Connor Lew
Connor Lew  C  Auburn | NFL Draft 2026 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Connor Lew
Height
6-3
Weight
302
College
Auburn
Position
C
Class
Sophomore
Home town
Kennesaw, GA
85.3/100
Player Rating
13
PositionRank (OL)
5
FortyYD Time

Connor Lew C Auburn | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Connor Lew C Auburn
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

SUB-POSITION: Center
Last Updated: 05/21/2025
Draft Year: 2026
40 time: 5.00 seconds (93%*)
Age: 19.9 DOB: 08/30/2005
Measurables:
Height: 6-3 (41%*) Weight: 302 (45%*)
Forty: 5.00 (O) (93%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
SUB-POSITION: Center
Last Updated: 05/21/2025
Draft Year: 2026
40 time: 5.00 seconds (93%*)
Age: 19.9 DOB: 08/30/2005
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-3 (41%*) Weight: 302 (45%*)
Forty: 5.00 (O) (93%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
Overall Rating: 85.3 / 100
Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced
Defense Rating:
76%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
Pass Blocking:
90%
Run Blocking:
81%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 3rd
Overall Rank: #72 Position rank: #13
College Games: 22 College Snaps: 1183
Grade: 3 ESPN  Stars 3 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 79/100
Grade: 247 Sports 4  Stars 247 Sports 90 Stars 247 RATING: 90/100
Grade: 3 Stars 3 Stars RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
Jared Wilson - Georgia
92%
Zach Tom - Wake Forest
91%
Luke Wypler - Ohio State
89%
Draft Profile: Bio
Connor Lew arrived on The Plains as a four-star recruit with a perfect 4.0 GPA, but nobody expected him to crack the starting lineup as a true freshman in the meat grinder that is SEC football. After seeing extended action against Ole Miss following an injury to veteran Avery Jones, Lew seized his opportunity against Mississippi State and never looked back, earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors and landing on multiple Freshman All-America teams.

The junior pivot has started every game since claiming the job midway through his freshman campaign, anchoring a Tiger offensive front that's been in desperate need of stability. His sophomore season showed remarkable growth, earning PFF Team of the Week honors after a standout performance against Georgia and being named game captain against Vanderbilt – a testament to how quickly he's earned the respect of both teammates and coaches. What makes Lew's rapid ascension particularly impressive is that he's flourished despite Auburn's overall struggles, showing the mental fortitude to maintain excellence even when surrounded by inconsistency.

Now entering his third season as the Tigers' starting center, Lew has already been pegged by head coach Hugh Freeze as "an NFL center" and is generating legitimate buzz as a potential first-team All-SEC performer. His development trajectory puts him in rare company – you simply don't see many centers start from day one in the SEC and improve at this rate. At 6'3", 302 pounds with exceptional athleticism, Lew has the physical tools matched with technical proficiency that has NFL scouts already taking notice.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • Elite pass protection technician who showcases phenomenal hand placement and reset ability – surrendered just one sack and nine pressures across 442 pass-blocking snaps as a sophomore, putting him among the elite tier of SEC centers.
  • Moves like a pulling guard in space with exceptional lateral quickness and balance – gets to the second level with ease and can stick on linebackers without overextending his base.
  • Shows tremendous football IQ making protection calls – consistently identifies stunts and blitzes pre-snap, directing traffic for an inexperienced line that desperately needed his leadership.
  • Anchor strength significantly improved from freshman to sophomore year, now capable of absorbing bull rushes from much larger SEC nose tackles without giving ground.
  • Plays with controlled aggression and nasty finishing mentality – drives defenders into the turf and looks to pile drive when he senses weakness, showing some serious dog in him at the point of attack.
  • Exceptional leverage fighter who consistently gets under taller defenders' pads – uses natural center-of-gravity advantage to win crucial battles against massive SEC interior linemen.
  • Showcases next-level awareness and processing speed – consistently picks up late blitzers and stunts while maintaining proper positioning in Auburn's complex protection schemes.
  • Rare three-year starter at center in the SEC who's battle-tested against NFL-caliber competition weekly – experience against elite competition is undeniable and translates directly to Sunday readiness.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Frame limitations are apparent against mammoth SEC nose tackles – can be overwhelmed by sheer mass when matched against 340+ pound zero-techniques who get proper leverage.
  • Occasionally caught leaning too far forward in pass protection, creating vulnerability to quick swim moves by more explosive defensive tackles with advanced hand technique.
  • Despite improved strength, will sometimes get driven back into the quarterback's lap against powerful bull rushers before resetting his anchor late in reps.
  • Can be a tick slow getting out on screen passes – shows the athleticism to excel here but timing coordination with quarterback and running back needs refinement.
  • Tends to attack with same hand pattern on initial engagement – NFL defensive tackles will recognize this tendency and exploit it without more variation in his approach.
Scouting Report: Summary
With Connor Lew, what jumps off the screen is a center with exceptional movement skills who can execute in space – the athleticism shows up consistently on pulls, screens and climbing blocks. The wrestling background translates directly to his leverage understanding and hand usage. Yet while his lateral quickness excels, he'll encounter problems against powerful NFL nose tackles who can overwhelm his average frame with pure strength – he'll need to add functional mass without sacrificing his mobility advantage.

Watching Lew diagnose stunts and blitzes showcases football intelligence beyond his years, though his tendency to attack with predictable hand patterns will require diversification against savvy NFL defenders. His pass protection fundamentals are refined for a college prospect, but the film shows occasional lean-forward issues that could be exploited by quicker interior defenders on Sundays. The three-year starter experience against SEC competition has clearly accelerated his development curve and provides a solid foundation that many center prospects lack entering the draft process.

Ultimately, Lew profiles as a scheme-versatile pivot who will thrive most in systems emphasizing movement rather than raw power at the position. His ceiling remains intriguingly high given his athletic tools paired with proven production against elite competition. The technical flaws are correctable, and his demonstrated year-over-year improvement trajectory suggests he's nowhere near his development ceiling. The right offensive coordinator will maximize his exceptional second-level blocking and protection recognition while scheming around his relative mass limitations.

How other scouting services rate Connor Lew (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
124.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
27.0
*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.