2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Joe Alt (OT – Notre Dame)

With being more than halfway through the College Football season, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Joe Alt.

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2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Joe Alt (OT – Notre Dame)

Joe Alt (OT – Notre Dame)

6-foot-8 | 322 pounds

Background:

Three-star recruit who has been starting at left tackle for the Irish since week six of the 2021 season, totaling eight starts in 2021 and 13 in 2022. Allowed three sacks and 11 total pressures (sacks included) in 2021 and eight pressures without a sack in 2022. Currently enjoying another very strong season on the blindside.

Positives:

Has an excellent combination of size, length, and bulk, with a relatively thick lower body; has added over forty pounds since high school. Shows impressive knee bend and leverage for such a tall tackle; more flexible than you’d think, given his size. Fires out of his stance low and has the active feet and overall strength to grind down opponents, with a physical temperament to finish his blocks. Shows a solid understanding of positioning to wall off opponents as a gap blocker. Really collapses the edge when blocking down on an opponent’s outside shoulder. Effective operator on double-team blocks, with the ability to chip and climb.

Works hard and has the athleticism to get up the second level and successfully engage opponents. Overall technique and coordination in his pass sets are solid. Shows impressive anticipation in the twist game. Aggressively fires out his hands high and inside, with the ability to jolt opponents on contact. Active in resetting his hands through the snap; works hard to stay connected. Makes the most of his length to keep opponents out of his pads. Has solid anchor strength to hold the point of attack against opposing bull-rushers. Powerful shove as a help blocker when unopposed on passing downs. Very rarely penalized (once in 2021 and once in 2022).

Negatives:

Overall foot quickness is good for his size but not exceptional overall; protects the edge more because of his length than because of his ability to cover tons of ground with his kick slide. Doesn’t have the most explosive pivot step once he sets up outside. Some issues with balance crop up from time to time, leading to falling off of blocks. Can occasionally get settled into a spot and struggles to get going again.

Summary:

A very impressive left tackle prospect with excellent physical traits, consistent technique, and the physical temperament teams look for in an offensive lineman. Can overwhelm opponents on contact and drive them off of their spots as a gap blocker in the run game, successfully engage opponents in space or at the second level, and protect the edge with length and technique on passing downs. Looks like a plug-and-play starter in the league.

Projection: Round 1