Top 10 interior offensive linemen in the 2019 NFL Draft

#5 Ben Powers, Oklahoma

He was almost right there with his All-American teammate Orlando Brown in 2017, allowing just 12 QB pressures, and played even better overall last season

This Kansas native started his collegiate career at Butler Community College before staying in the Midwest by joining Oklahoma. Powers immediately received recognition, being named honorable mention All-Big XII when starting the final ten games of 2016.

He was a second-team All-conference performer in 2017 and earned first-team accolades as a senior as part of a Sooners offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award for the nation’s top front-five.

Lining up primarily at left guard, Powers really improved in the run game over his time in Norman.

Still having a chip of his shoulder after he had to spend that one at community college to convince scouts, Powers says himself that he loves “taking a grown man's dreams and crushing them”, as he plays through the echo of the whistle.

While he has gotten more powerful and plays with consistently excellent pad level, he also has the mobility to take over nose tackles on outside zone plays and his ability to get to several spots with the appropriate angles on gap and option schemes is outstanding.

When he is pulling around to kick out the defensive ends, he doesn’t just deliver the blow to open up space, but rather he continues to guide them around the back of the play to give the running back even more room.

Oklahoma ran some very unique schemes, where he would first seal the backside five-tech and then work up the linebacker on one play and Powers made it work.

In pass pro he keeps a tight grip on defenders and has a strong base to swallow power rushers by getting wide with his feet.

Powers uses a well-placed, powerful punch straight at the chest of his rusher and stonewalled Texas’ Charles Omenihu time and time again when they squared up against each other last year.

He also showed the ability to anchor and keep his hands inside the chest of the opposing guy early on in one-on-ones versus the D-line at the Senior Bowl. Powers doesn’t stop his feet late in reps and likes to throw people to the ground at the end.

He was almost right there with his All-American teammate Orlando Brown in 2017, allowing just 12 QB pressures, and played even better overall last season.

Powers is excellent at faking the run on play-action, where steps the same way he usually would, while quickly turning his hips to stay in front of the guy in his gap, as well as securing the edge as a puller coming across.

In addition to that, he is very fluid at switching assignments on twists with the tackle next to him

It is never good to be the third- or fourth-most athletic player on your offensive line, but that was the case for Powers. There is some stiffness in his hips and I wouldn’t say he explodes out of his stance.

Powers is built a little top-heavy and doesn’t particularly have the longest arms to re-position his hands if his rushers gets a hand into his chest. He was also put on the ground when sliding Alabama’s Quinnen Williams way in the Orange Bowl and let him penetrate a couple of times, but that guy is a freak and overall he held him own against power.

Powers was very consistent protecting the passer and creating movement in the run game all Senior Bowl week long.

While there are some athletic limitations that keep him from being the top guard prospect in this class, his tenacious mind-set and technique are what made him a dominant player in the Big XII.

He will have to prove that he can continue this at the next level against all those freakish guys, but I believe in this kid.