MOBILE, Ala. — North Dakota State offensive lineman Cody Mauch is looking to follow in former teammate Cordell Volson’s footsteps and become the second Bison lineman in two years to be drafted. So far, his journey to get to that point has looked awfully similar to Volson’s.

Mauch, like Volson, played on the outside at North Dakota State as one of the team’s starting tackles over the last three years. However, also like Volson, the North Dakota native has kicked inside to guard to get some eyes on him practicing in the interior at his all-star event. Through one day of practice, that’s been a nearly seamless transition for him. Mauch consistently was standing up interior defenders in one-on-one and team drills, stopping guys in their tracks, and showing off his mobility on guard pulls and stretch runs.

“There were… some things I’ve got to work on, but for one of the first times at guard, especially in a competitive setting, there’s a lot to hang your hat on,” he said.

In addition to his newer experience playing guard this week, Mauch also said he’s going to get some reps at center during Senior Bowl week, something he’s never had experience with at any level. Showing off potential positional versatility across the offensive line is an easy way for any player to raise his draft stock, especially for a guy from a smaller school. After years of tape at left tackle, Mauch has looked promising at left guard through one day of practice and on Wednesday will get a chance to show similar potential at center.

Of everything that went well on his first day, Mauch specifically pointed to his pass protection work as the thing he was proudest of after one day of Senior Bowl practice. Going forward, he said it was an aspect of his game that he wanted to continue to build on this week while also putting together some good reps in run blocking. What was the key to getting those good run-blocking reps going forward?

“I just have to keep thinking ‘play fast, play fast, play fast.’ If it’s a run block, you’ve got to get your steps in the ground because these guys are fast on defense, so I’ve just got to be fast in everything I do,” Mauch said.

For a guy with an FCS background, playing fast was something he was always going to be something to key in on against the heightened competition from FBS guys at the Senior Bowl. And Mauch noted that consistently high play speed was the key to winning all of his reps in practice.

“You’re not going to get a play off ever. Every play, you have to bring your ‘A’ game,” he said.

With his play-fast mentality and positional versatility on the offensive line starting to shine for him this week, Cody Mauch is going to come out of Senior Bowl week having raised his draft stock significantly.