clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

So you drafted Ohio State's Jack Mewhort?

With the three-year starter coming off the board in the 2014 NFL Draft, we look at what can be expected out of the offensive lineman.

Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Mewhort started to see time on the line for the Buckeyes in 2010 as a redshirt freshman, when he played in 10 games. The Toledo native's role expanded in 2011 when he started the first five games of the season at left guard before being shuffled to right guard for the final eight games of the season. Mewhort's play was good enough to earn him honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.

The junior season for Mewhort is really when he started to gain even more attention for his impressive play. After spending the 2011 season at the guard positions, Mewhort was again shifted on the line, this time manning the left tackle position in Urban Meyer's first season as Ohio State head coach. The Buckeyes ran for 242 yards per game and 37 touchdowns as they finished the season undefeated. The accolades were plentiful for Mewhort for his play, being named not only second team All-Big Ten, but also being honored as Ohio State's co-offensive lineman of the year with Andrew Norwell.

Entering his senior season, Mewhort was named one of eight captains for Ohio State, but he earned the most votes out of those eight. Mewhort was put on the Outland Trophy watch list before the season, and he lived up to expectations by being named first team All-Big Ten by the media, as well as being named Walter Camp second team All-American. The Buckeyes rolled through most of the season averaging over 300 yards per game on the ground and nearly 50 points per game with Mewhort as a key cog on the line.

During his time at Ohio State, Mewhort was extremely durable, playing in 49 consecutive games (starting 39 of those). The team that drafts Mewhort will also get a player that has experience playing multiple positions on the line, so in a pinch he could be used as a guard, but he is projected as a right tackle in the NFL.

Mewhort measures at 6' 6 and 309 pounds, and at just over 80 inches he has some long arms. The length of his arms and strength of his hands allows him to try to overpower defenders. Like a shark that senses blood, once he feels that he has his opponent off-balance he knows how to finish his block.

Where Mewhort struggles is against bull rushers. The strength that he possesses makes up for his lack of explosiveness off the line. One of the reasons he projects as a right tackle over a left is because he doesn't quite have the quickness needed to cover the left side.

Any team that drafts Mewhort is getting quite the offensive lineman. Starting on the line for three years at Ohio State is quite the accomplishment in itself, but then to see that Mewhort was able to excel at multiple positions is even more impressive. It wouldn't be surprising at all to see Mewhort become a very solid NFL lineman down the road for the team that calls his name.