FCS OT prospect could be a great fit for Los Angeles Chargers

This past week I’ve been highlighting notable players that stood out to me in the 2019 Senior Bowl practices. I’ve mentioned two Pac-12 offensive tackles that I felt dominated enough to be on the Chargers’ radar.

The next prospect is a small-school player that didn’t generate any buzz until this week, and that’s Alabama State OT Tytus Howard.

The 6-foot-6 and 313 pound Howard went toe-to-toe with some of the nation’s top pass rushers this week, including Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat, who’s one of the SEC’s best pass rushers in 2018. Outside of getting beat badly by Sweat on one rep, Howard showed the physicality and strength in each of his one-on-one drills.

His athleticism immediately stand out in pass protection. Howard moves well, showing quick footwork to mirror opponents and the ability to handle speed. He has a decent anchor when he gets his hands on defenders, but he has the tendency to wind up his arms at times, allowing edge rushers to take full advantage of them not being set.

In the full scrimmages, he showed that he can execute various run schemes. He explodes into a low pad level and lands a forceful punch to drive back defenders. His work as a space blocker is good when reaching the second level. Howard excels at carrying down blocks as well.

He was part of an Alabama State offense that ran both inside and outside zone plays, which could make him a fit for what Los Angeles likes to do offensively.

Depending on how he checks out with his Combine and Pro Day performances, Howard could make a nice sleeper selection in the middle rounds and would give the Bolts solid depth at a very thin tackle position.