Connor Colby OG Iowa | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Connor Colby OG Iowa
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: Multi-role OL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/07/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.11 seconds (86%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.1 DOB: 01/16/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: Multi-role OL | |
| Last Updated: 03/07/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 5.11 seconds (86%*) | |
| Age: 22.1 DOB: 01/16/2003 | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 82.5 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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69% |
| Run Blocking: |
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82% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#171
Position rank:
#32
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| College Games: 53 College Snaps: 2763 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 94/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zak Zinter - Michigan |
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83% |
| Andrew Vorhees - USC |
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75% |
| C.J. Hanson - Holy Cross |
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69% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A homegrown Iowa product, Connor Colby has been the backbone of the Hawkeyes' offensive line since he stepped foot on campus. The 6'6", 309-pound interior bruiser turned heads immediately, becoming the first true freshman to crack Iowa's starting offensive line since 2017. What began as an 11-game starting stint his freshman year evolved into an iron man career, culminating in 50 total starts – the second most by any offensive lineman in the Kirk Ferentz era at Iowa.Colby's journey is a testament to both durability and versatility. Throughout his four-year tenure, he anchored multiple positions including 37 starts at right guard, seven at left guard, and six at right tackle. His senior campaign saw him start all 13 games at right guard, where he proved instrumental in revitalizing Iowa's ground attack. Under his watch, the Hawkeyes rushed for 200+ yards in eight games – the most since 2015 – while their 197.2 rushing yards per game ranked third in the Big Ten and 24th nationally, the program's highest mark since 2002.
The accolades piled up along the way, particularly during his final season when he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from both coaches and media, along with third-team All-America recognition from Phil Steele. His contribution to the offensive line helped the unit become a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, while he personally claimed the Hayden Fry Award on offense. Colby's impact wasn't limited to the field either, as he consistently earned Academic All-Big Ten honors throughout his career.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Battle-tested veteran with 50 career starts across multiple positions, displaying exceptional durability and versatility rarely seen at the collegiate level.
- Excels in zone concepts with a natural feel for angles, using defenders' momentum against them while washing them down the line with controlled aggression.
- Nasty finisher on duo blocks who creates initial surge before climbing seamlessly to linebackers, consistently opening cutback lanes for ball carriers.
- Pre-snap diagnostic skills jump off the tape, routinely identifying blitzes and making protection adjustments that saved his quarterback from blind hits.
- Shows impressive functional hand usage in pass protection, carrying his mitts at chest level and firing timely punches that stun defenders momentarily.
- Possesses a cerebral understanding of blocking assignments that translates to effective combo blocks and proper leverage points in space.
- Constantly seeks out work when uncovered, showing some dog when hunting linebackers on the second level rather than standing idle.
- Demonstrated consistent growth each season, particularly in his anchoring technique when defenders attempt to bull rush straight through his chest.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Tendency to overset to his playside creates exploitable counters, particularly against crafty rushers who recognize and capitalize on his weight distribution.
- Labors to redirect against quick-twitch interior defenders, showing stiffness in his lower half when forced to change direction suddenly in tight quarters.
- Pad level rises dramatically during extended reps, negating his functional strength and leaving him vulnerable to leverage-based power moves.
- Exhibits concerning waist-bending habits that compromise balance, causing him to lunge and whiff against defenders who use push-pull techniques.
- Limited scheme versatility restricts his value, as he lacks the raw power and displacement ability needed in downhill gap/power running systems.
Scouting Report: Summary
Colby projects as a mid-to-late round developmental guard whose run-blocking prowess will get him drafted, but pass protection limitations will determine his ceiling. His extensive experience against Big Ten competition provides polish that many prospects lack, though athletic limitations show up against elite competition. His technical foundation allows him to maximize what he has – making him a viable backup with potential for more in the right system.Zone-blocking teams will value his angles, leverage, and combo block expertise far more than gap/power schemes where he lacks the necessary displacement strength. What jumps off the film is the stark contrast between his confident, aggressive approach to run blocking versus his mechanical, sometimes hesitant pass sets. Against NFL-caliber interior rushers, his pad level inconsistency and recovery limitations will be exploited unless corrected through deliberate coaching.
After breaking down his entire Iowa career, I see a reliable backup with eventual spot-starter upside if deployed in a run-heavy offense that minimizes his pass protection exposure. His positional flexibility (guard/tackle experience) increases his roster value significantly. The tape shows a player who knows his assignments, plays with good technique, and finishes with attitude in the run game – but must develop the same confidence and consistency in pass protection to stick as anything more than a swing backup in this league.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
Connor Colby percentiles vs other Offensive Guards (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Connor Colby (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
197.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
42.0
*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.