Interior O-line is a very small class this year. There aren’t many guys that will still be there on day three. Creed Humphrey, the top center in this class, is one of the ones that will be taken early. He was a freshman All-American in 2018, a two-time All-American at the National level, and was part of the 2018 group that won the Joe Moore Award.
Stats
He gave up zero sacks in both 2019 and 2020.
Strengths
There isn’t much to not love about Creed Humphrey. He’s a pretty big guy in the center of the line, standing at 6’4 312. He’s incredibly football savvy with one of the highest O-line IQs in the country. His understanding of the game allows him to excel. He’s got the technique of the position down. He can do almost anything you need him to. His ability to turn defenders and create lanes using his hips is unmatched. Once he gets his hands on a defender they don’t get anywhere. He’s got a great base and he excels and the point of attack. Obviously, giving up zero sacks means he’s a great pass protector. He also shows the athleticism to pull as a center, which could be extremely valuable in the run game. He zone blocks really well, too, and is decent at getting to the second level.
Weaknesses
There really is only one glaring weakness in his game: his short arms. He doesn’t have the longest of arms, which, at center, doesn’t have a huge impact. Sometimes, his lack of length gets him overextending his base, but that’s like 3% of the time. He’s not a mauler either. He won’t pancake dudes or move them 20 yards down the field, but he does enough to create lanes for the RB.
Scheme Fit: Outside Zone Offense
The outside zone offense is the perfect fit for Humphrey. He doesn’t have to bully people out of the way, instead, he can use his hips to turn his man and create lanes.
Player Comparison: Travis Frederick
Frederick and Humphrey are eerily similar. They are both 6’4 312 lbs. Both have a 79-inch wingspan. Humphrey’s hand size is 9 5/8 to Frederick’s 10′. They are both extremely smart and have great football IQ. The only difference is that Frederick is a little bit more of a mauler, but they both move people really well.
Draft Prediction: Baltimore Ravens (2/27)
There’s a likely chance that he doesn’t fall this far, but when I’ve run through it I see teams that need a center passing for a bigger position of need. I think Humphrey falls into the lap of the Ravens and their run game gets that much stronger.
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