30 Days of Colts' Fits: Joe Tippmann, IOL, Wisconsin
The 2023 NFL Draft is officially just under a month away. In order to help you all along until draft day, I decided to start a daily prospect spotlight series to talk about some players that the Colts could target next month.
The players mentioned in this series will be players that I have either heard that the team is really high on or are players that just make way too much sense for the team based on fit/past draft history.
First up on the countdown to Draftmas is Wisconsin IOL Joe Tippmann.
Background
Tippmann is a former four star recruit that chose to attend Wisconsin over offers from Purdue and Indiana. It took Tippmann a little bit of time to see the field at Wisconsin, as he redshirted his first season with the program and then appeared in just two games during the Covid-shortened 2020 season.
He emerged as the team's starting center during the 2021 season, starting in 10 out of 11 games at the position. He earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors for his strong play in his first season as a starter.
He followed up that successful campaign with another season of starting in 2022. He started 12 games and allowed just one sack in the entire season. He, again, earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors for his play.
Off of the field, Tippmann was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree in each of his final three seasons with the Badgers.
Size/Testing
Height:
6'6"
Weight:
313 pounds
Testing Numbers:
N/A
Ability on Film
Tippmann is an athletic offensive lineman with insane length at the center position. His best fit may be at guard in the NFL so he can be used in a position that can actually maximize his talents. The area that I was most impressed with Tippmann on film is his ability out in space.
Wisconsin deployed him as the puller on pin-pull run calls. The offensive tackles/tight ends would pin down the edge while Tippmann would pull around the outside. He looked more than comfortable out in space and paved the way for one of the best rushing attacks in college football on calls like these:
Tippmann is also a nasty interior blocker that plays with an edge. His length, his size, and his grip strength allow him to control blocks early and often on the interior. He is a finisher that has the strength and power to enforce his will inside:
Tippmann is a bit top heavy and does get over aggressive at times, but he is an athletic and strong player with sky-high upside. His game perfectly matches what the Colts want their interior offensive line to look like next season:
Fit with the Colts/Team Interest
The Indianapolis Colts are certainly in the market for another right guard this offseason, and they could still potentially be looking for a center if Ryan Kelly gets moved by draft night. With the free agent pool of players dwindling, the best place to attack these needs is in the draft.
Joe Tippmann fits what the Colts value in their offensive line prospect. They want massive players that are also top end athletes on the interior (Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, Ryan Kelly types). Tippmann is both of those things while also being a young player with some room to grow.
When it comes to interest level in Tippmann, there are a few Colts' connections. He is an Indy native actually, as he was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He also attended Chris Ballard's alma mater, so we know the Colts' GM had a close eye on all of those games this past season and is close with the program itself.
The Colts also had scouts on hand at Tippmann's Pro Day and got to see the massive lineman up close. I haven't been able to confirm any meetings with him as of yet, but I'd be surprised if the Colts haven't talked with him in some capacity. He also should be attending the Colts' local Pro Day next month.
Overall, Tippmann is an athletic center prospect that has sky-high upside in this class. If the Colts want to upgrade their interior offensive line through the draft, selecting Tippmann is one route the team could go.
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Follow Zach on Twitter @ZachHicks2.
