FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni.
2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Dominick Puni
Dominick Puni (OL – Kansas)
6’5” – 320 lbs.
Background:
Dominick Puni originally attended Central Missouri where he played from 2018 to 2021. Started 16 games there over his first two seasons. The team’s 2020 season was canceled. He missed all but one game of the following year due to injury before transferring to Kansas. Stepped right in as the team’s starting left guard in 2022, allowing no sacks over 13 games. He was then kicked out to left tackle this season (zero sacks allowed in 12 starts).
Positives:
Thickly-built offensive lineman with experience at both guard and tackle. Comes from an offense with a nice balance of gap and zone concepts. Toughness and physicality are there. Surprisingly smooth and nimble for a 320-pounder; easy mover with the athleticism to execute various types of blocking assignments. Has good short-area quickness to climb to the second level and engage with form. Shows a good understanding of positioning to wall off opponents. Able to generate movement by attacking an opponent’s outside shoulder to seal the edge. Overall functional strength looks at least adequate. Good leg drive after contact, working hard through the whistle. Managed to make it through two years at Kansas without allowing a sack. Awareness in pass protection is a plus. Flashes power in his punch to jolt defenders. Anchor strength looks good when he’s in position. Doesn’t give up on plays and is capable of winning ugly.
Negatives:
Spent six years in school. Length is probably on the low end for a tackle and it can cause some balance issues to crop up as he tries to reach opponents. Works hard but has trouble locking on and sustaining blocks through the whistle. Doesn’t always have the widest, most stable base underneath him. Lateral quickness is average, at best, for a tackle prospect. Has trouble maintaining his form when defending against speed rushers from wide alignments. Struggles to get moving again once he plants his feet, allowing second-effort pressures. Was only flagged six times over his career but looks grabby and got away with a few obvious holds during the games reviewed.
Summary:
A thick, athletic and tough offensive lineman with experience both inside and out. Lack of length will probably relegate him to playing guard since there are too many snaps where his limitations there become apparent. As a candidate to slide back inside, his smooth movement skills, short-area quickness and understanding of positioning could make him an effective player in a zone-based scheme that favors rangy blockers.
Projection: Round 5
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @draftexaminer.
