackley's a Day 2 prospect.

From National Football Post:

Impression: A natural athlete with good range and overall coordination and bend in the run game. Would like to see him finish more consistently, but has the ability to make a roster, develop and fight for a starting role inside with some time.

From Sideline Scouting:

Positives: Reasonably long arms... Can get good arm extensions but tends to pump them too much... Reasonably quick hands... Solid pass blocker... Reasonably quick... Very solid knee bend... Good short area lateral movement and slide... Redirects reasonably well... Stays square and keeps his legs moving through the block... Wide base and solid anchor... Nice pop in his punch but winds up a little... Very solid run blocker... Plays with solid leverage... Does a good job controlling defender once he locks on... Can get to the second level... Adequate flexibility and body control... Good strength especially in the upper body... Hard worker, gives a good effort... Good finisher, stays on his blocks until the whistle... Mean streak.

Negatives: Inconsistent knee bend, gets a little too upright... Not very explosive, lacks any real suddenness to his game... Doesn't fire out into his blocks... Not real quick getting in front of stunts and delayed blitzes... While he isn't necessarily bad in space he does look a little stiff... Doesn't breakdown especially well on the move.

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Comments

dont know much about him

but im pretty sure i seen him on mayocks top 5 at some point (correct me if im wrong) but its pretty cool to see someone from my area make it up to this point in his career

"I like prime rib, and I'd love to win a Super Bowl" -Andy Reid

by nyg94 on Mar 23, 2011 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

Guards

I just want to know if Mitch Petrus is a future starter are career backup player. If he’s a future starter, the OL needs diminish a bit, it not, then let’s fight a future starting tackle AND guard in this draft. I think a center might be asking for too much in one draft.

by TheGifford on Mar 23, 2011 1:28 PM EDT reply actions

I hear great things!

I’ve McShay and Mayock love the kid and Shawn Zobel from draftheadquarters.com says if theres only one thing to take of all the info he puts out on players is that Will Rackley is going to be special, Shawn says that Rackley is one player he’ll put his neck out for and say hes going very good.

by gmen2thebowl on Mar 23, 2011 1:37 PM EDT reply actions

I wouldn't mind him..I'm obsessed with run blocking this year!

I just don’t want us to take too many raw or inexperienced guys.
Its OK to take a shot at one or two.Someone like Solder early or Rackley later but not both.
Also sold on Danny Watkins in the 2nd but he won’t be there.He sounds more instinctive and has experience and football temperment.
Will Beatty has little experience at UConn,also and we do need some guys who are OLineman for a long time and can sort things out on the fly and be on the same page with his linemates.

by Shaunthegiant on Mar 23, 2011 4:00 PM EDT reply actions

There is plenty of small school talent out there

they just better have been dominate at their level of competition. Will Rackley did just that so thats a great start in this draft process for him. Not only that, I’ve seen it written where he was the best OL at the East-West Shrine Game which is obviously a big bump in competition. From what I gather, he is really athletic and strong in the upper body but he relies on that upper body strength too much and not his technique. But any short comings could possibly be overcome with good coaching and his oustanding work ethic. He appears to be a relatively safe pick, somewhere in the 3rd or 4th round range that should be given a little time to pick up the NFL game.

He may very well turn out to be good but the Giants don’t have a need at all at the G position. We have Snee, Seubert, Diehl, Boothe, Koets and Petrus who can all man those positions. Even without Seubert if you don’t want to count on him yet, we still have 5 players for two positions, or 4 for the LG spot with Snee being an iron man at RG. We have a glut at G and we are relatively young there so there isn’t a need for a Will Rackley because he doesn’t project to T at all. Good player but I don’t see this as a likey pick.

by Robin's-meats-and-vegetables on Mar 23, 2011 7:37 PM EDT reply actions