NFL combine: QBs Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa praised by linemen

The offensive linemen glowed like proud parents when discussing Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa.

When it comes to the NFL Draft there’s never a shortage of mock drafts, draft touts or player evaluators spitting out information about the NFL’s event in April. But who better to discuss the skill sets of incoming rookies than their own college teammates?

During the interview sessions at the 2020 NFL Combine we asked the incoming rookie offensive lineman about the quarterbacks and running backs they blocked for while playing in the NCAA.

The linemen who are sworn to protect quarterbacks like a knight protecting a king at Medieval Times piled on the praise for their former teammates. Former Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. is a projected early first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He told us Tua Tagovailoa will be a great leader “no matter where he goes, even when he comes in as a rookie.”

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow’s left tackle, Saahdiq Charles, referenced Kobe Bryant’s mantra in saying Burrow has the “ultimate Mamba mentality” and turns into a “different mode” when it’s game time.

Likewise, the linemen who blocked for the projected top three rushers in this year’s class—Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin, J.K. Dobbins of Ohio State, and D’Andre Swift of Georgia—glowed like proud parents when discussing their former teammates.

Georgia offensive linemen Isaiah Wilson and Solomon Kennedy noted Swift’s explosiveness in the second level as being something “special” and added it was a lot of fun to block for him.

Wisconsin’s Tyler Biadasz called Taylor a “great brother” and “one of the greatest backs of college football of all time” and noted it was a “blessing” to be able to block for him.

Ohio State’s Jonah Jackson called Dobbins a “beast” and said the Buckeye superstar is a “humble guy, great leader, great work ethic.”

Check out Kevin Hanson’s 2020 NFL Draft rankings for Quarterbacks, Offensive Lineman, Running Backs.