Baylor OL Connor Galvin a Future NFL First Rounder?
The Baylor Bears had a solid showcase of NFL Draft talent this past April, with second-rounders Jalen Pitre and Tyquan Thorton headlining the six drafted players.
Despite losing a lot of talent in the draft process, there still remains a star player on Baylor’s roster who last season started generating buzz for future 2023 draft boards, left tackle Connor Galvin.
Galvin is coming off winning the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of The Year honors on top of an AP All-America Third Team selection.
For reference, some of the tackles who finished above Galvin included first-rounders in Alabama's Evan Neal and NC State’s Ikem Okownu.
Still with a season before he declares for the draft, Galvin’s game has both promise and questions that can ultimately determine his draft position next spring.
Starting with the positives for Galvin, he has desirable size for an NFL tackle at 6’7” and 310 lbs. In order to avoid future injuries, it is best that Galvin remains relatively close to this weight range.
In terms of his technical skills, his hands project to be elite at the next level. Quick hands are an extreme plus moving onto the next level, especially when you are dealing with edge threats who excel at speed rush techniques.
Continuing on with the positives, Galvin has great footwork and agility for his size. Being able to not be beaten off the snap as a lineman helps in avoiding costly mistakes that can alter the outcome of a game.
With great footwork and agility, Galvin projects well in outside run schemes in the pros. Still, with a whole year left of tape to gather, Galvin seems on track to a promising career at the next level.
Despite Galvin’s numerous honors and abilities, there are still some areas of improvement for him he must address this coming season.
The first area of concern doubles as one of his strengths. At 6’7”, he struggles to get low in his stance which can make it a challenge when facing edge rushers shorter in stature.
Furthermore, in terms of his size, Galvin isn’t as powerful as his frame would lead one to believe. A lot of his success on the line results from his hand skills, which is an area of concern when facing bull rush moves on the outside.
However, this should be something he can fix with the correct strength and offensive line training.
Overall, Galvin is on the upwards trend toward becoming the first Baylor player to be a first-rounder since wide receiver Corey Coleman in 2016.
With an experienced coaching staff in Waco, signs only point upwards towards the tackle’s developmental process.
With newly-appointed starter Blake Shapen behind center, Galvin will play a crucial role in holding down the blindside for his quarterback.
And if Galvin shows improvement in his strength and stance this coming fall, expect some buzz for the Baylor Bear to land somewhere in the first round.
