Jalen Travis, OT, Iowa State
Size:
Height: 6076
Weight: 339
Arm: 34 ⅞”
Hand: 10 ½”
Accomplishments:
Second Team All-Ivy League (2023, 2022)
“With elite size paired with impressive protection abilities and natural power, Jalen Travis has starting upside from day one.”
Strengths:
Size and mass
Decent hands
Flashes of high-level run-blocking
Good feet
Concerns:
Needs to let it rip
A step slow off the ball
Footwork needs more work in the run game
Film Analysis:
Jalen Travis enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the more intriguing offensive line prospects for several reasons. After graduating from Princeton as a four-year starter and standout bookend tackle for the Tigers, Travis took advantage of his final year of eligibility to play for Matt Campbell’s Iowa State Cyclones. This move provided evaluators with a valuable opportunity to see how he fared against Power 4 competition, adding a significant boost to his draft résumé beyond the Ivy League.
Travis possesses all the essential traits of an NFL-caliber tackle and then some. Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 340 pounds, he combines rare length and mass, a combination that NFL teams covet. Despite his size, he moves with surprising fluidity, creating optimism about his ability to translate his game to the professional level.
His movement skills are most evident in pass protection. Travis excels at setting quickly out of his stance and gaining ground when necessary. His footwork allows him to neutralize wide alignments and speed rushers. While his length enables him to engage defenders early, there are moments when he sets too short, forcing him to defend on an angle. This occasionally results in him redirecting rushers past the pocket rather than meeting them squarely. Travis needs to better synchronize his footwork and hand usage, ensuring he consistently asserts his physical advantage against power rushers. At his size, there’s no reason defenders should succeed in playing through his massive frame.
While his pass protection shows significant promise, Travis’ run-blocking needs some improvements. In Iowa State’s wide-zone scheme, he struggled as a backside blocker, particularly against slanting defensive linemen. From a three-point stance, he sometimes failed to generate the explosive first step or efficient footwork needed to secure the playside shoulder. Though his technique issues were occasionally compounded by limited assistance from his guards, Travis must improve his flexibility and lower-body bend to win more consistently at the line of scrimmage. Addressing these deficiencies will allow him to better leverage his size and power as a run blocker.
What separates the great offensive linemen from the good often lies in their mindset, and Travis has all the tools to play with a nastier edge. There are flashes of a mean streak in his game, but I’d like to see him finish blocks more consistently and impose his will on defenders through the whistle. At his size and with his skill set, Travis has every reason to dominate, and refining this aspect of his game could elevate him into an elite prospect.
Travis is a raw but highly gifted offensive tackle prospect with the physical tools, football intelligence, and upside to succeed at the next level. While his pass-protection skills already stand out, refining his run-blocking and embracing a more aggressive demeanor could solidify him as a long-term NFL starter. If he continues to build on his foundation and address his areas for improvement, Travis has the potential to be one of the most impactful mid-round linemen in the 2025 draft class.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Exposures: Baylor (2024), Kansas (2024), Cincinnati (2024), Utah (2024)
