Biggest risers from the 2022 college all-star events:

UT-Chattanooga interior offensive lineman Cole Strange

IOL Cole Strange, UT-Chattanooga

A former two-star recruit all the way back in 2016, despite spending six(!) years on campus, Strange still won’t turn 24 until the end of July. Throughout his career at Chattanooga, he started 44 of 49 career games, with all but three of those at left guard – along with some action at left tackle and center, out of necessity – and he was finally named a first-team All-Southern Conference selection this past season.

So while his profile wouldn’t necessarily suggest somebody we usually see down in Mobile, Strange quickly proved that he belonged. He had a couple of really good first day reps in Oklahoma’s Perrion Winfrey, who was otherwise kicking ass all week long. He did get caught lunging by the former Sooner later on and completely whiffed on that one, but he had caught my attention. Being on the lighter side at 305 pounds, Strange had to opt for a more aggressive approach off the snap against some of those Power-Five monsters, but he found great success by landing those hands inside the chest of defensive tackles, playing with good flexion in his ankles and knees, which he maintained while slowly stepping backwards, and then he had excellent grip on rushers, while holding where nobody could see it, to not let guys get away from him.

Strange had a couple of tremendous reps on day three, holding his ground against UConn’s 350-pounder Travis Jones. The difference in pure strength was visible in a couple run-blocking drills, massive D-tackles, but you really like the lateral agility he brings to the table. He did awesome work getting out in front in the screen game and putting hands on people in wide-open space. And his competitiveness was on display when he called out Houston’s Logan Hall for a third straight rep, after shocking him off the snap and not giving him anywhere to go, even though he did whiff on his jump-set off the snap. However, I just love the fact you have this sort of no-name guy, for most people, yelling at a projected top-50 pick.

I’m still not sure if I want Strange isolated against big nose tackles for 50+ plays every game, but I think he could be an excellent fit in one of those Shanahan-based wide rushing schemes, along with the ability to control those A-gaps on passing downs and take the steam out of guys at contact. With the way he moved, I think his name should continue to rise at the combine, but I would be interested to see how much weight he can add to firm up that base, because he looked more like a tight-end when compared to the rest of the big boys down in Mobile.