Russell Okung

6'5, 300 pounds | Oklahoma State

Positives: In pass blocking, Okung displays a great initial kick slide off the snap. Moves back inside nicely to neutralize spin moves. Seems to be an intelligent player who shows good blitz recognition and is awareness against stunts.

Has shown the ability to shutdown an opponent's best pass rushers -- see 2009 Texas game. Properly uses his length to create space. Handles strong pass rushers really well.

He's a powerful player who really uses his legs well to drive defenders backward. His strength is ready for the next level, evident in his ability to move defenders down the line on running plays. He also displays good tenacity to snap off a punch and also finish off his blocks.

Clearly his durability is a big plus and he doesn't appear to wear down late in games and has had few injury issues. He's also developed into a leader for the Cowboys' high-octane offense.

Negatives: When Okung has to move around on the second level he looks a little heavy footed and has some trouble locking on a moving target.

Where he falters from time to time in pass protection is his second and third steps. He'll often short step instead of slide step. This allows quicker defensive ends who understand proper technique to get under his pads around the edge. He has the athleticism, however, to remedy this problem.

Where he needs to improve the most in pass protection is his stance. He'll get too high and lose lose leverage. This is mostly a product of standing up off the snap in Oklahoma State's spread offense. Still, it's an issue that will have to be worked on.

One of the things that you can question right now about Okung is his size. Billed at 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, Okung doesn't look quite that tall and his appears don't look especially long. However, this is somewhat impossible to determine until he gets checked out at the NFL Scouting Combine. His frame, though, looks to be quite filled out.

Final word: Over his career, Okung has developed into the best offensive tackle in college football. He has the kind of athleticism required of a blind-side blocker in the NFL. His pass protection is very good and once he learns better leverage he can become a Pro Bowl-level left tackle.

Playing in 874 snaps as a junior, he led the Cowboys with 27 "dominating blocks," many of which came in the run game.

Compares favorably to Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady. Okung is clearly a top 10 talent and it seems likely he'll be drafted higher.