There are just 38 days until the 2015 NFL Draft. Our Meet the Prospect feature will introduce fans to the players projected to be this year's top selections. How will we select the players to spotlight? Easy. You, the fans, get to decide. Who did you pick for today's profile?
We'll get to Eskridge another day, but today the focus is on Marpet, the division-III standout who has proven himself worthy at each stage of the pre-draft process thus far. At Hobart, a small liberal arts school in New York with an enrollment of just over 2,000 students, Marpet was a standout immediately, earning a starting job as a freshman. He would go on to start 37 of his 43 college games, primarily at left tackle. As would be expected of the first d-III player ever invited to the Senior Bowl, Marpet was named his conference's Offensive Player of the Year as a senior.
At the Senior Bowl, where Marpet first emerged as a prospect of interest, the New York native proved that he could hang with the best that college football had to offer, holding up well in pass-protection drills throughout the week. At 6-4, 307, Marpet is likely slotted to be an interior lineman at the next level – he said at the Senior Bowl that teams have expressed an interest in Marpet for his likely ability to play four of five offensive line position, excluding left tackle. Despite not playing guard in college, Marpet did not miss a beat in holding up against the beefiest of defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl.
Then, at the NFL Scouting Combine, Marpet showed himself to be one of the draft's best athletes on the offensive line, second only perhaps to Oregon's Jake Fisher. His 4.98-second 40-yard dash was the best among all lineman (he was the only one to break the five-second mark) while he finished second to Fisher in both the 20-yard shuttle (4.47 seconds) and the three-cone drill (7.33 seconds).
"Marpet began his rise at the Senior Bowl, and he only strengthened his case at the combine. He might be from a Division III school, but he proved again that teams should take him very seriously," said NFL Network's Charles Davis. "He never seems to be overwhelmed by the big stage. The 6-foot-4, 307-pounder was a dominant left tackle in college but will move inside to guard or center in the NFL. He passed the combine test in a big way."
For an Eagles team that needs to replace Todd Herremans at right guard and that is in the market for some added youth to the offensive line group as a whole, Marpet would appear to be a potential mid-round pick. He has the athleticism that Chip Kelly covets at the position, the only question is whether Kelly and the rest of the front office believe Marpet can handle the jump in competition. He hasn't failed a test yet.
Scouting Report From NFL.com
Good foot quickness with ability to reach and hook opponents. Quick out of stance and into defender. Usually the low man, using hips and arm extension to lock out and control his man. Has leg drive to drive his man backward and finish. Consistent with hand placement in run and pass. Plays with advanced technique for a Division III player. More than held his own at the Senior Bowl against both quickness and strength. Moved from tackle to guard with no issues during the week of practice. Outstanding NFL Scouting Combine with impressive showing on bench press (30 reps). -- Lance Zierlein
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- READ: Meet The Prospect: CB Marcus Peters
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