Texas Football: 5 best former Longhorns in the 2020 NFL Draft

4. Zach Shackelford, Center

Individual stats don’t tend to makeup the value that a center shows during their college football career. That is the case with the multi-time All-Big 12 honoree and former Texas football starting center Zach Shackelford. Not only is Shackelford a multi-time All-Big 12 honoree, he is also a three-time All-Big 12 Academic selection.

A lot of the draft stock for Shackelford will be based around his injury status heading into day one. The 2020 NFL Draft doesn’t have all that many offensive linemen in general that have a ceiling as high as Shackelford’s, especially not at the center position. But there is still a varying opinion surrounding the perceived value that Shackelford brings to the table at the next level.

Draft Countdown has Shackelford ranked as a top 10 center prospect in this draft class. Drafttek has him ranked a bit lower than Draft Countdown, as the No. 12 center in this class.

However, if Shackelford can prove that his pretty healthy and productive senior campaign is what will hold at the next level, then he should have little chance of going as an undrafted free agent. That would be a shame to see a center with as much flat out raw talent and such solid physical tools as Shackelford going undrafted.

Very few centers will be as consistent in pass blocking and be able to get through multiple levels of the opposing defense in the run game as Shackelford. He has good hands, a good frame, and great footwork and fundamentals. If he stays healthy, he’ll be one of the more polished center prospects in this draft class worth taking likely at the highest in the fifth or sixth round.