SI All-American Candidate Bastian Swinney Highlights and Evaluation
Prospect: Bastian Swinney
Status: SI All-American candidate
Vitals: 6-foot-6, 275 pounds
Position: Guard
School: Minneapolis (Minn.) Edina
Committed to: Cal
Projected Position: Guard
Frame: Tall and well-proportioned. Broad shoulders and wide chest. Thick waist. Average arm length for height. Big, solid lower half. Plenty of room for additional mass.
Athleticism: Powerful. Boasts play strength of a 300-pounder. Above-average foot speed and lateral quickness. Shows solid overall mobility in space despite tight hips.
Instincts: Plays to the final whistle. Awesome run blocker. Routinely flattens defenders by firing off-ball in the run game. Plays with natural base; wouldn’t know he’s 6’6. Keeps feet active and chopping when engaged with defenders.
Polish: Keeps pad level consistently low. Good punch, but also generates power by driving through hips. Inconsistent footwork in pass protection; must develop kick slide. Needs additional weight despite college-ready power.
Bottom Line: Swinney is a tall, powerful offensive lineman who plays shorter than his height and stronger than his current weight. Lacks natural athleticism to play tackle, but extremely well-suited for guard once additional size comes. Likely multi-year starter for Berkeley.