Despite protecting Kyle Trask’s blindside as the quarterback embarked on a Heisman Trophy contending season, Florida offensive tackle Stone Forsythe is somewhat of an underdog in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Will the man-monster hear his name called in Cleveland at the end of April?
Stone Forsythe NFL Draft Player Profile
- Position: Offensive Tackle
- School: Florida
- Current Year: Redshirt Senior
- Height: 6’8″
- Weight: 307 pounds
Tony Pauline’s Stone Forsythe Scouting Report
Positives: Large college left tackle who projects to the right side at the next level. Patient, stays square, and shows strength at the point. Anchors in pass protection, turns defenders from the action, and seals open running lanes. Keeps his head on a swivel, correctly places his hands into defenders, and works through the whistle. Makes solid use of angles and body positioning.
Negatives: Lacks footwork off the edge. Struggles to adjust and pick up blitzes. Exploited by speed rushers.
Analysis: Forsythe has next-level size, but is limited to a small area and comes with marginal upside. He’s a backup at right tackle or guard for a power-gap offense.
Stone Forsythe Player Profile
Forsythe is just one of multiple 2021 NFL Draft prospects who has NFL pedigree running through his blood. His father — Ray Forsythe — was a college standout at Kent State and UCF before playing for the Cincinnati Bengals.
The younger Forsythe began his own path to the NFL at West Orange High School. His performances as a junior earned him second-team Class 8A All-State honors and a three-star recruiting ranking. As the 82nd-ranked offensive tackle and 135th player in Florida, Forsythe had attention from a number of teams including Kentucky, Boston College, East Carolina, and Bowling Green.
However, as a life-long Florida Gators fan who dreamed of playing in “The Swamp”, he couldn’t resist an offer from his hometown team. Thus, he committed to the Gators prior to his senior season. As a senior, he once again earned Class 8A All-State honors, helping guide West Orange to a 12-2 record and a state semifinals appearance.
Stone Forsythe’s college football career at Florida
After redshirting his first season for the Gators, the Florida offensive tackle got the opportunity to see the field in 2017. Forsythe made his debut as a starter at right tackle against UAB. He would go on to finish his redshirt freshman season with two starts, before opening the 2018 season as the starting right tackle.
Through the 2018 season, Forsythe displayed versatility for the Gators, seeing time at both guard and offensive tackle. Simultaneously, he was a part of an offensive line that allowed just 18 sacks through the entire season, one of the top performances in the nation.
For the final two seasons of his career, the Florida offensive tackle made the permanent move to left tackle. He protected the blindside for Kyle Trask — and Feleipe Franks prior to his injury — as the offense averaged 6.5 yards per play. While the offense ranked 16th in the nation, Forsythe earned himself a place on the SEC Academic honor roll.
As the college football world fixated on Florida’s offense, their offensive tackle was part of a unit that allowed Trask to average the most passing yards per game in the nation. Forsythe is credited with allowing just two sacks in the entire 2020 campaign. He was particularly impressive in shutting down presumptive first-rounder Azeez Ojulari.
Despite this, Forsythe heads to the 2021 NFL Draft as an under-the-radar, unheralded, offensive tackle prospect.
Stone Forsythe’s best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
With 28 starts and 40 total appearances, Forsythe brings experience to the NFL. As one might expect from the prolific aerial nature of the Florida offense this last season, his ability in pass protection is better than in the run game. With this in mind, teams that run a more pass-oriented offense with less emphasis on the ground game will represent a better fit for Forsythe.
Some potential landing spots include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington Football Team. However, with experience across the offensive line — including at right tackle — there could be a number of landing spots for the former Florida offensive tackle.
Want more 2021 NFL Draft prospect news? Want to do your own mock draft?
Dive into PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator and test your own drafting acumen. Continue to visit Pro Football Network for NFL news and in-depth analysis. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@PFN365) to stay in the loop on all things college football and the NFL Draft landscape.
Oliver Hodgkinson is a staff writer for Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.