From now until the 2021 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to showcase as many prospects as possible and examine both their strengths and weaknesses. Most of these profiles will feature individuals that the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to have an interest in, while a few others will be top-ranked players. If there is a player you would like us to analyze, let us know in the comments below.
#70 Alex Leatherwood/OL/Alabama/6’5”, 312 Lbs
The Good
-Powerful run blocker with great length
-Impressive footwork for a man his size; fluid lower half
-Climbs to the second level well and has a solid hit rate
-Long arms and massive hands to keep defenders at bay in pass protection, and control defenders in the run game
-Good lower half power to anchor in pass protection
-Handles stunts and twists with ease
-Versatile player with experience playing inside
The Bad
-Can get caught shooting his hands too early in pass protection, leaving him vulnerable to quick counters
-Has a tendency to slide off of defenders in the run game
-Lots of reps on tape where he’s caught standing around
-Slow to react against counter and can get caught lunging
-Had a high pad level at times and will need to focus heavily on technique to not bend at the waist at times
Bio
-Appeared in 48 career games at Alabama, starting 41 career games for the Tide
-All 41 starts were consecutive under Nick Saban
-Named the 2020 Outland Trophy award winner, helping anchor the 2020 Joe Moore Award winning Alabama OL
-2021 Senior Bowl Invitee
-First Team All-America honors by the AP, CBS Sports, ESPN.