Scouting Report: JC Latham (OT) - Alabama
Sales Pitch: “Big mauling tackle with the movement skills to thrive on either side in a variety of schemes. A powerful run blocker with a mean streak that flirts with the line of being undisciplined. Moves well for a 360 pound player and is more than capable in pass protection.”
Athletic Profile
Height: 6’ 5 3/4”
Weight: 342 lbs
Arm Length: 35 1/8”
Hand Size: 11”
40 Yard Dash: N/A
10 Yard Split: N/A
Vertical: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
Short Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Age: 21
Relative Athletic Score: N/A
Statistics
Career: 2 Sacks - 6 QB Hits - 30 Pressures - 18 Penalties
2023: 2 Sacks - 3 QB Hits - 14 Pressures - 7 Penalties
Strengths
Elite combination of size and length for the position
Good straight-line quickness and speed for his size
Athletic ability to play both tackles spots in a variety of schemes
Aggressive nasty blocker who looks to finish through the whistle
Strong hands capable of controlling and steering defenders
Powerful strikes that stun defenders
High end play strength and size to create push at the point of attack
Athletic ability to block out in space as a puller or on zone runs
Quick active hands in pass protection that constantly work to find an advantageous foothold
Foot speed and length to corral speed rushers in pass pro
Lower body strength to hold ground vs bull rushes
Weaknesses
Limited flexibility and balance
Major issues with penalties, accumulated 18 in two years of starting
Bad habit of lunging out of stance and getting out over his knees
Struggles to maintain and execute blocks in space due to issues with balance
Pad level can get too high in pass protection and open up his frame to bull rushes
Inconsistent set points in pass protection. Has a bad habit of setting too wide and opening up his inside shoulder, as well as setting to deep and creating a shallow pocket
Hands can be too patient to a fault and let quick power rushers attack his frame to neutralize his natural power
Fails to consistently find his balance and drop his anchor vs bull rushes on deep drops
Too large to have guard versatility
Summary
JC Latham is a mammoth of a man at right tackle and was a multi-year contributor for one of the best offensive lines in the SEC. At 6’ 6” 360, Latham has elite size and length for the tackle position. It should come as no shock that he excels at getting push at the point of attack in the run game. Latham is a mauler with powerful hands, he is easily able control and steer defenders in the run game. His power and aggression make him particularly impactful on gap scheme runs. Latham is a good mover at his size, good first step quickness and burst quickly climb to the second level and win out in space. He is also a plus blocker when asked to reach block, where his combination of hand usage and first step quickness allow him to seal off defenders with leverage. Offensive line coaches will love Latham’s mentality as a run blocker, his aggressive nature flirts with what is legal and really sets a tone. However, it does come at a cost. Latham has issues executing and sustaining blocks in space. A taller player with questionable balance he gets caught going for kill shots on smaller players, getting out over his knees and off balance. Latham’s issues with control are as much mental as physical. In his two years of starting, he piled up 18 total penalties, routinely setting back the Alabama offense. Latham is an above average pass protector. He utilizes his fantastic length and hand placement with plus athletic ability to handle both speed and power rushers alike. He is also very smart in pass pro where he does a good job passing off stunts and swiveling his head to find work when his assignment vacates. The biggest concern for Latham on passing downs, is surprisingly, his anchor. One would expect a player of his size to take on bull rushes far better than he does. Latham cycles through issues of high pad level, late hands and inconsistent set points that limit his ability to adjust. High end pass rushers with the ability to quickly bull rush or convert speed to power routinely gave him issues. Latham is far from a perfect prospect but at only 21 years old with elite size and above average athletic ability he has a sky high ceiling. He best projects as a tackle in a run first scheme that majors in gap runs. Latham lacks the polish or high end movement skills to challenge for Tier-1 in this tackle class but his excellent traits and average to above average to ability in all phases of the game places him at the top of Tier-2 and squarely in the first round.