INDIANAPOLIS — Alabama’s JC Latham is understood amongst NFL expertise evaluators as probably the most highly effective proper tackles within the draft, with one knockdown block after one other on his sport video.
However Latham stated Saturday on the scouting mix that he hopes, and needs, to indicate he could be a potential resolution for a group at left deal with as effectively and with that assist his draft standing.
“I am ready to see if I am requested to do something out of a left deal with stance,” stated Latham, who’s the No. 22 participant on ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s Huge Board. “I might try this so I can present my versatility.”
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Requested why that was necessary to him, Latham stated he believed it could assist him transfer up draft boards and the contract that may include a better choose.
“Clearly it is a query mark, I am a proper deal with,” Latham stated. “So, you recognize, often tackles taken extraordinarily excessive are left tackles. I really feel I can break that sort of narrative, and in addition it could assist me showcase my capacity to play left [tackle]. I’ve the flexibility to be dominant regardless.”
Latham stated he suffered a excessive ankle sprain on the ultimate play of Alabama’s loss to Michigan within the Faculty Soccer Playoff, so he is not going to run the 40-yard sprint or do the jumps within the on-field work for the offensive linemen Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. However he stated he’ll do place drills and is ready to do these drills out of each proper deal with and left deal with stances.
A two-year starter for the Crimson Tide at proper deal with who additionally performed guard in 2022, Latham stated Saturday he had not even performed a lot offense till a slew of accidents pressured him to maneuver to offensive deal with when he was at IMG Academy to complete highschool.
He had been a left deal with as a highschool participant, however when he arrived to Alabama, Evan Neal, now with the New York Giants, was the left deal with so Alabama coaches put him on the appropriate aspect.
“I simply jumped in instantly and performed somewhat little bit of guard,” Latham stated. “… Wherever I am wanted to play, I will adapt and get the job completed.”
Latham’s bodily fashion, when he typically steamrolls defenders off their toes within the run sport, has been famous by scouts and personnel executives. Alabama coaches graded him with 41 knockdown blocks in 813 snaps final season — 3.2 per sport. Latham stated he believes he might deliver that at left deal with as effectively.
“Being bodily, being aggressive, the willingness to assault at any given second, that is simply the mentality that I had,” Latham stated. “If I am at left, I am nonetheless going to be aggressive.”