Unless something drastically changes between now and April, the top interior offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl should be the first taken at their position in the 2023 NFL Draft. The annual all-star event is home to Pro Football Network’s highest-rated guard and center prospects, but who are the top interior offensive linemen set to take the field at the 2023 Senior Bowl?
Top 2023 Senior Bowl Interior Offensive Linemen NFL Draft Prospects
Although the 2023 Senior Bowl rosters group all offensive linemen under the “OL” moniker, the top interior offensive linemen listed here are players expected to predominantly practice and play at either guard or center in Mobile.
That includes Andrew Vorhees, Nick Broeker, and Nick Saldiveri, all of whom have played offensive tackle at some stage in their college careers but are not expected to spend significant time there during the 2023 Senior Bowl.
1) O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Former Louisiana guard O’Cyrus Torrence followed head coach Billy Napier to Florida and started the college football season as our top-rated guard prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. After a fall spent solidifying his stock in the SEC, Torrence heads to Mobile as one of the top interior offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl.
The 6’5″, 335-pound guard prospect is the perfect roadblock at the heart of the offensive line. Torrence has the size, strength, and power generation — weaponized by impressive length — to brutalize anyone in the phone booth. Whether in the ground game or in pass protection, Torrence embodies the mauler mentality that separates the good from the great on the line.
2) John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
While Torrence is the top-rated guard in the 2023 NFL Draft class, Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz is our highest-ranked center prospect. As a result, the Senior Bowl can boast the top two interior offensive linemen in the entire class. Although positional value might dictate where Schmitz lands in April, he can certainly make a strong case for early selection in Mobile.
MORE: Top Interior Offensive Linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft
If you’re an NFL team that wants to assert yourself on the ground, Schmitz is the man for you, having paved the way for record-breaking running back Mo Ibrahim. At 6’4″ and 320 pounds, the Minnesota center is a sturdy presence with excellent play strength.
However, it’s the athleticism to explode to the second level combined with his football IQ and high-level technical ability that makes JMS a top-tier center talent.
3) Steve Avila, TCU
Several of the top interior offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl offer significant positional versatility, and TCU center-turned-guard Steve Avila is certainly one of them. Avila made starts at center, OT, and guard in 2020 before earning first-team All-Big 12 honors as an 11-game starter at center in 2021. Avila nailed down the guard spot for the national title runners-up this fall.
If you’re looking for an elite athlete on the interior offensive line, Avila isn’t going to be your guy. If you’re looking for a mauler who can win with power, hand technique, length, and an innate understanding of using leverage to manipulate an opponent, then the versatile TCU lineman is most definitely going to be one to watch in Mobile.
4) Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan
When you have a laundry list of honors from your final college football season, it’s fair to say you should be considered one of the top interior offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl when the invite comes your way. Michigan’s Olu Oluwatimi took home the Rimington Trophy and Outland Trophy in addition to helping Michigan win the Joe Moore Award for the second straight year.
How does that all translate to the NFL, however? Oluwatimi might not have the most elite athletic profile, but he can impact the game in space while being a devastatingly violent finisher in tight areas. In addition to being powerful with excellent grip strength, Oluwatimi boasts high-level football IQ, which allows him to keep his head on a swivel while manipulating angles.
5) Andrew Vorhees, USC
There’s a gaggle of interior offensive linemen vying for superiority in the late Day 2/early Day 3 range of the 2023 NFL Draft that can utilize their time in Mobile to elevate themselves above their contemporaries.
Although he’s earned early draft attention from some quarters, Andrew Vorhees is a player who could emerge as one of the top interior offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl with a strong showing. Vorhees has played out at left tackle previously, giving him an element of versatility in this class.
However, he does his best work in the interior, where his mauler mentality really thrives. Although not an elite athlete on an island at OT, Vorhees has enough to be impressive at guard, especially with the footwork to mirror and the ability to get out to the second level.
Other Interior Offensive Linemen To Watch
- Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama
- Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame
- McClendon Curtis, Chattanooga
- Nick Broeker, Ole Miss