Vikings UDFA Profile: TCU OL Alan Ali

Ali is primarily a center who will look to challenge the Vikings' current interior O-line depth.

Over the next couple weeks, Inside the Vikings will be taking a look at all 15 members of Minnesota's 2023 undrafted free agent class.

Vikings UDFA profile: TCU OL Alan Ali

• Size: 6'4", 301
• RAS: 3.80 (at C)
• 2022 stats: N/A

Alan Ali is a versatile center who spent five years at SMU and his sixth and final year of eligibility on a TCU team that made the national title game. He started 39 games across four years at SMU, spending time at center, left guard, and even briefly appearing at both tackle spots.

Upon transferring to TCU for his final season, Ali started all 15 games at center for the Horned Frogs, playing over 1,000 snaps on one of the nation's best offenses. TCU defeated Michigan in the College Football Playoff semifinals before getting blasted by Georgia in the championship game. Ali was named first team All-Big 12.

Ali is not a spectacular athlete, although his RAS does increase slightly to 4.49 if you list him as a guard. He has solid length and speed for an interior offensive lineman, but his overall movement skills are below-average. 

What Ali does bring is experience and physicality. He's a powerful force in the run game who has the football IQ to handle setting protections from the center position and adjusting to stunts and games from defensive linemen after the snap. This offseason, he'll attempt to show the Vikings that he has the athleticism and technique to be an NFL-caliber player as both a run blocker and pass protector.

Ali has the versatility to play both center and guard, which is important on the interior. He'll be competing for a spot on the practice squad, where he could eventually push players like Chris Reed and Austin Schlottmann for a backup role.

Vikings' offseason interior offensive line depth chart

• Ezra Cleveland (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C), Ed Ingram (RG)
• Austin Schlottmann
• Chris Reed
• Josh Sokol
• Alan Ali (rookie)

Other Vikings UDFA profiles

Baylor TE Ben Sims

Indiana CB Jaylin Williams

Oklahoma CB C.J. Coldon

Georgia Southern CB NaJee Thompson

North Carolina State WR Thayer Thomas

Southeastern Louisiana WR/QB Cephus Johnson III

Kansas State WR Malik Knowles

Illinois DT Calvin Avery

Georgia K Jack Podlesny

Pace (D-II) OL Jacky Chen

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