Alabama offensive guard Chance Warmack doesn't play a sexy position. Interior linemen don't normally garner a lot of attention in the lead-up to the NFL Draft, because their contributions are difficult to ascertain from a stat sheet. Make no mistake, however, Warmack is not just one of the best prospects at his position, but one of the best overall heading into April.
NFL Draft 2013: Chance Warmack prospect profile
Alabama offensive guard Chance Warmack is hoping to pull off a rare feat: Being drafted in the Top 10 of the NFL Draft as an interior offensive lineman.
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For more on Warmack, visit Mocking The Draft and 'Bama blog Roll Bama Roll
Warmack was a pivotal part of an offensive line that paved the way for a Crimson Tide national championship season. The Tide averaged 5.6 yards per carry during 2012-13 season. They finished 16th in the country and second in the SEC averaging 228 yards rushing per game.
Pros:
- Warmack is physically ready for the NFL. He is a solid 6’3, 320 pounds, with the strength to potentially be a dominant run blocker at the next level.
- Warmack’s athleticism is elite as well, given his mountainous size. He has the initial burst and lateral mobility to quickly hit defensive linemen and drive them back in the running game.
Cons:
- Warmack’s pass-blocking is considered weaker than his run-blocking. Still, he has apparently improved enough this past season to garner Top 10 projections in the draft.
- Warmack can play anywhere along the interior of the line, but at 6’3 he doesn’t have the length to slide out to tackle. This isn’t necessarily a negative for NFL teams in need of his skill set, but a little more versatility is never a bad thing.
Quotables:
Buckys Brooks of NFL.com:
1) Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama: It is uncommon for an interior blocker to sit atop any list of top prospects, but Warmack’s talent is too good to ignore. Warmack is a mountain of a man with remarkable athleticism and movement skills. Most importantly, he is a physical blocker capable of moving defenders off the ball in the running game. With Warmack also adept at stalemating rushers in pass protection, there are few questions regarding his game. Bottom line: He is unquestionably the most pro-ready prospect in the BCS Championship Game.
Paul Schrager of FOXSports.com says Warmack would be a nice fit for the Dallas Cowboys:
Though you won't read this many places, Tony Romo had his best year as a pro in 2012. He did so playing behind a terrible offensive line. Doug Free hasn't been the player the Cowboys thought he'd be when they rewarded him with a big contract and Tyron Smith seemed to be called for a false start on every other play from scrimmage this season. Injuries stung, but there needs to be more good, young linemen protecting Romo. Warmack can play guard or center and he can play them in the big leagues right now. Not as sexy as some of Jerry's usual picks, but a solid one.
Game tape vs. LSU, courtesy of draftbreakdown.com:
College info/stats:
- Unanimous first-team All-American and All-SEC selection after the 2012 season. Named a quarterfinalist for the Lombardi Trophy given every year to the top lineman or linebacker in college football.
- 39 career starts, all at left guard. Led Alabama with 37 pancake blocks last season.
Twitter:
Chance Warmack doesn’t seem to have a personal account, but he has inspired a couple fan accounts.
@ChanceWarmack is campaigning for Warmack to join the San Diego Chargers:
@chargersgm Let's do THIS!!!!!! Bring us Warmack!!!! GO BOLTS!
— Chance Warmack SD (@ChanceWarmack) January 17, 2013
@Warmack4Heisman is pretty self explanatory:
Chance Warmack will not compete in Senior Bowl in order to get his belly healthy for the combine.
— WarmackFirstRound (@Warmack4Heisman) January 17, 2013
Conclusion:
The fact that Warmack is being hyped so much as an interior lineman just about says everything you need to know. SB Nation's Top 100 big board has him as the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2013 NFL Draft. He is projected to go No. 10 overall to the Tennessee Titans in Dan Kadar's latest mock draft, and unsurprisingly he is rated as the No. 1 OG prospect.
Outside of the fact that he doesn’t have the frame to play tackle, there is hardly a flaw in Warmack’s game. If all goes well, expect the Crimson Tide product to be a starter in the NFL for a long time.
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