Meet Quinn Meinerz, the small-school stud Chargers should consider drafting

Get familiar with the small-school stud who turned heads at the Senior Bowl.

I spent this last week down in Mobile, AL for the Reese’s Senior Bowl, a prestigious college football all-star game, where over a hundred of the top senior prospects showcase themselves in front of a crop of NFL personnel.

I was fortunate enough to sit down and talk to former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz to pick his brain and get an inside look at his mindset going into this year’s draft.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 320

College Bio Page

Chargers Fit

Quinn Meinerz should be a inside contributor inside at the next level, despite the jump in competition. Meinerz is a strong, mauling linemen who shows the awareness and power to deliver a blow to defenders. He projects as a center, but he has the versatility to fill in at every spot along the interior part of the offensive line, primarily in a power scheme.

Round Projection: 3rd-4th

Highlights

Describe your time at the Senior Bowl.

My time at the Senior Bowl was awesome. Coming from someone who didn’t have a football season, it felt great to put the pads back on and go practice against some of the best players in the country. It was cool to play with some of the other players that had their season affected by COVID-19, like North Dakota State’s Dillon Radunz and Northern Iowa’s Spencer Brown. My favorite part about the Senior Bowl was learning a new position. There were a lot of things against me, but I took advantage of the opportunity I had.

With you not having a season, what did you do to keep your body in shape?

For the most part, a lot of my work was with Brad Arnette, owner of NX Level Sports. He took me in as a super raw athlete and started molding me into becoming a professional. I was able to take advantage of my tools going virtual after a certain point in November. I spent three weeks with Duke Manyweather. Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater and myself were able to be workout partners, and I learned a lot from Duke. I’ve never been in a two-point stance in my entire life. It was different, but he helped me perfect my stance and how to perform like a professional offensive lineman.

What do you enjoy the most about playing on the offensive line?

My favorite is how physical it is in the trenches. For me, I like when the offensive line is together and feel the groove that we are in, especially when we are running the ball really well or passing off twists.

All of your experience comes at guard, but you played center in Mobile. What position do you think you’ll play at the next level?

Before the Senior Bowl I would say that I’m a guard only. But after last week, I feel extremely comfortable snapping the ball and being in that stance at the point of attack. To answer your question, I feel comfortable at all three spots along the interior.

Is there a scheme that you prefer to play in at the next level?

I really enjoy playing in a power scheme. Let’s get double teams, move defensive linemen and go up to the linebackers. I think it’s good that you have a really good power football team and a team that can also get to the edge and that’s where I can use my athleticism and my speed to get to the edge. So while I’m efficient at the point of attack at the center position, I can also be good when needed to pull.

Do you have a preferred pass set?

Yes, I’d say I’m more of an aggressive pass-setter. I don’t like to kick back and wait for a defensive lineman. I like to attack and force them to make their move early. If not, jump set, grab them and enter the fight early. With me being a smaller interior offensive lineman, I am going to have to figure out different ways to win and closing that gap quickly, especially against defensive linemen with length, should be the most optimal way for me.

What’s your favorite way to demoralize your opponent?

I think it’s consistent aggression throughout the entire game and my unwillingness to quit and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make my opponent quit, whether that’s constantly pancaking him to the ground or pushing him to the end of the whistle, or if it’s a long run, then making sure I’m out-running him.

How do you react if someone delivers a late hit on your quarterback?

That’s unacceptable and I will do whatever he does but worse.

What quarterback would you like to block for in the NFL?

A big, physical quarterback.

How are some offensive linemen that you model your game after?

When I was playing guard in college, I would watch a lot of Colts’ Quenton Nelson. A lot of things I did and the style of play are very similar, both very physical and a mauler type of blocking. As I recently played more center, I have been watching a lot Buccaneers’ Ryan Jensen. Jensen is a big, mean and always looking for contact.

What kind of impact is Quinn Meinerz going to make at the next level?

I’m going to come in and constantly have a chip on my shoulder and try to be as physical as possible all the time. I’m a huge believer in the way you practice is how you are going to play. I bring a positive mental attitude all of the time in the locker room. I think there’s not a lot of positive energy in today’s world and I’m one who can set the mood.