Carson Vinson has been arguably the best HBCU offensive lineman in the country since 2022, but how does his full NFL scouting report look?
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Overview, Film Analysis, And 2025 Scouting Report Of Alabama A&M OL Carson Vinson
Measurables:
6’7”
314 lbs
Player Background:
Ranked as just a two-star offensive tackle recruit in the class of 2020, Carson Vinson graduated from Panther Creek in North Carolina. He was rated among the Top-250 interior offensive linemen in the country and in the Top-125 prospects in NC. He committed to Alabama A&M, playing in four games his freshman year. His final snap total finished at 295, posting a 65.5 PFF offensive grade.
He played in 10 games during the 2021 season, increasing his snap total to 747. Playing at left tackle, Vinson’s PFF grade ended at 56.7. He appeared in 11 contests in 2022, raising his PFF grade to 66.7 across 811 snaps. His 2023 campaign was another big step forward, posting a 73.8 PFF grade across 745 total snaps. 2024 was his final and best collegiate season, finishing with a career-high 75.2 PFF grade and an 81.7 Pass Blocking grade.
Accolades:
First Team All-SAC (2023)
HBCU All-American (2023)
Senior Bowl Invitee (2024)
NFL Combine Invitee (2024)
First Team All-SAC (2024)
HBCU All-American (2024)
Strengths/Pros:
Vinson has a massive frame, which has plenty of natural benefits for his game. He projects well as a tackle and, because of his size and length, basically forces defenders to take longer routes to the backfield. He can impact plenty of space, and he knows how to extend out and work through defenders, even after getting initially moved off of his base. He’s a fluid overall mover, working well off the edge, operating comfortably in both space and traffic. His compact movements are quick, and he counters rushers on the outside to rotate and stop multiple defenders.
He works defenders out of rushing lanes and moves quickly to open them up and clear space. Vinson is a massively aggressive blocker, playing with a nasty attitude and simply loving to finish off blocks with violence. His hands are strong and heavy, laying great punches and launching defenders backward. He’s always looking for someone to block and lays huge hits with the grip strength to drive through players. He had a great showing at the Senior Bowl, giving him recent and strong tape against higher-level competition.
Weaknesses/Cons:
His Senior Bowl performance was a great sign for the future, but he did massively struggle in his lone Power 5 matchup in 2024 against Auburn. Vinson plays far too high, causing major and consistent issues for him on the edge. He loses his anchor too easily, letting his base drift and struggling to reset it. He needs to be more consistent and stable with his upper half to prevent leaning and getting pushed off of.
His hand placement is rough, getting incredibly inconsistent with them and rarely hitting ideal spots. Vinson’s feet get very choppy and flat-footed against faster rushers, giving up the outside frequently. They stop too quickly when hitting contact, and he needs to stay smoother in his lower half. His aggressiveness causes him to overshoot the edge and put himself in vulnerable positions often. He also needs to hunker down more instead of trying to blow through defenders on every rep.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Vinson is quite easily among the best small-school prospects and is definitely worth a Day 2 selection, especially in this weaker class. His frame and natural athleticism give him both a usable floor and a higher-than-average ceiling. Teams needing offensive line help, especially rebuilding teams, should target him as someone who can plug and play with plenty of room to develop. Some of the kinks in his game need to be worked out, and it could take some time, but he should develop into an average to above-average starter.
Prospect Grade:
Mid to Late 3rd Round
Film Exposures:
2024 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
2024 vs. Auburn
2024 vs. Jackson State
Main Photo: [Vasha Hunt] – USA Today Photos