PROSPECT SUMMARY – KENDRICK GREEN

Illinois interior offensive lineman Kendrick Green projects favorably as a Day 3 target in the 2021 NFL Draft. Green, who came to the Illini program as a defensive tackle and transitioned to the offense ahead of the 2017 college season, finished his career with 33 consecutive starts at either guard or center for Illinois. Green has the lateral mobility and functional athleticism to develop and continue to work with at the pro level—his potential as a recent position swap should not be ignored. That said, Green is understandably rough around the edges with the finer points of strike placement, feel for scraping defenders, angles when climbing to the second level, and his footwork and base; there are too many reps in which Green finds himself on the ground. But viewing him through the scope of a player who is still new to the position, the flashes of leverage at the point of attack and mobility, particularly at center, make him a worthwhile flier later in the draft.

Ideal Role: Developmental center.

Scheme Fit: Wide/Outside-zone-heavy rushing offense.

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Kyle Crabbs

Games watched: Wisconsin (2020), Minnesota (2020), Nebraska (2020), Northwestern (2020), Penn State (2020)

Best Game Studied: Penn State (2020)

Worst Game Studied: Northwestern (2020)

Competitive Toughness: The motor is plentiful and in close-quarters combat, Green’s boxy build will allow him to stand up rushers. He’s got some heavy pop and punch in his hands, but his forward push and ability to churn movement at the POA is hindered by irregularities with first contact and block framing. There’s room for improvement here with his functional strength.

Balance: There are too many reps in which Green ends the play on the ground. He can be guilty of overextending himself and lunging into contact but defenders have also slipped his hand and worked underneath of lateral blocks. There are too many instances of him getting his feet crossed up or tripping up on trash around his lower half. The good news? He’s functionally quite nimble and moves light on his feet, meaning there’s room for improvement here.

Anchor Ability: Green doesn’t showcase a great deal of hip hinge to sit down on rushes, but his core strength is significant and allows him to absorb power rushes. Green offers a fair level of stun power to offset power rushes and if you play him at center, his ability to halt penetration as a help blocker can be an asset.

Lateral Mobility: He’s got plenty of backside cutoff ability. There’s no shortage of reps on tape of him working backside cut off and shows good fluidity to work the hips across the face of the defender. His range will be effective in wide and outside zone concepts and his ability to trigger quickly versus late penetration can afford him the chance to pick up a late piece of a twisting rusher inside.

Power at P.O.A.: Raw movement is very hit or miss. He has good functional strength and admirable pop in his hands. But he’s not consistent with keeping foot action firing after the punch to drive and churn into the plus side of the line. He’d be more effective in gap/power concepts if working as a center versus playing at guard.

Hand Technique: The hands can prematurely flash and he can get a little grabby at first contact. If he’s not careful, he’ll overrun his fit and see the jersey flash with a pull—and he’s often quick to disengage and protest his innocence; even if it comes mid-play. When he’s proper, Green shows good leveraging and hand strength to twist and torque pads for lateral gap leverage.

Football IQ: He’s going to need patience and he should be afforded patience given he’s played offensive line for three years and came to the program as a defensive tackle. A lot of little things currently aren’t second nature yet: angles, strike placement, patience climbing to the second level, and feel for defensive flow to the football. It will come with more reps—or at least any team who decides to invest in him would like to bet that it does.

Versatility: Green has served as both a guard and center for the Illini program. He started multiple games at center at the end of the season in 2020 and added one additional start at center in 2019 amid his 33 consecutive starts to close out his career. Green, if playing center, could offer more scheme versatility than playing guard.

Pass Sets: Illustrates the needed foot speed and a wide base in his sets to maintain his anchor into the ground and doesn’t easily get hinged or collapsed by power rushes. He’s active in seeking extra work and does well to maintain a hip-to-hip relationship with guards as a help blocker from center.

Flexibility: Green does show some immobility throughout his trunk when looking to coil or unload, but he’s got the raw strength necessary to win at first contact if his hands are coordinated and he keeps his feet. Some of his balance issues can stem from high pads in space and inconsistency to drop the hips and gear down prior to squaring up a block.

Prospect Comparison: Jamil Demby (2018 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Rams)