Luke Kandra OG Cincinnati | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Luke Kandra OG Cincinnati
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: Right Guard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 12/06/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.90 seconds (99%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: Right Guard | |
| Last Updated: 12/06/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.90 seconds (99%*) | |
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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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78% |
| Run Blocking: |
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73% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#98
Position rank:
#19
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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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85% |
| Caleb Chandler - Louisville |
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74% |
| Chandler Zavala - NC State |
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71% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Luke Kandra, a Cincinnati native, returned home to play for the Bearcats in 2023 after three seasons at Louisville. The former Elder High School star made an immediate impact, earning First Team All-Big 12 honors from the AP and Second Team recognition from the conference's coaches. Kandra's stellar performance also garnered him Second Team All-America honors from Walter Camp and Third Team accolades from the Associated Press.At Cincinnati, Kandra started all 12 games at right guard, anchoring an offensive line that propelled the Bearcats to the fifth-best rushing attack in the nation, averaging 217.1 yards per game. His durability was evident as he logged 895 snaps during the regular season, the third-most of any guard in the country. Kandra's impact was felt beyond the stat sheet, as he led the team with 79 knockdowns and a 92% grade from the coaches, rating as UC's top offensive lineman in 10 of 12 games.
Kandra's journey to Cincinnati began as a three-star prospect out of high school, where he was an All-Ohio offensive lineman for Elder High School's state runner-up team in 2019. At Louisville, he appeared in 21 games over two seasons, including two starts in 2022. His transfer to Cincinnati proved fruitful, as he helped pave the way for running back Corey Kiner to become the 20th Bearcat to rush for 1,000 yards in a season while yielding only two sacks all year.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Road-grading run blocker who consistently wins in the trenches, bulldozing lanes for ball carriers and finishing blocks with nasty intent
- Iron man with a high motor, logging 895 snaps in 2023, showcasing the stamina to be a three-down mauler in the NFL trenches
- Brick wall in pass pro, surrendering only two sacks in 2023, demonstrating stellar anchor and mirror technique against interior rushers
- Swiss Army knife on the interior, with positional flexibility to play all three spots, giving OCs scheme versatility and protection against injuries
- Football IQ off the charts, diagnoses stunts and twists pre-snap, consistently picking up free rushers and maintaining a clean pocket
- Maestro of combo blocks, seamlessly transitions from down blocks to climbing to the second level, springing RBs for chunk plays
- Clean technique with zero penalties in 2023, playing with disciplined hand placement and footwork to avoid drive-killing flags
- Explosive first step off the snap, consistently beating DTs to the punch and establishing leverage in both run and pass sets
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Undersized frame at 292 pounds, raising concerns about his ability to anchor against NFL nose tackles in obvious passing situations
- Tends to play on skates at times, struggling to re-anchor when bull-rushed, potentially exposing the QB to interior pressure
- Lacks the raw power to be a people-mover in gap schemes, limiting his scheme fit at the next level
- Plays too tall in his stance, compromising leverage and making it difficult to win the low-man battle against squatty DTs
- Inconsistent hand fighting in pass pro, with a tendency to lunge and overextend, leaving him vulnerable to swim and rip moves
Scouting Report: Summary
Kandra brings a blue-collar mentality and technical prowess to the interior offensive line. His ability to execute zone concepts with precision and climb to the second level will have zone-heavy teams salivating. The Cincinnati product's football IQ and ability to process complex defensive fronts suggest a high floor as a potential plug-and-play guard in the right system.While Kandra's lack of elite size and power may limit his ceiling, his versatility and durability make him an attractive day-one backup with starting potential. Teams running outside zone schemes will value his ability to move in space and execute reach blocks. His pass protection skills, though solid, will need refinement to consistently stonewall NFL-caliber interior rushers.
Kandra's ideal landing spot would be with a team employing a zone-blocking scheme that values intelligence and technique over raw power. His ability to play multiple positions along the interior could make him a valuable sixth man early in his career, with the potential to develop into a reliable starter. While he may not be a day-one impact player, Kandra has the tools and intangibles to carve out a solid NFL career as a cerebral, technically sound interior lineman.
How other scouting services rate Luke Kandra (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
129.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
29.0
*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.