When it comes to LSU players in this upcoming draft class, much of the attention goes to cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. He will likely be the only former Tiger to hear his name called during the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, but he’s not the only one who could have a major impact at the next level.
In its scouting breakdown of LSU offensive guard Ed Ingram, Bleacher Report’s Brandon Thorn had high praise for Ingram’s play. He said that he thinks Ingram’s strength could be enough for him to develop into a capable starter in the NFL down the line.
Former LSU G Ed Ingram is one of my favorite IOL prospects in this class. He has the strength/power, pass pro skills and physicality to earn a starting job as a rookie.
I break down why in my scouting report here: https://t.co/3DUtakQoTF
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) February 26, 2022
Thorn emphasizes Ingram’s physicality, saying that he has “very good upper-body strength and power, with low pad level and tight hands at the point of attack to hit, lift and drive defenders off their spot.” Thorn also said Ingram is effective when it comes to pulling, writing that he is an “efficient puller with low pad level and good acceleration on contact to line up, stone and kick-out his target, plus knows when to temper his aggressiveness to log and pin the end man on the line of scrimmage.”
Here’s Thorn’s breakdown:
Ingram is a four-year starter with 34 career starts at both guard spots, with the bulk of time spent on the left side. He played in three different offensive systems and for as many line coaches during his time with the Tigers, most recently in offensive coordinator Jake Peetz’s spread, multiple-run scheme that featured zone and gap concepts. Ingram also was part of a line that started 11 different players and had nine different starting lineups in 2021.
Ingram has a sturdy, thick build with broad shoulders and girth through his core and lower half. He shows the necessary mobility to bend and get low at the point of attack, with good pad level to maximize his power output. He boasts very good play strength and power to hit, lift and drive defenders off the ball in the run game ,with the rotational force to torque and uproot the opponent laterally to open up lanes off his back side on angle-drive blocks.
Ingram is also an excellent puller. He accelerates and explodes into contact low and under control while knowing when to temper his speed, log and pin the end man of the line of scrimmage when they use the “wrong-arm” technique inside. However, he must learn to keep his head out of blocks and adjust his aiming points more quickly against gap exchanges and post-snap movement across his face to avoid lunging and falling off blocks.
In addition to praising Ingram’s play in run situations, Thorn also had positive things to say about his performance in pass protection.
In pass protection, Ingram does a nice job using a flat set against 2i alignments to stay square with inside-out leverage, showing good patience and jolting strikes to stun, latch and create leverage on rushers. He excels at passing off twists and stunts, feeding penetrators and snapping off to pick up loopers. Ingram can also brace through his core, drop his hips and generate force through the ground to anchor and reduce momentum of the bull rush quickly.
When uncovered, Ingram will cave in adjacent rushers with bad intentions and jarring force. However, he does need to do a better job at staggering his feet and not letting his base get too wide so he can better redirect laterally to stay in front of shifty rushers who can counter and work across his face.
Overall, Ingram is a tone-setting presence with the size, play strength and power to back it up. He is a quick processor who knows how to leverage blocks using his pads and hands while having the proven versatility to play either guard spot. Ingram will need to play with a more consistent base and better aiming points to unlock his raw power in the NFL, but he should be able to come in and be a quality backup right away with potential to start in year one inside a downhill, power-oriented run scheme.
While Thorn is optimistic about the returns from drafting Ingram, he doesn’t see the LSU product as a Day 1 pick. He’s graded as a mid-round pick, expected to go in the third.
GRADE: 7.4 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter – 3rd Round)
OVERALL RANK: 69
POSITION RANK: IOL6
PRO COMPARISON: Jonah Jackson
Ingram may not be the most hyped pro prospect from LSU in this draft class, but he could prove to be one of the stronger value picks in this draft — especially if Thorn is right and he’s able to develop into a starting-caliber player.
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