There have been 73 Boston College offensive linemen drafted to the NFL since 1940. That number should increase significantly next year, with the Eagles boasting one of the best offensive lines in college football this fall. Can Boston College center Alec Lindstrom continue a heritage that combines both family and the football program? We take a look at Lindstrom’s scouting report, one of the best NFL Draft prospects at the position.
Alec Lindstrom NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Center
- School: Boston College
- Current Year: Redshirt Senior
- Height: 6’3 2/8″
- Weight: 294 pounds
- Wingspan: 77 3/8″
- Arm: 32 1/8″
- Hand: 9″
Alec Lindstrom Scouting Report
Although there is a program and family heritage at the position, reputations such as those count for naught regarding Lindstrom’s scouting report. Thankfully for the Boston College center, he has plenty of the traits needed to succeed on the offensive line.
Lindstrom is technically refined. He demonstrates impressive footwork that allows him to react and counter against stunts and twists. In addition to the smooth footwork, he constantly drives with his feet during run-blocking snaps. Another element of his technical refinement is his handwork. Lindstrom consistently plays with good hand placement and timing.
Unsurprisingly, given his father’s coaching influence, the Boston College center has excellent football intelligence. This manifests itself in multiple forms. Lindstrom is responsible for making pre-snap protection adjustments. He has an exceptional facility to read the game post-snap, accounting for stunts and twits. He is always looking for work and has shown the ability to pick up free blitzes and help his teammates on the offensive line whenever required.
Although Lindstrom has spent most of his career in run-focused offenses, he is an excellent pass protector at the pivot. He has a fantastic anchor for his size. Additionally, his footwork and overall athletic profile allow him to recover well if he is beaten off the snap. That’s not to say he isn’t impactful in the ground game. Lindstrom has sufficient athletic ability to get out to the second level to help extend running plays. Furthermore, his competitive toughness makes him a menace for defensive linemen or linebackers that try and impede him.
Areas for improvement
Boston College currently lists Lindstrom at 298 pounds, which would be the heaviest he’s played in his career. Coming out of Shepherd Hill, he weighed just 240 pounds and often played considerably below that. This relative lack of bulk has consistently caused issues for the Eagles center.
Due to his size, Lindstrom doesn’t have elite strength at the position. As a result, defensive players can often overpower him. Quite often, he is bounced around the line of scrimmage. Meanwhile, his lack of size and strength means he isn’t always impactful in the ground game.
Finally, Lindstrom would benefit from playing the game a little faster. He is often beaten off the snap, potentially a result of a change from playing under center to the shotgun under Jeff Hafley. Moreover, there are examples on tape where he isn’t quick enough to get out to the second level in the run game, negating the potential for more significant gains.
Alec Lindstrom’s Player Profile
If your surname is Lindstrom and you live in the Massachusetts area, there’s a good chance that you’re pretty good at football. The family is the living embodiment of the NFL’s “Football is Family” moniker. Chris Lindstrom Sr. played in the NFL for three years following a Hall of Fame college career at Boston University. When Roger Goodell opens the 2022 NFL Draft, it will be three years since Chris Lindstrom Jr. was a first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons out of Boston College.
At Shepherd Hill Regional High School, football is genuinely kept within the family. Alec learned the game under the stewardship of his father and alongside his brother on the field. When Chris Jr. committed to play for Boston College, the ability to one day join him weighed heavy on Alec’s recruiting journey.
Only a two-star recruit, the 33rd-ranked center — not even a top-10 prospect in Massachusetts — realized reuniting with his brother wouldn’t be a simple affair. However, following an appearance at a Boston College camp in June 2016, he received an offer from the Eagles. Unsurprisingly, he committed immediately. Shepherd Hill offensive coordinator Ryan Dugan told the media at the time, “Playing with his brother was very important to him, and the biggest reason for his decision.”
Lindstrom capped off his Shepherd Hill career in style. With their college-bound center leading the way, the Rams averaged 7.6 yards per carry and totaled 3,300 yards in his senior season. The Boston native was recognized with first-team USA Today All-Massachusetts honors.
Lindstrom’s career at Boston College
Lindstrom’s dream of playing alongside his brother didn’t materialize immediately. He lost his freshman season to a medical redshirt but would make up for the lost time in 2018. Lindstrom made his debut off the bench to replace the injured Jon Baker against UMass.
Lindstrom earned a start in the following game against Holy Cross, lining up alongside his brother. The two were a part of an offensive line that allowed A.J. Dillon to rush for 3 touchdowns on 6 carries. Still, despite seeing some time on the offensive line, the youngest brother’s time was primarily spent on special teams, where he got some invaluable game experience as a long snapper.
With Chris Jr. departed to the NFL Draft, Alec became the dominant Lindstrom on the Eagles’ offensive line in 2019. He made 13 starts, helping the team average 5.1 yards per carry and 254.2 yards per game. Lindstrom was the pivot of an offensive line that helped rack up a program-record 691 yards of offense against Syracuse. Furthermore, he led the way as the Eagles put up 429 rushing yards on NC State’s defense.
All-ACC honors and NFL Draft buzz
Having earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2019, Lindstrom continued to develop in the disrupted 2020 college football season. Despite a transition away from Steve Addazio’s power-run offense, the Boston College center still helped the offense plow to 1,119 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. As the offense became more pass-focused under Hafley, Lindstrom was credited with multiple games without a sack. As a result, he earned first-team All-ACC recognition while generating NFL Draft buzz.
Ultimately, he turned his back on the NFL to return to Chestnut Hill for one final season. In doing so, Lindstrom has put himself near the top of the center class in the 2022 NFL Draft. Although emulating his brother as a first-round selection seems unlikely, the Boston College center should continue the family and program heritage in the NFL’s annual selection event as a potential top-100 prospect.
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Positives: Tough, hard-working center who is best in a small area. Quickly sets up off the snap, stays square, and gets his hands into defenders to steer them from the action. Keeps his head on a swivel, stays with assignments, and attacks opponents. Explosive, works blocks hard, and always looks for someone to hit. Keeps his head on a swivel and effectively quarterbacks the offensive line.
Negatives: Lacks balance and falls off defenders rather than finishing blocks. Not a super mobile lineman.
Analysis: Lindstrom is a tough, instinctive blocker who gets the most from his ability but lacks great upside. He’s a Day 3 pick who will do well backing up at the next level.