2022 NFL Draft Player Profiles: Nebraska C Cam Jurgens – Steelers Depot

From now till the 2022 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to scout and create profiles for as many prospects as attainable, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and what they’ll convey to an NFL franchise. These gamers could possibly be potential high 10 picks, all the best way right down to Day 3 choices and precedence undrafted free brokers. Right this moment, I’ll be profiling Nebraska middle Cam Jurgens.

#51 Cam Jurgens/C Nebraska – 6027, 304 lbs.

Mix Invite

Measurements

The Good

— Good measurement and bulk, larger/broader higher half with nice size for top and the place
— Elite quickness and snap off the soccer, fires out of his stance
— Spectacular athlete in testing and on tape, fluid mover who simply works into area, true asset on display performs and might make downfield blocks
— Nasty play demeanor, drive his toes and finishes his blocks, keen and capable of pancake defenders into the bottom
— Efficient puller who widens EDGE gamers within the run sport, expertise and competent when requested to tug in playaction cross sport
— In a position to attain defenders down the road, capable of again block DTs on hole runs
— In a position to sit and anchor towards bull rushes with correct approach, will use hop step to offer floor and reanchor however exhibits useful energy
— Aggressive and appears for work when uncovered in cross safety
— At his finest when he can assault and work angles in run sport
— True middle who snapped shotgun and below middle snaps
— Nice beginning expertise

The Unhealthy

— Must play with extra management, ball of vitality whose approach can get sloppy
— Misses too typically in area at second degree when climbing, wants to enhance angles and hand placement to get higher shot on defender
— Has tendency to lunge and play over his toes as a run blocker
— Will get overwhelmed by larger/faster DTs
— Struggles when requested to dam head-up, must hold palms inside to unlock hips and never catch defender, susceptible to getting stood up in these moments
— Can get too aggressive and known as for private fouls
— Didn’t present a lot place flexibility, performed one spot
— Minor medical issues, battled foot accidents early in faculty profession

Bio

— Three-year starter for Cornhuskers, 30 profession begins (all at middle)
— Third Staff All-Massive Ten in 2021
— Named college’s offensive lineman of the 12 months final season
— Three-time All-Tutorial Massive Ten
— Started profession at tight finish earlier than switching to middle in 2018
— Suffered season-ending foot harm in 2018 (redshirted), damage different foot summer time of 2019 and missed fall camp however has been wholesome since
— Additionally a part of Nebraska’s monitor workforce (shot put)
— Proper-handed snapper
— Has beef jerky line named “Beef Jurgy,” nickname is “Beef Jurgens”
— Performed TE/LB in highschool, battled accidents however caught eight TDs senior season with 57 tackles, additionally served as workforce’s punter as a junior
— Additionally performed basketball and threw shot put in HS
— 4-star recruit from Beatrice, Nebraska, selected Nebraska over South Dakota State and UCLA (solely three provides)
— Turns 23 in August

Tape Breakdown

Cam Jurgens is among the high athletes amongst this 12 months’s crop of inside offensive lineman, proper up there with Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum, although in all probability nonetheless a tick behind. Jurgens is a incredible athlete and his general profession profile speaks to that. A punter, linebacker, and tight finish in highschool, Cornhuskers’ head coach Scott Frost stated in 2018 they weren’t initially certain the place to play him.

“Cam is a singular athlete,” Frost stated. “Once we recruited him we didn’t know what he was for certain, whether or not he was a decent finish or a defensive lineman or one thing else. After evaluating him for some time he’s as bodily and pretty much as good of a blocker as now we have on our soccer workforce and I actually suppose he’s acquired a possible to be a extremely good participant on the offensive line both at middle or guard. I feel he’s purchased into that and is beginning to attempt to placed on good weight as a substitute of dropping pounds, and he’s one other younger participant that has an opportunity to be actually good round right here.”

These phrases got here true. Getting previous foot accidents early in his profession, Jurgens turned a three-year beginning middle. Activate the tape, he explodes off the ball and capable of attain/again block or transfer into the second degree. It was enjoyable watching him out in area on screens. He can really run in area and at occasions, appears like a decent finish on the hoof. Try this block towards Oklahoma, sticking and driving his man 30+ yards downfield.

He’s additionally an efficient puller from the middle spot with nice snap and bust off the road. His general quickness and explosion is elite and mirrored in his testing, posting a 9.94 Relative Athletic Rating. Jurgens additionally performs with a nasty, aggressive demeanor and loves to complete his blocks.

On the destructive, he can play a bit uncontrolled as an enormous ball of chaotic vitality. That may trigger him to overlook on the second degree. He’ll should work on his angles and talent to redirect as soon as he explodes out to hit his goal extra successfully and persistently as he climbs.

His aggression might be a problem too. In that first clip I confirmed of that display, he was known as for a private foul, certainly one of two such calls towards Oklahoma. He additionally took lumps towards Prime-50 expertise DT Perrion Winfrey, whose measurement and quickness gave Jurgens some bother. After enjoying a bit of little bit of guard very early in his faculty profession, Jurgens was a center-only and at the moment lacks positional flexibility he’ll want must be enter the league as a backup. That can have to be taught. A minor destructive.

Conclusion

Total, Jurgens has new-school athleticism with an old-school demeanor. He additionally brings good measurement and nice size you don’t typically see from pure facilities. He’s a bit of unrefined for a three-year starter however has the skillset to play in a person or zone scheme, although his athleticism within the latter is very engaging. Although it will sound extra destructive than meant, he jogs my memory a great little bit of Kendrick Inexperienced aside from the actual fact Jurgens – if stored at middle – wouldn’t be making a place swap. He’s additionally a bit longer than Inexperienced. However each are high-level athletes and are aggressive finishers.

Jurgens’ sport will have to be reeled in a bit and he’ll should work on his hand placement, although they’re points that appear fixable.

Projection: Mid-Late Day Two

Depot Draft Grade: 7.8 – Potential Starter/Good Backup (third Spherical)

Video games Watched: at Ohio State (2020), at Oklahoma (2021), vs Michigan (2021)