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 Northwestern OG Evan Beerntsen.
No. 60 Evan Beerntsen/OG Northwestern 6035/301 (Seventh-year Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Evan Beerntsen 6035/301 9 3/8″ 32 1/8″ 78 5/8″
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
5.25 1.81 4.80 7.65
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
8’9″ 32 1/2″ 22
The Good
– Top-tier lower body explosiveness
– Highly functional lateral quickness for zone schemes
– Good upper body strength
– Pristine knee bend in his pass protection
– Rapid, independent hand usage
– Great trap techniques
– Excellent wide-zone blocking aptitude
– Maintains low pad level when engaging
– Violent finisher that sets a physical tone
– Great instantaneous processing of stunts and twists
The Bad
– Less than ideal arm length that limits his strike zone
– Light for an interior player
– Prone to being outreached by longer-armed 3-tech’s
– Occasionally yields initial ground against pure power
– Feet become heavy and mechanical when moving to the second level
– Older prospect with limited development ceiling
Stats
– 2025 stats: 0 sacks allowed, 0 hits allowed, 6 hurries allowed, 6 pressures allowed, 5 penalties committed, 13 games played
– Career stats: 4 sacks allowed, 3 hits allowed, 30 hurries allowed, 37 pressures allowed, 16 penalties committed, 59 games played
– South Dakota Career Stats: 4 sacks allowed, 3 hits allowed, 24 hurries allowed, 31 pressures allowed, 11 penalties committed, 46 games played
– 81.3 run blocking grade per PFF (2025)
– 74.4 pass blocking grade per PFF (2025)
– 99.2 pass blocking efficiency (2025)
– 99.4 pass blocking efficiency in true pass sets (2025)
Injury History
– Suffered an undisclosed injury that caused him to miss the first two games of the season (2022)
Background
– Spent his first six seasons of his career with South Dakota State before transferring to Northwestern for his final season
– Unranked recruit out of Appleton North High School
– First team All-Conference and Wisconsin All-Star as a senior
– Weighed between 240 and 260 pounds in his final season of high school
– Played defensive line and tight end, along with primarily playing guard
– State medalist in Shot Put and Discus
– All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2025)
– Two-time National Champion in the FCS (2022-2023)
– Second Team All-American and First-team All-MVFC (2024)
– Honorable Mention All-MVFC (2023)
– Four-time Honoree for MVFC Honor Roll (2020-2023)
– Two-time listee for MVFC Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence (2021-2022)
– Granted an additional season due to the COVID pandemic
– Abides by “Deus Vult” (Latin for “God wills it”)
– Lived with Griffin Wilde at Northwestern, who also transferred from South Dakota State
– Notes playing at Wrigley Field as one of his most memorable experiences
Tape Breakdown
As a rare seventh-year senior, Beerntsen was dominant for Northwestern last season. After previously struggling to keep the pocket clean, he put together a pristine campaign in pass protection, allowing no sacks and no quarterback hits. There will still be debate over how much of that success stemmed from his advanced physical maturity overpowering younger competition.
Beerntsen isn’t an overwhelming physical specimen for an interior lineman. At 301 pounds with 32-inch arms, he brings below-average measurables to the position, and his lack of length naturally shrinks his strike zone. Longer defensive linemen can easily establish first contact and control the point of attack by locking out their arms.
While his raw physical profile is middling, his athleticism is outstanding. His strong showing at the NFL Combine only confirmed what the tape already suggested: he owns excellent lower-body power and can generate significant force on contact. His movement skills in space aren’t elite, but he’s more than capable of executing pull blocks and climbing effectively to the second level.
With his violent mindset, Beerntsen’s run blocking is his calling card, even with his excellent pass-protection production. He fires out of his stance with an explosive first step, allowing him to cross the face of the defensive tackle and making him an ideal fit for zone-blocking concepts. Paired with his lateral quickness and secure hand placement, he consistently captures and controls the defender’s playside shoulder.
Once engaged, he shows impressive hip flexibility, generating torque to displace his matchup and knock them off their landmark. He’s highly efficient on reach-and-seal blocks and routinely wins angles at the line of scrimmage.
Beerntsen also flashes real promise in gap schemes. He maintains good pad level, firing off the ball with a flat back and uprooting defenders by striking up and under the breastplate. His aggressive temperament shows up in his ability to finish defenders to the ground, and his relentless leg drive lets him create repeated displacement at the point of attack.
Ultimately, what stands out most in Beerntsen’s profile is the zero in the sacks and hits-allowed columns. His pass-protection production was flawless, anchored by a disciplined, wide and balanced base.
He consistently maintains a “Z-in-the-knee” posture, refusing to bend at the waist or lunge at defenders. By keeping his weight centered, he limits opportunities for rushers to win with push-pull or swim moves across his face. He also shows a strong feel for adjusting the depth and tempo of his kick slide based on his opponent’s alignment.
His primary concern in pass protection is his lack of length. With shorter arms, his punch timing and hand placement will need to be almost perfect for him to survive in the NFL. The good news is he already displays excellent independent hand usage, disrupting rushers’ timing and forcing them to continually reset their rush plan.
Conclusion
Beerntsen was a dominant presence for the Wildcats in his lone FBS season. Though he’s on the lighter side for an interior lineman, he compensates with excellent technique and an aggressive temperament. On the surface, his blend of polish and production suggests he should be more coveted.
The context, however, is important. With his rare seven-year collegiate run, he was significantly more mature and physically developed than most of his competition. He clearly excelled against college defenders, but projecting him forward suggests his ceiling may be closer to what he already is.
He’s a violent, highly effective run blocker with the versatility to function in both gap- and zone-based schemes. As a depth piece, Beerntsen shows enough to compete for a roster spot immediately. Because of his limited upside, he may never be viewed as a long-term starter, but he can hold his own and play tough, assignment-sound football when called upon.
A realistic floor comparison is Ryan Bates. Both are technically sound, rarely commit mental errors, and win more with fundamentals than raw traits. Bates extended his career by adding center versatility. While Beerntsen doesn’t have extensive experience there yet, pursuing that flexibility could be his pathway to sticking in the league and carving out a similar role.
NFL Draft Projection: Late Day Three – UDFA
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 6.4 (Pure Backup)
Grade Range: 5.5 – 7.2
Games Watched: @ Tulane (2025), vs. Western Illinois (2025), vs. Oregon (2025), vs. Louisiana Monroe (2025), @ Penn State (2025)
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