Iapani Laloulu C Oregon | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Iapani Laloulu C Oregon
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: Center | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/19/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.30 seconds (39%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 20.10 DOB: 06/25/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: Center | |
| Last Updated: 05/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 5.30 seconds (39%*) | |
| Age: 20.10 DOB: 06/25/2004 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 85.9 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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85% |
| Run Blocking: |
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74% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Late
Overall Rank:
#55
Position rank:
#9
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| College Games: 28 College Snaps: 1383 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
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247 RATING: 90/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zach Frazier - West Virginia |
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83% |
| Steve Avila - TCU |
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79% |
| Dohnovan West - Arizona State |
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71% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The big Hawaiian they call "Poncho" has quietly developed into one of the nation's premier interior linemen while anchoring Oregon's offensive front. A former four-star recruit out of Farrington High School, Laloulu has transformed from a promising freshman reserve into the backbone of the Ducks' offensive line. After bouncing between guard spots during his freshman campaign, he found his true calling at center midway through 2024, sparking an immediate turnaround for a previously struggling unit. The transformation was night and day – with Laloulu making the line calls, Oregon's protection schemes tightened up considerably, surrendering just five sacks over their final ten contests after he settled in at the pivot.What jumps off the tape with Laloulu is his rare blend of power and technical refinement. At 6'2", 325 pounds, he's built like a bulldozer but moves with the nimbleness of someone thirty pounds lighter. His sophomore campaign showcased his elite pass protection skills, allowing zero sacks and just ten total pressures across almost 500 pass-blocking snaps – numbers that would make many NFL veterans envious. The consistency is what truly sets him apart though; in nine separate games, he pitched a perfect shutout, not surrendering a single pressure despite facing the rugged defensive fronts of the Big Ten. His performance against Michigan State and Ohio State particularly stand out, as he neutralized some of the conference's premier interior defenders.
Heading into his junior season, Laloulu finds himself in an unfamiliar position as the lone returning starter on Oregon's offensive line. The coaching staff has already identified him as their on-field leader and the anchor they'll build around. With quarterback Dante Moore taking over under center and a host of new faces up front, Laloulu's command of protection schemes and pre-snap adjustments will be even more crucial. How he handles this expanded leadership role while maintaining his elite individual performance could be the final piece in cementing his first-round draft stock for 2026.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional anchor strength in pass protection – sinks hips and establishes immovable base that completely stalls bull rushers trying to collapse the pocket.
- Natural leverage advantage at 6'2" allows him to consistently get under taller defenders' pads, turning their height against them when they try to penetrate.
- Shows impressive lateral agility on reach blocks, consistently sealing off backside defenders to create cutback lanes that weren't initially designed into the play.
- Demonstrates surgeon-like hand technique – times his punch perfectly and places hands inside defenders' frame while maintaining balanced base through contact.
- Possesses rare positional versatility with game experience at center and both guard spots, giving evaluators confidence he can plug into any interior lineup spot.
- Processes stunts and blitzes with veteran-like awareness, rarely fooled by defensive movement and shows ability to seamlessly pass off twisting defenders.
- Plays with nasty demeanor through the whistle – regularly finishes blocks with defenders on the ground and accumulated 40+ knockdowns over last 14 games.
- Exceptional football intelligence evident in pre-snap communication – orchestrated protection adjustments that transformed Oregon's pass blocking efficiency midseason.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Below-average arm length for his position creates occasional issues against longer defenders who can get into his chest before he establishes contact.
- Testing numbers suggest merely adequate athleticism – his forty time raises questions about recovery ability when beaten initially by quicker interior rushers.
- Shows occasional tendency to lunge forward in pass protection against crafty defenders, creating vulnerability to quick swim moves and inside counters.
- Run blocking, while solid, doesn't match his elite pass protection – can improve consistency driving defenders off the ball in short-yardage situations.
- Still developing as a puller in space – takes occasional awkward angles when leading through the hole, resulting in missed blocks against second-level defenders.
Scouting Report: Summary
The tape shows a technician who wins with intelligence and hand placement rather than overwhelming athleticism. When you watch Laloulu on passing downs, his ability to diagnose and counter interior rush moves stands out immediately – he's a brick wall when properly set. Yet those same feet that anchor so well in pass protection can occasionally lack the explosiveness needed to consistently drive defenders in the run game. His lateral movement opens lanes in zone concepts, but when asked to generate vertical push in power schemes, you see occasional stalemates rather than movement.Pass protection will be Laloulu's calling card at the next level. The way he manages stunts and twists while maintaining pocket integrity suggests a player who processes the game at an advanced level. However, those below-average testing numbers aren't just combine curiosities – they show up when he's tasked with reaching linebackers at the second level or recovering against quicker three-techniques. NFL defensive coordinators will test his recovery ability early and often with athletes he hasn't faced in college.
Durability and positional versatility enhance his draft value considerably. Having played three different interior spots gives him immediate swing backup potential while he develops as a starter. The instincts he demonstrates identifying blitzers and adjusting protection schemes will transfer seamlessly to Sundays. While some prospects offer higher athletic ceilings, few enter the league with Laloulu's combination of technical polish – making him a day one contributor with the potential to anchor an offensive line for years to come.
How other scouting services rate Iapani Laloulu (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
118.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
24.0
*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.