Player Evaluation: Jimmy Christ

Four-star offensive line prospect Jimmy Christ switched his commitment to Penn State earlier this month after originally committing to Virginia earlier in the process. He's one of six offensive linemen committed in the Class of 2020, four of whom are expected to play tackle when they arrive in Happy Valley next year.

BWI contributor Thomas Frank Carr takes a closer look at Christ's film following his senior season, as well as where he projects at the next level.

Important Note: Scouting notes are based on highlight videos. They should not be seen as a complete picture of the strengths and weaknesses of a prospect. As these young men are still in the early stages of their development, projections are based on potential and development.

Size/Length: Christ clocks in at 6-foot-7 with a ridiculous wingspan. He shows the ability to use it as well, not only driving defenders off the ball, but also in reaching across gaps in order to seal blocks on backside contain. Arm length for a tackle prospect is a valuable commodity and Christ has that in spades.

Physique: Christ doesn't seem to carry much ‘bad’ weight at the moment and shouldn't need much time to reset his body composition like other offensive line prospects. His listed weight of 285 pounds further proves that he has an advanced body composition for a young blocker. His frame suggests that he could easily add weight while still maintaining his athleticism.

Tenacity: Christ is a finisher whose highlights show a desire to attack from snap to whistle. Christ rides a fine line between aggressive and mean that coaches love in offensive linemen. His ability to finish blocks is impressive, as is his desire to do so.

Mobility: One of the biggest struggles for tall offensive linemen is the ability to unfurl from their stance on the offensive line and move efficiently through space. While Christ isn’t explosive as an athlete, he has the ability to move well and doesn’t look encumbered by his size. His ability to play multiple spots on defense, including edge defender, bodes well for his ability to move in space and attack the second level of the defense as a lineman.

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Flexibility and Pad Level: This holds true for just about all offensive linemen with the length and size of Christ. The ability to lower his center of gravity and maintain flexibility in his stance is critical for his athletic development. As he continues to mature and add muscle mass, it will be important to maintain the ability to fold into a stance and explode out to win the leverage battle in both the run and pass game. Penn State will not ask Christ to be in a three-point stance at any point in his career, but this is still an important facet of blocking.

Pass Protection: Size can be a double-edged sword for tall tackles because it is easier to gain leverage on taller blockers if you are able to get into their chest. Christ’s ability to anchor in pass protection is key. The majority of Christ’s highlights are of his run blocking, so pass protection and his fundamentals in this aspect are a bit of an unknown. His tape does not suggest explosive foot speed, but that is not to say he’s unathletic. If he can move efficiently in a kick-slide and shows the urgency necessary to compensate, he has the potential to be a plus-pass blocker.

Christ seems like an ideal right tackle for the Nittany Lions who will be searching for a long-term replacement for Will Fries in the future. Christ is a classic prototype for the position with length, strength and the nastiness fans will come to love. However, there is no such thing as a slow-footed tackle in football anymore and Christ will have to show that he is committed to the technique of the position in order to earn reps early in his career. With his blend of movement skills and heart, he should transition very quickly into collegiate football.

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