Utah Right Tackle Spencer Fano is Dominant

The greats are always fun to evaluate, and that brings us to Utah right tackle Spencer Fano.

He’s a model of consistency. He’s the same guy game in and game out. That’s important. Dependability is BIG in scouting.

Another thing I like is that Fano is a complete offensive tackle.

What does that mean?

He’s just as dominant in pass protection as he is while he is run blocking.

That’s exactly the way it looked on film, and Pro Football Focus confirmed, giving Fano an overall grade of 93.0, which led all FBS tackles in 2024.

In pass protection, Fano is about impossible to get around, and he’s even harder to go through. As a run blocker, he’s one of the most dominant offensive linemen I’ve ever evaluated.

Since I got back into evaluating draft prospects in 2021, Tennessee’s Darnell Wright is the best right tackle I’ve evaluated.

As it stands now, based on his 2024 game film, Fano is now in that same conversation.

What makes Fano so good in pass protection?

• Speed
• Technique
• Long arms
• Athleticism
• High football IQ

The first thing that pops on Fano’s game film is his excellent lateral foot speed. He combines that trait with good hand technique and his long reach to seal off the perimeter of the pocket a high percentage of the time. There were only a couple of plays I legitimately saw him get beaten through the back door of the pocket, and he surrendered pressure, and both of those times, he was a split second slow off the snap against ASU. Those were the only two times I saw him slow off the snap.

This prospect is flexible, and he moves well for a man his size.

Fano makes pass protection look easy.

What makes him so good at run blocking?

• Aggressive nature
• Effort

There is a carry-over into the run-blocking department, where all his aforementioned traits shine. In addition to those traits, Fano run blocks like he means it. He gets after it.

Fano also plays every play until the whistle blows.

Is he perfect?

No.

Nobody is.

As Tony Razzano said in his book, “Secrets of an NFL Scout,” the book that taught me how to scout when I was 17, “There are no 10s.”

However, I will say this ⎯

Fano turned in some of the cleanest offensive lineman game film last season that I’ve ever evaluated.

There’s a bunch of “one-offs,” and there were a handful of times in pass protection, he allowed a bull rusher to get his hands inside, and he drove him back some.

But that’s me nitpicking.

NFL projection

Fano looks like a difference maker on the offensive line, and as they say, “It all starts up front.”

The big question will be where NFL teams “value” him since he plays right tackle and not the coveted left tackle position.

However, Wright went at No. 10 overall to the Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft.

#55 Spencer Fano 6-foot-6, 302 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Summer Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a First-Round prospect as of August 19, 2025

2024 game film evaluated: UCF, Iowa State, Colorado, BYU, Houston, TCU, ASU, Arizona, Oklahoma State, Utah State, Baylor, and Southern Utah (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Durable prospect with a toned athletic frame. Active. Tends to maintain his base and his balance in pass protection. It’s rare for his feet to crossover. The only real chance a pass rusher has is to somehow get him off-balance. Good hand technique. His hands are like two vice-grips he uses to clamp onto pass rushers as he slides out. Sometimes gets his hands inside at the point. Handles “X” stunts (16 charted), blitzes, and swim and spin moves. Strong protective instincts. Has what it takes to recover. Above average anchor. Eventually hunkers down. Looks for extra work pass and run blocking. Excels at pulling downline, drive blocking, and combo run blocks. Gets into the second-level and further downfield and blocks with ease.

What to watch for during the 2025 college football season

1. Stays healthy?

2. Maintains consistency?

3. Are pass rushers able to get him off-balance?

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 is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.