O’Cyrus Torrence Moves Into Top-10

Florida’s O’Cyrus Torrence is the most dominant guard to come out of college since former Notre Dame and current Colts’ guard Quenton Nelson (2018 No. 6).

In this four-game study, I counted five “losses” for Torrence. Even in those five losses, he didn’t give up a sack, and only a couple run stops.

It’s impossible to go through Torrence or get around him on passing downs, and he opens up running lanes like a snow plow.

The great ones are always fun to watch, and while a guard isn’t the most glamorous first-round pick, nothing works on a team without a solid offensive line.

Aggressive technician

That’s what I wrote in my notes.

Torrence is a thick mass of athletic power. Once he gets his hands on a defender, it’s over.

He’s not just a mauler either – – in fact, he’s far from it. Sure, he likes to pancake defenders occasionally, but he stays off the ground most of the time.

Torrence handled everything defenses threw at him with ease.

He walls and seals off lanes in the run game like it’s second nature.

Ironclad anchor

One of the most important characteristics to look for in an offensive lineman is having a strong anchor.

What does that mean?

It means having the pure lower body strength to be able to hunker down, drop weight, and handle strong oncoming bull-rushing attempts by defensive linemen.

Torrence has the ability to do this.

There are several reps in the games (embedded below) defensive linemen attempted to put him on skates with no success.

Aggression + athleticism

A lot of guards are aggressive, but they don’t have great athletic ability, that’s why they are guards and not tackles. Others have great athletic ability, but they don’t have an aggressive bone in their body.

Torrence has the rare combination of both.

He can play in the sandbox with the big boys, and he can also pull and get out to the 2nd level (where the linebackers line up) with ease.

Player on the rise

In the Pro Scouting Department at the Jets, we used to have a grade with an arrow going up, going down, or going sideways to indicate if the player was getting better, or worse, or if he looked the same.

The nice thing about Torrence is he’s shown a steady improvement over his four-year college career, and there is no reason to believe that trend will not continue as he steps into the NFL.

All-Pro waiting to happen

Torrence is one of the safest picks a team can make in the first-round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

I’ve sat here now and watched him play in seven games during the 2022 season and he looks like he is putting on a clinic game in and game out.

I really liked him in my earlier article, “Dominant Guard O’Cyrus Torrence Earns First-Round Grade,” and I really like him again watching these four games.

Torrence is a plug-and-play prospect who can step in and become an elite 10-year starter in the NFL.

#54 O’Cyrus Torrence 6-foot-5, 347 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 56.4% (up from 18.7% on November 6) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of March 9, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Bust Probability: Low

2022 game film reviewed: Utah, FSU, South Carolina, and Missouri (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Level of competition: High

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Big quick man with equally distributed power and excellent athletic ability who excels pass and run blocking. Looks alert in pass pro with his head on a swivel. Sets up with hands in ready position and a nice wide sturdy base. Excellent hand and foot technique. Rarely ever gets out of control (1 time in these four games). He’s like a brick wall in pass pro. Handled stunts and blitzes with ease. Hunkered down against bull rushes. Great job protecting gaps. Works very well in tandem. Often looks to help out when his work is done. Tenacious as a positional and leverage run blocker sealing off lanes. Has enough power to get short-yardage movement. Able to make two blocks on one run at the first and second level. Excellent pulling guard. Moves around in space with ease.

Final words

Torrence is a dominant difference-maker.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.