Luke Kandra OG Cincinnati | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Luke Kandra OG Cincinnati
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: Right Guard | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/26/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.90 seconds (99%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: Right Guard | |
| Last Updated: 02/26/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.90 seconds (99%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.5 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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79% |
| Run Blocking: |
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75% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#106
Position rank:
#21
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| College Games: 36 College Snaps: 2053 | ||
ESPN RATING: 75/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 92/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wyatt Davis - Ohio State |
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83% |
| Chandler Zavala - NC State |
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77% |
| Caleb Chandler - Louisville |
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69% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The prodigal son who returned home to Cincinnati after three seasons at Louisville, Luke Kandra transformed from a developmental prospect into one of the nation's premier interior linemen. The Elder High School product blossomed into a decorated offensive guard for the Bearcats, collecting Walter Camp Second-Team and AP Third-Team All-America honors in 2023 before backing it up with another stellar campaign in 2024. Standing 6'5" and tipping the scales at 318 pounds, Kandra's journey from local high school standout to potential NFL draft pick exemplifies his developmental trajectory.After appearing in 21 games over two seasons at Louisville, Kandra followed head coach Scott Satterfield to Cincinnati where he immediately established himself as a force. His homecoming proved fruitful as he anchored an offensive line that ranked fifth nationally in rushing (217.1 ypg) in 2023. The durable mauler logged 895 snaps that season—third-most among guards nationwide—while grading out as the team's top lineman in 10 of 12 games. His coaches awarded him a 92% grade with 79 knockdowns, confirming what the film showed: a technician who dominated in the trenches.
Kandra's senior season cemented his draft stock as he collected Big 12 First Team honors from coaches while earning Second Team All-American recognition from Sports Illustrated and College Football Network. As a team captain, he helped pave the way for Corey Kiner's second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. His remarkable consistency—allowing just one sack across 24 starts at Cincinnati—coupled with stellar athletic testing (4.90 forty-yard dash) makes him an intriguing prospect whose film warrants attention from NFL decision-makers.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Tenacious drive blocker who plays with controlled violence and finishes through the whistle, consistently turning defenders' shoulders and creating massive running lanes.
- Exceptional lateral agility for his size, allowing him to excel on pull blocks and reach blocks where he consistently seals off backside defenders.
- Brick wall pass protector who surrendered just one sack in 24 games, showing textbook hand placement and a sturdy anchor against power rushers.
- Football intelligence jumps off the screen—consistently identifies stunts pre-snap, communicates adjustments, and picks up delayed blitzers without hesitation.
- Cleanup artist in pass protection who keeps his head on a swivel and looks for work when uncovered, saving his quarterback from free rushers.
- Plays with exceptional balance and body control, rarely ending up on the ground and maintaining leverage throughout extended plays.
- Explosive out of his stance with quick footwork that allows him to reach difficult blocking angles, particularly effective climbing to second-level targets.
- Iron man durability and conditioning—played 895 snaps in 2023 alone, showing no dropoff in intensity or technique deep into games.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Despite solid testing numbers, occasionally struggles to redirect against quicker three-techniques who beat him with initial burst and sudden change of direction.
- Hand placement can drift outside the defender's frame when fatigued, making him susceptible to holding calls at the next level.
- Shows moments of playing too high in his stance against squatty defensive tackles, negating his natural power advantage in short-yardage situations.
- Limited experience outside of right guard might require adjustment period if asked to play left guard at the next level.
- Occasionally loses patience against crafty rush counters, lunging forward and compromising his base in extended pass protection reps.
Scouting Report: Summary
Kandra's tape reveals a player best suited for zone-blocking schemes where his movement skills shine. The Arizona State game highlighted his ability to reach defenders and transition to the second level with fluidity rare for a 318-pounder. His timed speed translates to functional mobility when pulling and reaching. However, he'll need to improve his anchor against powerful NFL defensive tackles who can collapse the pocket with bull rushes, something that occasionally showed up against stronger competition.In pass protection, Kandra shows the technical refinement to handle varied rush packages. His performance against Texas Tech demonstrated excellent recognition of stunts and twists – maintaining a clean pocket against complex blitz schemes. This processing speed will serve him well at the next level, though he'll face a steeper learning curve against the sophisticated stunts and games NFL defenses employ. His tendency to play slightly high in his stance will need refinement against squattier NFL interior defenders.
Zone-heavy teams offer scheme fits where Kandra could develop into a quality starter. His mobility, football IQ, and finishing mentality project well to their systems, though he likely begins as a developmental backup with starting potential by year two. While his athletic testing suggests a higher ceiling, the film shows a player with early day-three value. The gap between his collegiate dominance and NFL readiness will determine whether he becomes a reliable starter or quality depth piece along the interior.
Luke Kandra percentiles vs other Offensive Guards (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Luke Kandra (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
181.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
36.0
*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.