Hunter Nourzad C Penn State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Hunter Nourzad C Penn State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: Multi-role OL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 04/21/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.15 seconds (73%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: Multi-role OL | |
| Last Updated: 04/21/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2024 | |
| 40 time: 5.15 seconds (73%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 82.9 / 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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66% |
| Run Blocking: |
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78% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#115
Position rank:
#25
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| College Games: 35 College Snaps: 2060 | ||
247 RATING: 89/100
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Juice Scruggs - Penn State |
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82% |
| Luke Wattenberg - Washington |
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76% |
| Kayden Lyles - Florida State |
|
74% |
Drafted: ROUND: 5 - Pick Number: 159 (KC)
Draft Profile: Bio
Hunter Nourzad, of Iranian descent and raised in the Atlanta area, began his football journey in fourth grade. He attended The Walker School in Marietta, Georgia, where he excelled both academically and athletically. He started at center during his sophomore and junior years, earning All-Region honors, and led his team to its first playoff appearance as a senior captain. Nourzad was also a multi-sport athlete, participating in lacrosse and track.Despite being a zero recruit, Nourzad's academic prowess and athletic skills earned him an offer from Army. He committed to Cornell, where he continued to shine, earning Academic All-Ivy honors and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Post-Cornell, after receiving numerous Power 5 offers, he transferred to Penn State, drawn by the coaching and competitive situation. At Penn State, he further distinguished himself, securing Academic All-Big Ten honors and completing a master’s degree in business administration. Nourzad's collegiate journey culminated with an invitation to the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl, showcasing his readiness for pro football.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional at quick-setting pass rushers with effective early hand placement.
- Excels in maintaining leverage and control through mirroring techniques.
- Demonstrates powerful hand strikes paired with a stable anchor against defensive charges.
- Skilled at executing angle blocks with precise hand placement and continuous foot movement.
- Capable of creating vertical displacement on interior zone runs with significant power.
- Utilizes superior pad level to stabilize interactions before engaging secondary targets.
- Agile and effective as a zone blocker, with the ability to lead pulls effectively.
- Super versatile - has played every position the OL
- Brings football intelligence and awareness into play, particularly in recognizing and adjusting to defensive setups pre-snap.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Too often has a wide base which reduces agility in pass protection.
- Struggles with identifying and countering complex defensive twists and stunts, as seen in games against top competition.
- Tends to commit early in his blocks, which can lead to mistakes against nimble defenders.
- Needs to refine his technique to prevent overextension and maintain balance against lateral movements.
- While possessing good grip strength, can sometimes rely too much on latching onto defenders, needing better sustain techniques.
Scouting Report: Summary
Hunter Nourzad enters the NFL Draft with a solid resume, displaying versatility and technical acumen across the entire offensive line. Nourzad's quick hands, effective block finishes, and ability to read defenses pre-snap make him an asset. However, his experience at center is limited and his lateral movement against fast interior defenders leaves room for improvement.Nourzad's strength in anchoring the line and executing run blocks speaks to his potential in both zone and power schemes. His skill set allows him to be a plug-and-play option as both guard and center. Yet, he must address issues like handling sophisticated twist and stunt packages that he struggled with against top-tier college defenses.
Teams looking for a smart, adaptable lineman who can play any inside position and even help out at tackle in a push will find him appealing. While there are aspects of his game that need polishing, his proactive attitude and proven track record suggest that he can develop into a solid starter, although that's probably his ceiling.
Hunter Nourzad percentiles vs other Centers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Hunter Nourzad (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
120.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
32.0
*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.