Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M
Size:
Height: 6071
Weight: 314
Arm: 34 ½”
Hand: 10 ¼”
Accomplishments:
Senior Bowl Invitee (2024)
“With the length and lower-body foundation to be a potential starting tackle in the NFL, Carson Vinson has all the tools to be successful.”
Strengths:
Size and length
High ceiling, strong traits
Gets on second-level defenders well
Good feet
Concerns:
Technically raw
Consistently late hands
Competition
Film Analysis:
Carson Vinson is one of the premier FCS tackles in the 2025 NFL Draft class. At 6-foot-6, Vinson was the first HBCU prospect to receive a Senior Bowl invite, and for good reason. Despite being heavily under-recruited coming out of high school, Vinson has not only had an incredible career with the Bulldogs, but he is also worthy of selection in this upcoming draft.
What initially caught evaluators' attention about Vinson was his sheer size. It’s not often that a lineman of his length and frame makes it through the cracks of the FBS, but Vinson seems to be the exception. He possesses not only the length to play tackle at the next level, but he also has the athletic ability required. One of the most noticeable improvements I observed from his 2023 tape to this current season is how much quicker his feet have become. He now relies more on his footwork to win reps rather than solely on his size advantage.
This footwork is what has convinced me of Vinson’s potential. The ability to reach your spot is important, but Vinson also displays the capability to mirror and respond to rush indicators with his feet. Demonstrating this ability is a strong foundation for teams looking to take on a project with high returns. This lower-body movement is also crucial for him when working at the second level, where I was surprised to see his proficiency in getting latched onto defenders. One of the more difficult tasks for a lineman, Vinson makes it look easy.
Putting the pieces together on Vinson, it will take significant improvements for him to earn reps in the NFL. Patience will be of utmost importance. One area of emphasis for Vinson will be figuring out the timing of his hands. Playing against lower-level competition has allowed him to get away with striking late in protection. He gives rushers too much ground before initiating contact, and at the next level, defenders will exploit that space to bull-rush him. He’s not yet strong enough or technically sound to withstand those rushes, so fixing his hand placement and engaging early will be the best way to mitigate those deficiencies.
Overall, NFL coaching will do incredible things for Vinson's game. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw him make strides even during Senior Bowl week alone. He’ll need time to adjust to the speed of the game, but he offers the upside of a potential starting tackle in the NFL if he takes the necessary steps to develop and secure that opportunity.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Scheme Specific Contributor
Exposures: Auburn (2024), Jackson State (2024), Southern (2024), Grambling State (2024), Mississippi Valley State (2024)
