Tanor Bortolini NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for Indianapolis Colts IOL

HEIGHT: 6'3⅞"

WEIGHT: 305

HAND: 9¾"

ARM: 31⅝"

WINGSPAN: 77⅝"

40-YARD DASH:

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL:

BROAD:

POSITIVES

— Proficient zone run-blocker who can seal off and secure rush lanes with consistent hat/hand placement, footwork and timing working combo blocks.

— Does a nice job keeping his head out of blocks with good pad level and core strength to brace, anchor and stay centered through the engagement.

— Works in light, independent jab strikes in pass protection that catch rushers off guard and disrupt their timing.

— Looks for work when uncovered in pass protection with a physical, aggressive mindset to dent and punish adjacent rushers.

NEGATIVES

— Shorter arms shrink his margin for error with strike timing and hand placement, creating soft edges and easy access into his frame.

— Sawed-off frame cause him to struggle to keep defenders at his fingertips and mirror when isolated in pass protection.

— Middling power on contact takes away the ability to overwhelm, engulf or jar opponents, forcing him to win purely off technique, timing and superior leverage.

— Struggled to consistently stay in front of and mirror rushers in practice at the Senior Bowl.

2023 STATISTICS

— 12 starts at center

NOTES

— 3-star recruit from the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— 28 career starts split between center (14), left guard (seven), right tackle (three), right guard (two) and extra tight end (two)

— Missed two games during the 2022 season due to a torn meniscus suffered during fall camp

— Accepted his invite to the Senior Bowl

— Training for the combine under Duke Manyweather in Frisco, Texas

OVERALL

Tanor Bortolini is a two-year starter inside Wisconsin's balanced, zone-based run scheme with gap principles mixed in. Bortolini has a sawed-off frame with a stocky, well-rounded build and good athletic ability.

Bortolini is an adept zone run-blocker with enough quickness to reach a shade, get to landmarks and intersect targets at the second level off combo blocks. Despite not having much power or size to overwhelm opponents, he is sticky once attached on a block, winning with efficient footwork, hand/hat placement and fluidity to wall off and secure rush lanes. However, he will struggle to grapple with upper-level NFL competition when isolated on base and angle-drive blocks due to underwhelming girth, power and length.

Bortolini is a functional pass protector due to his low pad level and good core strength. That allows him to stay centered, brace and create lift to dissipate the bull rush with active, independent hands that can disrupt the timing of rushers. He is also an asset when uncovered, looking for work with the intent to punish adjacent rushers to clear the pocket.

However, Bortolini's marginal length and smaller frame reduce his margin for error with his set points and strike timing. That leaves him vulnerable to quick losses and easy edge access against wide rush alignments and sub-package rushers.

Overall, Bortolini is a compact, stoutly built center prospect who can play guard in a pinch. His good core strength and zone run-blocking skills signal a spot starter or key depth piece in a run-first, zone-based, play-action/RPO heavy scheme.

GRADE: 6.5 (Potential Role Player/Contributor — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 122

POSITION RANK: IOL17

PRO COMPARISON: Ted Larsen

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

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