Cowboys draft 2023: TCU offensive lineman Steve Avila scouting report

There’s lots to love in regards to the Arlington native for the Cowboys within the draft.

• By
  
  David Howman
  
• on March 3, 2023 9:30 am

Cowboys draft prospects scouting reviews for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Identify: Steve Avila
Place: iOL
Top: 6’4”
Weight: 334 kilos

Steve Avila was born in Arlington, Texas in October of 1999. Nearly precisely six years later, the Cowboys broke floor in Arlington on what would finally change into AT&T Stadium. Simply this previous season, Avila received to play in that stadium for the primary time when TCU performed Kansas State within the Massive 12 title recreation.

Now that Avila is coming into the draft, and the Cowboys could also be on the lookout for choices at left guard with the upcoming free company of Connor McGovern, there’s a risk that Avila may as soon as once more be calling Arlington residence.

Avila stayed near residence when he dedicated to the Horned Frogs from South Grand Prairie Excessive College, and he’s loved a great school profession that ended within the Nationwide Championship Sport. Avila grew to become the beginning heart as a redshirt sophomore, however moved to proper sort out through the season. He returned to heart the subsequent 12 months, earlier than switching to left guard this previous season. That versatility makes Avila’s movie all of the extra spectacular.

Anchor: That is the very best a part of Avila’s recreation by far, and why scouts are getting actually enthusiastic about him. When he drops his anchor, he’s virtually unmovable. This was evident even towards Georgia within the nationwide title recreation. On an evening the place TCU quarterback Max Duggan was pressured 16 instances and sacked 5 instances, Avila was accountable for only one stress and didn’t permit a single sack. That’s an enormous testomony to his skill in the case of anchoring.

Lateral Agility: If Avila’s anchor is his greatest energy, his lateral agility is his greatest weak spot. Avila is a giant physique, which is the place lots of his energy to anchor stems from, however the commerce off is having stiffness in his legs that forestalls him from transferring as rapidly as he usually must. A few of this was exacerbated by the large splits that TCU’s offensive line used within the Air Raid scheme this 12 months, however he nonetheless has obtrusive weaknesses on this regard.

Level of Assault: He’s a mauler via and thru, and he performs with that mentality on the level of assault. He carries lots of energy in his punch, and might usually stun defensive linemen when he strikes correctly. Avila additionally has a greater first step than anticipated from somebody his dimension. His physicality has shades of Tyler Smith throughout.

Steadiness: Avila isn’t the very best mover when going laterally, however it has little to do together with his steadiness. He carries himself effectively and has a low heart of gravity. That is on show when he’s transferring up the sphere, and he’s in a position to keep steadiness to tackle defenders with relative ease.

Hand Method: “Technician” might not be the very best time period for him, however you may see his expertise shine via with the way in which he makes use of his arms. He’s very energetic and does a great job of inserting his punches the place he must. Avila can be very disciplined, with simply three penalties all season lengthy and by no means having a number of penalties in a recreation.

Run Blocking: Avila isn’t fairly the dominant run blocker you’d count on from his dimension and tenacity, however the potential is actually there. He’s considerably missing as an athlete, which limits his skill to maintain blocks to the sides or method down the sphere, however Avila is unquestionably one of many high inside run blockers within the draft. Higher conditioning ought to assist him attain the subsequent stage.

Move Blocking: He reveals promise as a go blocker, largely because of his elite anchor skill. Solely 14 different guards this 12 months surrendered fewer pressures than Avila, and he didn’t permit a sack all 12 months. His lateral agility points are nonetheless a giant query mark, and a lot of the pressures he gave up had been a results of stunts and twists that exploited his restricted mobility. He must refine his footwork and change into extra fluid in his motions to outlive as a go blocker on the subsequent stage.

Processing: Avila seems to be a really heady blocker, which is sort of a requirement for anybody to play heart nowadays. With almost two full seasons taking part in the place, he grew to become adept at studying defenses earlier than the snap, which has undoubtedly aided him after kicking out to protect.

Intangibles: Avila’s expertise and flexibility is invaluable. Three years of beginning expertise at three completely different positions is large. Left guard might be his finest slot in the long term, however the skill to play a number of spots in a pinch is huge. Avila was a workforce chief as effectively, being named a workforce captain for the 2022 season.

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