Name: Collin Buchanan
School: Miami (OH)
Position fit: Guard
Stats to know: Had four separate games with no pressures surrendered in 2016.
What he does best:
- Flexibility to play tackle or guard.
- Natural blocker who keeps a solid base at the point of contact.
- Outstanding hand usage in pass protection. Throws his punch without getting off balance.
- Flashes nifty footwork and shows good reactions to counters in pass protection.
- Strong and powerful core. Shows up in run game and anchoring down in pass pro. Rarely gives ground versus bull rush.
- Improved his pass-protection grade in all three seasons of grading.
Biggest concern:
- Defenders can get their hands into his chest and disengage from his block.
- Loses balance from time to time when he tries to play low.
- Below-average athlete for a tackle. Takes forever to get going on pulls/reaches.
- Didn’t face top end speed rushers at Miami (OH) and could struggle with them at the next level.
- Grades were average and below average in several games.
- Regularly has a hitch coming out of his stance in run game.
Player comparison: Landon Turner, New Orleans Saints
Turner himself was a late-round prospect a season ago and Buchanan projects as a poor man’s version. Both are surprisingly adept in pass protection despite their size, but struggle maintaining any run block on the move. Gap scheme fit.
Bottom line: Buchanan has a natural blocking frame especially as a pass-blocker but he lacks some mobility at tackle. Buchanan’s best asset is his pass-blocking ability as he can lose his balance in the run game. The biggest concerns for Buchanan going forward will be his ability to handle the speed of NFL defensive lineman in pass and run situations. His grades were below average in several games and that’s concerning as the level of competition he faced was not top end talent. Buchanan may fit best as a guard at the next level and this will probably be his best shot to help a team.
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