NFL Draft Profile: Luke Tenuta, Offensive Tackle, Virginia Tech Hokies
#69
Pos: OT
Ht: 6080
Wt: 319
Hand: 1018
Arm: 3278
Wing: N/A
40: 5.41
Bench: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Shuttle: 4.77
Vert: 26
Broad: 808
DOB: 9/1/99
Eligible: 2022
Crozet, VA
Western Albemarle High School
Luke Tenuta
Virginia Tech Hokies
One-Liners
Ezring: While he currently lacks the requisite core strength and power to see an NFL field, Luke Tenuta’s movement skills and length give him low-level starter potential in zone offenses. He is a tackle-only prospect.
Pros:
Unteachable traits are inherently valuable to an athlete’s draft profile. Luke Tenuta’s game is centered around his impressive movement skills and length. Specifically, the Virginia Tech tackle’s short-area quickness is a trait worth investing in. He has a wide range of impact thanks to his long arms and burst. Tenuta is capable of reaching, scooping, sealing, pulling or climbing in the run game. He does well when working to the second and third levels before latching on in space. When he keeps a wide base in pass protection, he exhibits sufficient soft change of direction ability to mirror. Further, Tenuta has fairly loose hips to hinge and reengage. If he maximizes leverage with low hands, the young tackle holds his ground at contact. Tenuta is at his best when he lands punches first. He regularly washes defenders to create space in the run game or keep a clean pocket in the passing game. What’s more, Tenuta’s leg drive allows him to sustain blocks through counters and rush moves. When he engages with accurate hands and a wide base, the Hokies tackle can push defenders off the ball. He maintains an active lower half into and through engagement. Moreover, the Ohio native can drop a late anchor when he wins the leverage battle. Tenuta flashes awareness against stunts.
Cons:
While athleticism is imperative to success in the league, unrefined players do not often see NFL fields. Tenuta’s technique is concerning. For example, he sometimes takes poor angles to engagement. What’s more, Tenuta frequently surrenders his chest by shooting his hands late and aiming high and outside. Moreover, his poorly-timed punches minimize any benefits that his length affords him. Additionally, Tenuta’s tendency to narrow his base lessens his ability to mirror and leaves him vulnerable to power. Likewise, Tenuta plays high. His pad level further gives up his chest, sees him forced onto his heels, reduces his functional movement skills and leaves him susceptible to any number of pass rush moves. The stiff tackle regularly loses to quick and bendy rushers. Defenders also routinely take advantage of his poor core strength with leverage and refined hands. Furthermore, Tenuta’s decent anchor at the college level will likely falter in the NFL. Opposing players already displace him, redirect him or walk through his blocks far too easily. To compensate and increase power output, he bends at the waist - a risky tendency. Tenuta clogs rushing lanes by failing to move defenders at contact. His soft inside shoulder in pass sets invites opponents to beat him with power or inside moves. Even linebackers stand him up. Finally, the Hokies tackle can look lost in the run game and sometimes fails to recognize stunts.
Summary:
An athletic tackle prospect, Luke Tenuta is an experienced starter at Virginia Tech. The Hokie’s game is predicated on his length and movement skills. That said, he lacks the requisite core strength and power to see an NFL field early in his career. He currently struggles against quickness, bend, power and technical refinement. While his lack of versatility is concerning, Tenuta projects as a developmental piece with spot starter potential in a zone-blocking scheme.
Background:
Born in Columbus, Ohio to parents Jon and Dori Tenuta, Luke Nicholas Tenuta majors in multimedia journalism at Virginia Tech. He has two brothers, Zach and Matt. His father played football at the University of Virginia and has worked as a defensive coordinator and coach at Georgia Tech, NC State, Notre Dame, Virginia and more. Luke Tenuta played high school football at Western Albemarle high school in Crozet, Virginia. The standout tackle had a strong high school career that culminated in his being ranked a 3-star recruit by 247Sports Composite Rankings. The same outlet also listed him as the 821st-ranked recruit in the nation, the 68th offensive tackle in the nation and the 19th-best recruit in the state of Virginia. While at Western Albemarle, Tenuta was a three-time letterwinner. He was also a 2017 VHSL Class 3A all-state pick. Tenuta recorded 52.5 tackles and 11 tackles for loss as a defensive end and was selected all-conference, all-district and all-region on the offensive line. With Virginia Tech, the lineman played in all 13 games of his redshirt freshman season and started five at right tackle. In 2020, Tenuta started in all eight games he played and was named All-ACC Third Team by Pro Football Focus and Eric Mac Lain. Although he primarily played right tackle through the first three years of his Hokies career, he shifted to the left side in 2021 to replace 2021 first-round pick Christian Darrisaw. Tenuta started 10 games, nine at left tackle and one at right tackle, of his final season at Virginia Tech.
Grades
Current Player Value/Potential Player Value
6.2 / 8.0
Floor/Ceiling: Developmental Tackle / Low-Level Starter
Scheme Fit: Zone Blocking Scheme
Grade: 6th-7th Round
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