2011 Draft: Ben Ijalana G/T

[SuperSpck]

Name
Ben Ijalana
Last name is pronounced "EYE-JA-LAWN-A"
Position (Primary/Possible Secondary): G/T
School: Villanova
Measurables
6-3/317
Arm Length: 36
Hand Size: 10½
Combine Results
40 yard dash: DNP
Reps of @ 225: n/a

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Scouting Aggregate
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/ben-ijalana?id=2495174

Ijalana was a star for Villanova at the FCS level and he has enough talent to make the jump to the NFL. He projects as a guard at the next level and his strength and finishing attitude will make him a powerful drive blocker. He makes good decisions in pass protection and has quick feet and long arms to handle athletic defensive lineman. He plays a bit high and takes too many false steps and these technical flaws will be exposed against better competition, but Ijalana has the potential to develop into a starting guard and should be selected on Day 2.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1277439

Positives: Exceptional pass blocker at the FCS level, dominates defensive ends on most plays with great length with athleticism. Excellent foot quickness to mirror his man. Works to sustain even if his man backs off a bit. Has the bulk, length and footwork to be a very effective run blocker. Excellent agility to get out of his stance, capable of moving behind the line and into the hole to negate linebackers. Excellent durability; started all 52 career games.

Negatives: Inconsistent kick-slide, will cross his legs and be beaten outside when he loses focus off the snap. Must improve his awareness of end-tackle stunts and inside blitzers, as his quarterback takes too many direct hits. Carries a bit of extra weight in his mid-section. Comes off the ball a hit high in short-yardage situations. Tough time adjusting to quick players in space, even if they are coming straight on. Occasionally loses the snap count or is distracted in pass protection. Stands around too much as the play continues.

http://sidelinescouting.com/rankings/og/benjamin-ijalana.shtml

Positives: Good athlete... Good size with long arms... Plays with good strength and power... Very solid drive blocker... Keeps his feet moving on contact... Blocks with reasonably good leverage... Gets movement in the running game... Can pull and get to the second level... Good flexibility and body control... Does a nice job breaking down and getting into linebackers... Does a good job bringing his feet... Good awareness, keeps his head on a swivel... Nice balance... Good pass protector... Good anchor, does a good job holding his ground... Good lateral movement, slide and quickness... Reasonably good feet... Good short area quickness and agility... Does a nice job mirroring defender... Carries his pads reasonably well... Does a nice job redirecting... Good arm extension, is generally first to make contact... Very solid punch when he can land it squarely... Dominated in the Football Championship Subdivision... Will get a lot of looks at Offensive Tackle as well.

Negatives: Bends at the waist, needs to get better knee bend... Rises up to soon in pass protection, will play too upright at times... Doesn't always get and maintain good leverage in pass protection... Allows his footwork to get choppy... Can be beat by quick fluid edge rushers... Reasonably good but not a consistent finisher... Appears to lack a mean streak... Can play physical but is more finesse than mauler... Wasn't tested much at Villanova and didn't play in any of the senior All-Star games.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/college_player_scouting_report.html&player=69983

A gifted athlete for his size who displays good range off the edge in pass protection and has the kind of athleticism needed to play on the left side in the NFL. Does a nice job quickly changing directions and redirecting in space, displays a lateral burst when asked to mirror one-on-one and exhibits the range to reach the corner. Is still raw with his footwork and too often stands upright initially off the snap and will get overextended on his kick-slide. However, he's a long-armed kid who sticks to blocks well once he gets a hold of defenders and is a really heavy-handed kid. Possesses a good first step off the snap and is able to consistently get around defenders and seal, and has improved getting off the snap count on time as a senior.

Has really improved his overall pad level as a run blocker as a senior. Does a much better job sitting into his stance, firing off the football low, extending his arms and keeping his feet under him through contact. A downright dominant in-line guy at the I-AA level who can routinely get under defenders, lock out and drive linemen off the ball. Is also very coordinated on the move, possesses good range when asked to pull, step and seal quickly inside and does a great job breaking down and eliminating a defender at the second level.

Impression: A downright dominant small-school blocker with a great physical/athletic skill set. Needs to continue to improve his footwork on his kick-slide, but he's a gifted enough athlete to pick that up quickly. The biggest question for Ijalana is, where does he best fit? He's long enough to play left tackle and physical enough to play guard. Either way he's one of the better offensive line prospects at this stage and in my view you let him get comfortable at guard in year one and see if he can make the move to left tackle in year two.

 

[Snakester]

I like this guy. Very good prospect. I was thinking of him as a second rounder, but because of his sports hernia condition he has not been able to do anything for teams to see. He didn't do anything at the combine. I think there is a very good posibility that he could slide to the third round.