Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones, & Luke Wypler; OL (Ohio State)
The three musketeers of Ohio State's offensive line
Offensive linemen can be a mixed bag to watch - you either witness a behemoth smothering opponents effortlessly or you see a weak link crumbling under the pressure. Ohio State's offensive line is a prime example of the former, with Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones, and Luke Wypler displaying their dominant prowess on the field. These three linemen were a joy to watch as they dominated their opponents and helped lead Ohio State to success. It is no surprise that they are expected to make a significant impact in the NFL, with at least two of them being worth a first round pick and the third worthy of a top-50 selection.
COLLEGE CAREER OVERVIEW
Paris Johnson Jr., a 5-star recruit rated by both ESPN and 247 Sports, chose Ohio State after graduating from Princeton High School. In his freshman year, he played briefly in only 4 games for a total of 26 snaps. However, as a sophomore in 2021, he secured the starting job at right guard and played in 13 games without giving up a single sack, while conceding 13 QB hurries and a QB hit. In his junior year, Johnson Jr. shifted to left tackle, played in 12 games, and amassed 757 snaps, giving up 9 QB hurries and 2 sacks, with no QB hits.
After being rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and receiving a 3-star grade by 247 Sports, Dawand Jones chose to attend Ohio State over offers from Michigan, Florida, and Auburn. During his freshman year in 2019, he played at left tackle in 4 games and for a total of 90 snaps, conceding only one sack and no QB hurries or hits. Jones played in 3 games as a sophomore in 2020, allowing just one QB hurry and no hits or sacks while continuing to play at left tackle. In his junior year, he saw action in 13 games and played 791 snaps at right tackle, giving up 7 QB hurries, one hit, and 3 sacks. During his senior year in 2022, Jones played 693 snaps in 11 games and did not concede a sack, allowing only 4 QB hurries and no hits while playing at right tackle.
Luke Wypler, who was rated a 4-star recruit by both ESPN and 247 Sports, joined Ohio State after graduating from St Joseph Regional High School. During his freshman year in 2020, he played briefly in 3 games for a total of 15 snaps. However, as a sophomore in 2021, Wypler played in 13 games and amassed 860 snaps as a center, giving up only 7 QB hurries, a QB hit, and no sacks. In his junior year, he played in 13 games again, with 827 snaps, and impressively conceded just 7 QB hurries and no QB hits, except for one sack during the semi-final against Georgia.
STRENGTHS
Starting with Paris Johnson Jr., he’s an explosive athlete with remarkable movement skills, exhibiting exceptional range as a run blocker and can execute longer pulls with ease. His athletic build, featuring long limbs paired with top-end mobility, leads to dominant reps, highlighting his blend of size, power, and athleticism. Johnson Jr.'s ability to recover from a body position standpoint and re-fit his hands through reps, gaining control, is impressive. He executes with a finisher's mentality, consistently displaying tenacity, a mean streak, and some legitimate pop in his punches. Johnson jumps sets well, taking the air out of reps, and sets the clamps with foot quickness, control, and length to thrive with vertical sets. He thrives when it comes to identifying stunts, as well as who to pick up at the next level. With his size, athleticism, coordination, development, and complete lack of quit, Johnson Jr. is an impressive offensive lineman.
Shifting focus to Dawand Jones, he is an impressive offensive lineman with rare size and length that make him a dominant force in the run game. His massive and powerful frame allows him to open up running lanes with ease and he can overwhelm opponents at the college level. Jones engulfs opponents as a run blocker and has an ideal temperament for blocking, showing aggression and tenacity. He effectively uses his exceptional length in pass protection to protect his edges and create elongated rush lanes. Jones is able to redirect defensive linemen from unusual angles and positions, thanks to his strength and grip. Jones possesses an impressive level of power in his hands, often leaving opposing players stunned and unable to fend off his blocks. Though his feet may not be the most nimble, he compensates with patience and competitiveness, remaining deliberate in his movements and utilizing his punch to keep rushers at bay. With his surprising foot speed, massive frame, and wingspan, Jones is an incredibly difficult lineman to beat around the edge.
As for Luke Wypler, he is a well-built center with a tough, physical playing style on top of excellent intelligence and awareness. He rarely misses an assignment and shows above-average athleticism for his position, enabling him to execute zone-blocking concepts and pull to either side of the formation in gap concepts with ease. In particular, Wypler demonstrates great short-area quickness and the ability to climb up to the second level and engage with defenders effectively. His hand placement and grip strength are also impressive, as he works hard to stick with his man through the end of plays. In pass protection, he possesses good lateral quickness and is able to handle stunts and twists. Additionally, Wypler is active with his hands and does a good job of extending his reach. He is also skilled at identifying opportunities to help when unopposed and can lead the way in the screen game. Wypler's proficiency in pass blocking is exceptional, as he demonstrates impressive awareness and technique to consistently preserve the depth of the pocket.
WEAKNESSES
Paris Johnson Jr.'s top priority for improvement should be adding functional strength, particularly in his lower body, to enhance his ability to create displacement in the run game and strengthen his anchor. He should also work on developing his hand technique, eliminating two-hand strikes and reducing the need to re-fit his hands, as they leave him susceptible to inside moves. In short-yardage situations, Johnson Jr.'s height can work against him, as defenders can get underneath his pads and hold the line. He often displays impatience, reaching and lunging, and lacking balance. This allows pass rushers to get into his body and catch him, instead of using his length to deliver a punch. Johnson Jr. may struggle if he's asked to block on his own early in his career. Additionally, he tends to drop his head and lunge, which can compromise his ability to sustain and control reps.
Although Dawand Jones has impressive movement skills for his size, his lower body is tight, and he can be heavy-footed, which poses challenges in pass protection against quick and explosive rushers. Despite effectively using his length to defend his edges and elongate the path for rushers, his feet often lag behind, lacking reactive athleticism to keep up. At times, he struggles to redirect his weight, which provides an opening for rushers to attack and slip by him. Jones' upper body is top-heavy, and he could benefit from shedding some weight and achieving a more balanced frame. Jones tends to lean forward and rely too heavily on his hands, which can also be a big disadvantage. Despite his impressive size, he struggles to maintain leverage and prevent defensive linemen from gaining an advantage. to Additionally, he has mainly played right tackle in college, limiting his positional and schematic versatility.
Luke Wypler is a proficient blocker, but he doesn't possess any exceptional physical traits that stand out. Despite having enough power, he could benefit from increasing his functional strength to enhance his effectiveness in creating movement in the run game. Additionally, he has a moderate length, which makes it difficult for him to keep defenders out of his personal space. There are instances where larger nose tackles can overpower him, compromising his anchor. Given his limitations, it is reasonable to consider Wypler as a prospect who is best suited for a zone running scheme and lacks versatility in terms of both position and schematic fit.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I'm a big fan of all three of these prospects. They exhibit outstanding attributes and possess the potential to become top-tier starters in a zone running system. Considering various factors, I believe all three can and will serve as long-term starters in the NFL.
To begin with Paris Johnson Jr., I am of the opinion that he has the potential to be an early starter at left tackle, as well as the capacity to grow into a vital and impactful starter for his team at the next level. His physical attributes are impressive, and his game exhibits a high level of athleticism. He is a top-tier prospect with immense potential, though in his time with the Buckeyes, he has displayed consistently elite run blocking while his pass protection abilities have only been decent. It will be necessary for him to further refine his skills as a pass blocker, but I am confident that he will do so.
As for Dawand Jones, we're talking about a freak of nature who possesses obvious physical attributes that make him highly desirable as a left tackle at the professional level. What sets Jones apart from other prospects of his stature is that he is a technically sound player with a well-developed skill set to complement his raw power. Jones projects as a dominant anchor in the run game thanks to his ability to maul defensive linemen. Despite his limitations, I am incredibly excited to watch Jones go toe-to-toe with the world’s finest EDGEs.
Luke Wypler is a quality prospect who hails from a lineage of productive and pro-ready Buckeye centers. He possesses a unique set of skills that make him equally proficient as a pass protector and a run blocker, and he has demonstrated elite-level performance for most of the 2022 season. Nevertheless, his size and overall power are only average for the position, which could limit his positional flexibility to some extent. His polish and technique are above just about every other interior lineman in this class, which will set him apart in the eyes of NFL GMs. Wypler projects as an early starter at the next level, which will significantly enhance his draft stock.
Paris Johnson Jr.’s Grade/Position Rank: First Round, OT2
Paris Johnson Jr’s Draft Comparison: Rocksteady from the TMNT Franchise
Dawand Jones’ Grade/Position Rank: Late First-Early Second Round, OT5
Dawand Jones’ Draft Comparison: Bebop from the TMNT Franchise
Luke Wypler’s Grade/Position Rank: Second Round, IOL5 (OC2)
Luke Wypler’s Draft Comparison: Shredder from the TMNT Franchise