Texas Football: 3 potential gem Longhorn finds in the 2020 NFL Draft
If not for a ton of ankle injuries over the course of his collegiate career with the Texas football program, former senior starting center Zach Shackelford would likely be a projected middle round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Shackelford is a two-time All-Big 12 honoree, three-time All-Big 12 Academic honoree, and a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
The Longhorns had an improved ground game in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons with more talent and experience returning along the offensive line, and a young and reloaded backfield. Texas thrived behind the legs of true freshman converted quarterback Roschon Johnnson and sophomore Keaontay Ingram.
In terms of his 2020 NFL Draft stock, it is a shame that Shackelford couldn’t compete in the NFL Combine since he could’ve shown off what made him such a special offensive lineman when healthy. He is similar to the former Texas All-American left tackle Connor Williams (now with the Dallas Cowboys) in both frame and skill set. Shackelford stands at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds. Compare that to Williams who stands at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, and you get a similar build.
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Shackelford will be a solid center find for a team that wants to take a flier out on a lineman with a very high ceiling. In all likelihood, Shackelford could be found in the sixth or seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Somebody needs to take advantage of that while his stock is still low ahead of the Texas Pro Day.