Iapani Laloulu
Oregon#63 overallDraft Movement
Down 1 spot since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Iapani Laloulu, the 329-pound Honolulu native nicknamed "Poncho," has developed into one of the top interior offensive line prospects in the 2027 class as Oregon's anchor at center. A former four-star Under Armour All-American out of Farrington High School, he bounced between guard spots as a freshman before settling at center midway through 2024, immediately stabilizing a struggling unit that allowed just five sacks over its final ten games once he took over the line calls. Pro Football Network ranks him No. 57 on its Top 100 big board and calls his 2025 play Rimington-worthy, while ESPN's Mel Kiper slots him among the top true centers in college football. As a true sophomore he posted a 79.9 PFF pass-blocking grade, allowed zero sacks and just ten pressures across nearly 500 pass-blocking snaps, and pitched nine separate shutouts against rugged Big Ten fronts, with standout reps against Michigan State and Ohio State. He wins with leverage, hand placement, anchor strength and elite pre-snap processing rather than pure athleticism. PFN flags him as a plodding, heavy-footed mover whose corrective mobility and recovery against quicker interior rushers are real questions, capping him as a likely Day 2 pick best suited for power, gap, or inside-zone-heavy schemes. Combine-style measurement listed him at 6016, 329 pounds with leadership praised throughout.
Strengths
- Allowed zero sacks and only ten pressures across nearly 500 pass-blocking snaps as a sophomore
- 79.9 PFF pass-blocking grade heading into 2025
- Pitched nine full-game pressure shutouts against Big Ten fronts including Michigan State and Ohio State
- Elite anchor strength that sinks hips and stalls bull rushers at the point of attack
- Surgeon-like hand timing and placement inside the defender's frame
- Elite pre-snap processor who diagnoses stunts, twists and blitzes and makes the protection calls
- Plays through the whistle with a nasty finish, 40-plus knockdowns over his last 14 games
- Positional versatility with game reps at center and both guard spots
Weaknesses
- Below-average arm length lets longer defenders into his chest before he establishes contact
- Plodding, heavy-footed athlete whose recovery against quicker three-techniques is a concern
- Corrective mobility and flexibility grade close to average per PFN
- Occasionally lunges in pass protection, exposing him to quick swim and inside counters
- Run blocking lags his pass protection and stalls generating vertical push in power
- Still developing as a puller, taking awkward angles reaching second-level defenders
- Struggled more than usual against Indiana and grasped at times versus Iowa
NFL Comparison
Tyler Linderbaum (undersized leverage-and-IQ center who anchors and processes elite, lacks length); Connor Williams (technician interior blocker who wins with hands over athleticism); Garrett Bradbury (mobile-IQ pivot best in zone-heavy gap schemes)
College Stats
2023 (Fr): 14 G, 1 start, Freshman All-American. 2024 (So): started all 14 G at C, 79.9 PFF pass-block grade, 66.6 run-block grade, 0 sacks/10 pressures on ~500 pass-block snaps. 28 career G, 15 starts entering 2025. 1383 career pass+run blocking snaps.
Measurables
Awards & Honors
2023 Freshman All-American; 2024 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention; Under Armour All-American; four-star recruit; PFN No. 57 on Top 100 big board (2027); ESPN Kiper top-four true center; B/R Big Board IOL (6.3 grade)