NFL Draft
12/8/24
6 min read
Marcus Mbow 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Purdue Boilermakers OL
Height: 6050 (unofficial)
Weight: 300 (unofficial)
Year: Redshirt Junior
Pro Comparison: TBD
Scouting Overview
Purdue Boilermakers offensive tackle Marcus Mbow is a hyper-athletic prospect who has the tools to be an elite mover at a number of different positions along the offensive line. He’s taken snaps on both sides of the center and logged time as a starter at guard and tackle — this versatility will serve him well at the next level as a team tries to find the optimal implementation of his athleticism.
Mbow is raw as a tackle and struggles at times with framing and timing in space, but he illustrates a great first step to fire off the ball, which could potentially serve him well in stretch concepts. Mbow shows good initial explosiveness and graceful mobility in space, helping to offset the concerns about raw power and his ability to stalemate power attempts.
2025 NFL Combine Results
TBD
Positives
- Super light on his feet, effortless in lateral redirection ability, and sudden change of momentums to attack flashing defenders
- Positional versatility offers potential to get on the field quickly if charged with playing on the interior in an aggressive front scheme
- Can be a space weapon on the second level and out by the numbers in outside zone and screen game
Negatives
- Strike timing and hand placement are off on the edge and can snowball to really ugly losses at tackle in pass protection
- Has struggled with precision in his game and logged significant penalties in three consecutive seasons
- Worried about his anchor and ability to hold firm against power rushes
Background
Mbow is from Wauwatosa, WI, and played his high school football for Wauwatosa East HS. There, he was a 3-star recruit (247 Sports) who also played basketball in addition to his time on the gridiron. Mbow generated interest from a slew of notable schools, including an initial commitment to Arizona State before the program dropped his offer.
Mbow would enroll at Purdue ahead of the 2021 season, playing in four contests while maintaining his freshman season of eligibility. Mbow would go on to start all 14 games at right guard for the program in 2022 as a redshirt freshman, earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in the process.
Mbow converted to right tackle ahead of the 2023 season and started six contests before a season-ending leg injury kept him off the field. He returned to the starting lineup for the 2024 season and declared for the 2025 NFL Draft in early December, foregoing a fifth year of eligibility to make a leap to the pros.
Tale Of The Tape
Mbow has all the aggressiveness and athleticism that you’re looking for along the offensive line. If you’re looking for threshold-clearing abilities, Mbow has got them and should be coveted as a developmental starter accordingly.
His pathway to playing time in the NFL could be dependent on what position he’s ultimately asked to fill — but he’s got game-changing traits in the right environment. Conversely, he has some ugly warts that need to be addressed, too.
His foot speed and balance pop are big plus qualities. Mbow is effortless with his lateral-redirection skills and showcases excellent control of his frame and trajectory when working in space. This includes being a puller in the backfield, climbing up and out of a double team to attack a linebacker, and working in space to try to help spring plays outside the corer.
Mbow is a natural athlete, and his NFL role should embrace that accordingly — don’t mistake him for a close-quarters mauler with a heavy anchor and vertical movement skills. That said, he does have the initial quickness and pop to beat defensive linemen to the punch and pairs it with good frame flexibility to create some good thud when firing out the blocks against first-level defenders.
Mbow’s strike placement is in need of refinement, however. Too often, he’ll rob himself of his power in his hands with wide and high hands that don’t create enough jolt against defensive linemen. His hands are active, perhaps at times to a fault, trying to rework a fit and secure control of the block.
This constant churning with his hands allows defenders to work into his frame and secure fit hands first, and he’ll lose the hook on the defender as a result. These reps end with him spinning off of the frame or getting pulled out over the top of his base. Mbow, with more deliberate hand adjustments, can go a long way in ensuring his stickiness and boosting his gravitational pull as a blocker. He’s got the mobility to flash and react with almost anyone — but he needs his hands to cooperate to ensure he can keep control.
Mbow’s ability to pass set and get depth against speed is appealing for those looking for deeper drops in the pocket. He’s effortless with his ability to drive out of the blocks and eliminate speed rushers. That said, he’s a bit light in the trunk, and speed to power rushers have shown the ability to bull him back and compress the edges of the pocket. Mbow can be quick to flip and escort rushers up past the peak of the pocket, but those instances can be met by savvy pass rushers with an inside counter as he creates uneven levels with his guard.
In all, Mbow feels furthest away from being ready for NFL action with his play at tackle. His mobility and athleticism profile are best at center if he’s given the time to ensure he can snap with consistency. In such an environment, Mbow could potentially be an impact starter.
If not, consider him a developmental tackle who would likely benefit from time with a well-tenured offensive line coach and a deep room that allows him to evolve his game before taking the field.
Ideal Scheme Fit, Role
Mbow projects best as a center in a wide-zone system. Provided he can acclimate to the responsibilities of snapping the ball, his athleticism can be fully unleashed in a role in which he’s often charged with climbing to the second level and charged with serving as a help player, often in protection.
His athleticism will work wonders for cutoff and overtake blocks to the playside. A Shanahan-style play-action system will help mitigate some of the pass protection warts, as he emulates run action before securing and latching a block. Consider him a developmental starter who could benefit from reps early — although that may not be a great fit for contending franchises in 2025.
Grade: 76.50/100.00, Third Round Value
Big Board Rank: TBD
Position Rank: TBD
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