5th Round: Tanner Hawkinson

[ArmyBengal]

With their 6th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select:

Tanner Hawkinson, OT, Kansas

[ArmyBengal]

Well, there's some OT depth.

[skyline]

Or guard? Don't know how versatile this guy is...time to go do some reading.

[HoosierCat]

19 on walter's OT rankings:

Tanner Hawkinson, OT, Kansas

Height: 6-5. Weight: 298. Arm: 33.38

40 Time: 5.07.

Projected Round (2013): 5-7.

4/23/13: Hawkinson played pretty well for Kansas over his collegiate career. He looks like a developmental prospect at right tackle for the NFL. Hawkinson didn't impress at the East-West Shrine, but he performed better at the Combine. He is a candidate to move inside to guard. Hawkinson needs time to improve as a backup, but he is a sleeper who could turn into a contributor.

8/23/12: While Kansas struggled, Hawkinson played decently in 2011, but maybe not as well as his sophomore season. He has a nice skill set. Hawkinson earned the starting left tackle position before his first collegiate game, and he has started every game at left tackle for Kansas the past three seasons.

Hawkinson is quick, athletic, and matches up well with pass-rushers. He was named to the All-Big XII First-Team in 2010. It would be good to see the senior add some strength and power for the NFL.

[HoosierCat]

nfl.com:

OVERVIEW

It’s not surprising that Hawkinson signed with the Jayhawks out of high school, as he grew up a Kansas fan due to the matriculation of his grandfather (season-ticket holder for years), mother, two brothers and a sister to Lawrence. His father, Griff, actually went to rival Kansas State, and Manhattan was an hour closer to his home town of McPherson, but Tanner knew he’d one day wear crimson and royal blue. Ricky Bobby, as his teammates call him for his resemblance to the Will Ferrell character in the racing comedy "Talladega Nights", started every game since arriving on campus, impressing scouts more each season as his athletic frame filled out into one fitting a potential late round selection.

Hawkinson expected to play tight end at Kansas, where he earned conference MVP honors as a senior in high school, but during his redshirt season he moved first to defensive end (he was an all-state pick at that position in 2007) and then to his final home at offensive tackle. He started all 12 games at left tackle in 2009, garnering first-team Freshman All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America. Hawkinson lined up with the ones for every game in 2010 at left tackle, then switched to the right side in 2011. Hawkinson finished up his senior year with an All-Big 12 second-team selection, and the University of Kansas record for games started, and consecutive games started.

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS Frame has filled out during his career, should continue to do so early in his NFL career. Still possesses foot quickness to lead off-tackle runs, be effective on zone blocks, and reach/negate second-level targets. Lateral movement in pass protection is adequate to cut off the corner, has the length to push rushers around the pocket. Picks up twists adeptly. Quick getting down on back-side cut blocks.

WEAKNESSES Lacks adequete strength. Can be bullied into the quarterback by powerful linemen and lacks the upper body to hold off defenders once they get the advantage inside. Stops his feet in pass pro at times, causing him to bend at the waist. Also overextends when attacking linebackers off the snap and quicker defenders in space. Doesn't play with balance.

NFL COMPARISON Troy Kropog

BOTTOM LINE Family tradition led Hawkinson to Lawrence, as several of his immediate family members are Kansas alums (except his father, who went to rival KSU). He’s been a fixture on the Kansas line, as shown by 48 consecutive starts. He's showed off his athleticism while adding weight every season, but he'll need to prove he can play with better strength and balance in order to be selected late in the draft.

[Kazkal]

Could he end up going inside? well simply adding Guard Depth? Seems like we had bigger need at guard either way we needed Oline depth and got it

From nfl.com

Hooiser > Me

We Drafted Ricky bobby

[HoosierCat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzM9M9SiupA

[ArmyBengal]

I guess this works, but it's the 5th round and I would be comfortable taking a risk at this point.

With the signing of Smith, I can't say as this guy would give us more than taking a chance on a guy like either Rambo or Rogers.

Heck, Michael Buchanon is still on the board.

[ArmyBengal]

We Drafted Ricky bobby

Holy crap, he does look like him.

[HoosierCat]

Kiper and Mayock both just spooged all over the pick. Think he needs to get stronger and can come in and back up both tackle spots right away. Challenge for a stating job in a year or so. Maybe he follows the same path as Whit?

[HoosierCat]

We Drafted Ricky bobby :o/>

Holy crap, he does look like him.

Yeah he says in the vid they started calling him all the Will Ferrel character names...lol

[Kazkal]

Kiper and Mayock both just spooged all over the pick. Think he needs to get stronger and can come in and back up both tackle spots right away. Challenge for a stating job in a year or so. Maybe he follows the same path as Whit?

I think whit role would be best Have him back up several positions possibility start at guard if he can earn it and who knows in a few years maybe he'll be replacement for Whit or Dre if not we can always draft one high then.

[ArmyBengal]

Don't we already have backups ??

The backups must need backups.

Nice problem to have.

[Stripes]

We have backups, but one of them is terrible (Dennis Roland). Hopefully this kid goes more in the direction of Anthony Collins as late-round OT depth and less in the direction of Otis Hudson. If they move him inside, that's fine with me too. The OL can never be too deep.

Ideally he'll either supplant Roland or become the 4th component of the guard group alongside Wharton/Boling.

[ArmyBengal]

You can't talk about Otis like that !!!