Carson Vinson OT Alabama A&M | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Carson Vinson OT Alabama A&M
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: Left Tackle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 01/20/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.25 seconds (53%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: Left Tackle | |
| Last Updated: 01/20/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 5.25 seconds (53%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 82.1 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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52% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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91% |
| Run Blocking: |
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81% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#207
Position rank:
#37
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| College Games: 47 College Snaps: 3360 | ||
247 RATING: 76/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.2 (85%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Javon Foster - Missouri |
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92% |
| Liam Eichenberg - Notre Dame |
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91% |
| Christian Jones - Texas |
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85% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A notable figure in HBCU football, Carson Vinson's journey from Morrisville, North Carolina to becoming the first HBCU player invited to the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl marks a significant milestone. The 6'7", 305-pound tackle established himself as a reliable presence for the Bulldogs, starting all 48 games of his collegiate career while contributing to an offense that led the SWAC in total yards (444.5 per game) and passing offense (260.5 yards per game).Vinson's development followed a gradual progression - after limited snaps as a freshman and sophomore, he earned the starting role in 2022. His senior season showed promise, allowing just one sack against SEC competition while maintaining an 89 percent offensive line grade and recording 61 knockdowns. The former Panther Creek High School dual-sport athlete's basketball background is evident in his movement patterns, though the transition to high-level football competition remains a work in progress.
His 2024 campaign earned him First Team All-SWAC honors, FCS All-American recognition, and a BOXTOROW All-American Honorable Mention while being named a finalist for the HBCU+ National Player of the Year. While these accolades are impressive within context, they must be weighed against the level of competition he faced throughout his collegiate career.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Above-average mirror ability in pass protection, showing functional footwork that allows him to stay in front of most edge rushers at his competition level.
- Uses his 6'7" frame effectively in pass protection, though sometimes struggles to maintain leverage against shorter, powerful rushers.
- Capable run blocker who shows flashes of power at initial contact - demonstrated competent play strength even against Auburn's defensive front.
- Good recovery ability when beaten - maintains enough balance to redirect against counter moves from SWAC-level competition.
- Competitive motor evident in his effort to finish blocks and willingness to work to the second level in space.
- Serviceable kick-slide technique that works against speed rushers at his level - will need refinement against NFL talent.
- Generally maintains proper knee bend despite his height - important foundation for development at the next level.
- Shows promise in processing stunts and blitzes - communicates well with teammates but faced limited sophisticated pressure packages.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Significantly undersized at 305 pounds - consistently struggled when facing power rushers who could get into his frame.
- Frequently overextends and loses balance against defenders with active hands - technical flaws masked by competition level.
- Level of competition is a major concern - showed notable adjustment period and occasional confusion against Auburn's defensive schemes.
- Limited explosive traits - initial kick-step lacks the burst needed for NFL edge protection without significant development.
- Hand placement requires substantial refinement - tends to place hands wide and lose control against technically sound defenders.
Scouting Report: Summary
Vinson projects as a developmental tackle prospect who could compete for a swing tackle role by mid-season of his rookie year. His stellar track record in pass protection and proven durability over 3,360 snaps suggest a more advanced technical foundation than initially apparent. While the competition level jump is significant, his performance against Auburn showed encouraging adaptability.His ideal landing spot would be in a zone-heavy system that can maximize his mobility while allowing him to add functional strength. Teams running outside zone concepts could view him as a valuable day three selection with the potential to provide quality depth early while developing into a possible starter. The Senior Bowl will be crucial in validating this projection against elevated competition.
Despite the small-school background, Vinson's high-level pass protection metrics and consistent technical improvement suggest he's closer to NFL-ready than many HBCU prospects. A realistic expectation would be quality depth in year one with potential to push for starting snaps by year two if his development continues on trajectory.
Carson Vinson percentiles vs other Offensive Tackles (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Carson Vinson (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
227.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
52.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.