Elijah Paige OT USC |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #72 SUB-POSITION: Left Tackle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 5.05 seconds (87%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.8 DOB: 02/19/2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #72 | |
| SUB-POSITION: Left Tackle | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 5.05 seconds (87%*) | |
| Age: 21.8 DOB: 02/19/2005 | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.6 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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92% |
| Run Blocking: |
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78% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#102
Position rank:
#17 (OL)
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| College Games: 32 College Snaps: 1688 | ||
ESPN RATING: 79/100
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247 RATING: 93/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Blake Miller - Clemson |
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96% |
| Blake Freeland - BYU |
|
86% |
| Jordan Morgan - Arizona |
|
84% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Elijah Paige grew up in Phoenix and played at Pinnacle High School and served as a team captain, played left tackle as a junior and also played basketball. He committed to Notre Dame as a four-star recruit after an official visit, then decommitted and chose USC a little over 10 days later, saying he saw a coach in Lincoln Riley who would not accept anything less than his standard.Paige enrolled early in 2023 and made his first start in the Holiday Bowl. He started all 13 games at left tackle in 2024 and was an FWAA Freshman All-American and an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick. A lower-body injury from the Michigan game in 2025 cost him three games, and after returning for the 21-17 win over Nebraska, saying it felt great to be back, he was out again from the Iowa game onward. He had a knee procedure in late November and was shut down after seven starts, in which he allowed six pressures and no sacks. He was also named to the Big Ten fall all-academic team in 2024 and 2025.
Paige re-signed with USC for 2026 and has been one of the best tackles in the country. The Athletic named him a midseason first-team All-American, and he has allowed no sacks and five pressures in eight games for a 7-2 team that beat No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 on 31 October.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Midseason first-team All-American by The Athletic in 2026
- Has allowed no sacks and five pressures in eight games this season
- Rare athleticism for a tackle, with a top-tier forty
- Started all 13 games at left tackle as a 2024 Freshman All-American
- Long, smooth mover who mirrors speed rushers in his pass sets
- Academic honors in 2024 and 2025 point to a sharp, coachable player
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- A 2025 knee procedure ended his season after seven starts
- Allowed 29 pressures and two sacks in his first season as the starter
- Run blocking is solid but trails his pass protection
- Flagged three times this season, including once against Oregon
Scouting Report: Summary
Paige is a long, athletic left tackle who has been one of the best pass protectors in the country this season. He has allowed no sacks and five pressures in eight games, and The Athletic named him a midseason first-team All-American. He has rare movement for a tackle, mirrors speed rushers smoothly in his pass sets and has held up against a schedule that included Oregon, Washington and Ohio State.He has also been a starter since he was a freshman. He started all 13 games at left tackle in 2024 and was a Freshman All-American, and he allowed six pressures and no sacks in seven starts in 2025. His return to form after the 2025 injury has been one of the key reasons USC is 7-2, including the 30-18 win over No. 2 Ohio State on 31 October. He has also earned academic honors in both 2024 and 2025.
However, his medical file will be important. A lower-body injury cost him three games in 2025, and he then needed a knee procedure that ended his season after seven starts. His run blocking is solid but trails his pass protection, and he has been flagged three times this season. He also allowed 29 pressures and two sacks in his first full season as a starter in 2024, so his consistency is a more recent development than his talent. Teams will also want to see whether his run blocking can match his pass protection against bigger fronts.
Overall, Paige is a polished, athletic pass protector with three years of starting experience and a strong 2026 season behind him. He projects as a fourth-round tackle with the ceiling of a starting left tackle and the floor of a reliable swing tackle, and his value could rise quickly if his knee checks out at the combine and he finishes the season at the same level.
How other scouting services rate Elijah Paige (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
75.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
15.0
*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.