From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Utah OT Caleb Lomu.
#71 CALEB LOMU/ OT, UTAH (RS SOPHOMORE) – 6062, 313 pounds
Combine Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Caleb Lomu 6062/313 9 1/2 33 3/8 82 3/4
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.99 1.74 4.38 N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
9’5” 32.5 N/A
The Good
— Good size and athleticism
— Younger prospect at 21 for the 2026 season
— Good balance and pad level in pass protection
— Very good use of hands with punches and chops versus pass rushers
— Good hand placement and strength to lock on to defenders
— Effective pass blocker in multiple sets
— Outstanding mental processing and technique vs twists and stunts
— Strong anchor versus power rushers
— Good mental processing on run blocks
— Good positioning on various blocks
— Capable puller and good mobility on move blocks
The Bad
— Gets deep with his kick slide opening up the inside gap
— Mirroring defenders who start inside and move outside or vice versa
— Core strength versus defenders trying to yank him out of the way
— Adequate level of aggression on run blocks
— Technique on combo blocks
— Angles on second level blocks on runs to the outside
— Hip flips on reach blocks are inconsistent
Stats
— 25 games/22 starts
— All starts at left tackle
— 2025: All-Big 12 First team
— Named to the 2025 and 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List
— Did not allow a sack in 383 pass blocking opportunities in 2025
— Two sacks allowed in 823 snaps per PFF
— Four career penalties
— Part of the unit named Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week four times (2025)
— 2024: Named Midseason Freshman All-American by The Athletic.
— 2024, 2025: Academic All-Big 12 majoring in business
Injury History
— No documented injuries
Background
— Age: 21 in the 2026 season
— Played at Highland HS in Gilbert, Arizona
— A four-star recruit by 247Sports
— Selected to participate in the All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl
— BJ Media and Randall McDaniel Offensive Lineman of the Year after helping Highland to its second straight state title
— First team Arizona 6A Northeast Valley All-Region
— Anchored a state championship line in 2021, helping the offense produce 317.1 yards per game
Tape Breakdown
Caleb Lomu is an early entry in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is of very good height, good weight, and arm length with solid hand size. A two-year starter at the left tackle position, he was moved around a little logging some snaps at right tackle (primarily in short yardage situations) and a few at tight end. His athleticism is good playing from a very upright two-point stance.
As a pass blocker, he displays good balance and pad level in his kick slide. His use of hands is very good with timely punches to the rusher as well as chops to knock down their hands. On quick sets, he scoops his hands in and used very good hand strength to lock on to defenders. Up the arc, he showed good agility to mirror and push them up the arc. Against power rushers he has a very good anchor. When uncovered he looks to help teammates.
Teams continually threw twists and stunts his way, and he displayed very good mental processing to pass off and pick up defenders seamlessly to shut it down.
As a run blocker, he has good snap quickness and agility, and his mental processing is very good. He gets a good push on down blocks and is solid on double team blocks. He was used often on hinge and wall off blocks and displayed good pad level and play strength. His mobility will allow him to execute reach blocks on outside runs and vertical blocks on the second level.
When pulling, he shows good athleticism and locates his target well.
In pass protection, he gets deep with his kick slide opening up the inside gap for defenders to attack. This was more evident earlier in the season showing improvement in his alignment. When pass rushers use jab steps and change of direction to cross his face, he is adequate with his change of direction to mirror them.
There is room to add core strength to eliminate defenders grabbing him and pulling him forward out of their way. I never saw him on screen in the games I watched, however the athleticism is there. For the most part, he does not run block with aggression, but a lot of their blocking scheme was more about positioning. In the last game I watched, he did show there is a little nastiness inside.
On combo blocks, he turns too much on the first level, slowing his timing to the second level. On outside runs, his angles to second level are too deep. When reach blocking, he is adequate getting his hips flipped to cut off the defender.
Conclusion
Overall, Lomu has good mental processing, athleticism, and size. As a pass blocker, he has good balance and pad level with very good use of hands. He is strong up the arc and in quick sets. His mental processing twists and stunts is impressive, and he has a very good anchor. As a run blocker, he positions well, processes well and can execute in his gaps or on the move.
Areas to improve include protecting the inside gap in pass protection, recovering versus defenders crossing his face and adding core strength. Playing with more aggressiveness as a run blocker, improving technique on combo blocks, and working on reach block technique will benefit him down the road.
Lomu is still a work in progress, and I believe he will be just 21 years of age in the 2026 season. He has the tools to become a very good starter at the next level if his development continues. I expect him to stick at left tackle, but he could kick inside as well if a team wanted to start him there as he develops. There were glimpses of playing with more aggression so I think he should be able to perform at a high level in any scheme.
As a player comp, I will give you Andre Dillard. Coming out, Dillard was athletic with good mental process and a smooth mover who wasn’t very experienced in firing off the ball in the run game and had some work to do on pass sets.
NFL Projection: Late First RoundSteelers Depot Grade: 8.6 (Long-Time Starter)Grade Range: 7.9 – 8.9Games Watched: 2025 – Vs Texas Tech, Vs Arizona State, At BYU, At Baylor, Vs Kansas State
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