Scouting Reports:
Duke Profile Page: http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=204969817
NFL: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/laken-tomlinson?id=2552345
CBS: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737467/laken-tomlinson
Walterfootball: http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2015ltomlinson.php
Senior Bowl Profile: http://www.seniorbowl.com/prospect-profiles-view.php?p=520
Detroit Lions 2015 NFL draft prospect: Duke offensive guard Laken Tomlinson: http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/04/detroit_lions_2015_nfl_draft_p_12.html
CFF Player Profile: Laken Tomlinson, G: https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/04/23/cff-player-profile-laken-tomlinson-g/
CSN NFL Draft Profile: Duke OG Laken Tomlinson: http://www.csnchicago.com/bears/nfl-draft-profile-duke-og-laken-tomlinson
Detroit Lions draft profile: Laken Tomlinson: http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2015/5/6/8539897/detroit-lions-draft-profile-laken-tomlinson
Draft Insider (Laken Tomlinson (School: Duke, Position: G): Bio: Four-year starter at right guard. Two-time All-conference recipient named to numerous All-American teams as a senior. Awarded all-academic honors on multiple occasions. Positive: Tough, smart blocker with starting potential at the next level. Stays square, gets his hands into opponents and anchors at the point, riding defenders from the play. Displays outstanding vision, works well with teammates and always looking for someone to hit. Nasty, explosive and knocks defenders from the action with terrific punch. Makes great use of body positioning and blocking mechanics. Negative: Not quick or fluid if asked to pull across the line of scrimmage. Struggles blocking in motion. Occasionally bends at the waist which hurts his balance. Analysis: Tomlinson was a dependable starter for Duke's high-octane offense and is a mid-round prospect who could break into a starting lineup as a rookie in the NFL.): http://www.draftinsider.net/reports/2015/G
Rankings:
Post Draft Articles: http://captainbluelionslinks.blogspot.com/2015/04/round-1-pick-28-laken-tomlinson-post.html
Articles:
Duke G Laken Tomlinson selected by Detroit Lions in first round of NFL draft (4-30-15): http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/04/duke_g_laken_tomlinson_selecte.html
Laken Tomlinson a 'people mover,' per Mike Mayock; best guard on the board, Mel Kiper says (4-30-15): http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/04/laken_tomlinson_a_people_mover.html
Laken Tomlinson's draft diary: Just happy to be home (4-29-15): http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/0ap3000000488892/article/laken-tomlinsons-draft-diary-just-happy-to-be-home
O'HARA'S DRAFT PREVIEW: Offensive line (G Laken Tomlinson, Duke: He’s the top pure guard prospect, but is most likely a second- or third-round pick. Tomlinson red-shirted in 2010, then started the next 52 games at right guard. An excellent student, he says his goal is to be a neurosurgeon.) (4-27-15): http://www.detroitlions.com/news/ohara/article-1/OHARAS-DRAFT-PREVIEW-Offensive-line/836c2add-a9e2-4cc8-9c92-ce4c03f4b508
Rating the NFL draft prospects: Offensive linemen (3. LAKEN TOMLINSON, Duke (6-3½, 319, 5.26, 1-2): Four-year starter at RG. "If there's a first-round guard in this draft and he's not a conversion it's Tomlinson," one scout said. "He's a plug-and-play, start-first-day right or left guard. He plays better than (Chance) Warmack. He's big, athletic, he can pull, he can block at the point, he's smart. He might be a great center, too, if you tried him there." Born in Jamaica, moved to the U.S. at 10. "He wants to be a doctor," said another scout. "Some people want to be sure he's committed to football, which I think he is. The kid loves football. Has played a ton of football. High character. Has ambitions outside football." Graduated from Chicago Lane Tech. "He looks better on the hoof than any subject in the draft other than Scherff," a third scout said. "Great kid, smart (Wonderlic of 23). But how many Duke linemen have there been? You can't name them. Plus, he gets over his toes. He's top-heavy.") (4-24-15): http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/rating-the-nfl-draft-prospects-offensive-linemen-b99486136z1-301296461.html
Versatile Erving anchors draft’s O-line hopefuls (Laken Tomlinson, Duke: Height: 6-3. Weight: 323. Scouting report: Native of Jamaica who moved to Chicago with his family at 10. Four-year starter at right guard (52 games in a row) for Duke and three-time all-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team member. Powerful blocker, but lack of mobility will limit him to the inside. Aspires to a possible career in medicine after majoring in evolutionary anthropology and psychology. Insider's take: "I think he really helped himself at the Senior Bowl. I think a lot of the doubters, as far as his athleticism and ability to pass block, went, 'Ooh.' " — Mike Mayock, NFL Network analyst. Projected round: Second.) (4-23-15): http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2015/04/23/center-guard-prospect-preview-cameron-erving-florida-state/26240721/
Duke OG Laken Tomlinson is "not a great athlete but is the best of this year's guard class, and he's a proven run-blocker," wrote ESPN's Todd McShay. (Tomlinson is a pure guard. He started every game at right guard since his 2010 redshirt year. The 6-foot-3, 330-pounder has seen his stock jump over the winter thanks to a strong week at the Senior Bowl, though an NFL scout speaking with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel still believes Tomlinson "needs to work on his technique and balance.") (4-21-15): http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2015/insider/story/_/id/12704149/the-best-fits-offensive-prospects-2015-nfl-draft-nfl
Laken Tomlinson: My life as an NFL prospect (4-21-15): http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/0ap3000000486861/article/life-as-an-nfl-prospect-no-time-to-rest-as-draft-approaches
2015 NFL Draft: Cobb, Flowers among underrated on annual Rang's Gang (Interior OL: Laken Tomlinson, 6-3, 323, 5.22, Duke: Given that he started all 52 games of his collegiate career and earned All-ACC honors the past three years, Tomlinson is hardly an unknown. He is a prospect who must be placed into the right scheme to enjoy similar success in the NFL. Tomlinson lacks great agility and balance so he'll struggle in a zone scheme that asks him to block on the move. Instead, run behind him as he drives defenders off the ball.) (4-17-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25152518/nfl-draft-cobb-flowers-among-underrated-on-annual-rangs-gang
Lions draft preview: Center, guard holes need to be filled (2. Laken Tomlinson, Duke: The 6-foot-3, 323-pound Tomlinson was a four-year starter at right guard and is the closest player physically to Lions guard Larry Warford. He plays with power, particularly in the run game and is smart with an ability to pick up blitzers in the pass game. He's not a special athlete, but he could be a second-round pick.) (4-17-15): http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/2015/04/17/nfl-draft-preview-interior-linemen/25955369/
2014 NFL Draft: DT Grady Jarrett headlines my Better-Than Team (Laken Tomlinson, G, Duke: He moved to the United States from Jamaica at age 10, so he's late to the game. But he has developed into a quality guard who can move and is physical at the point of attack. Duke threw a lot, which helped him develop as a pass protector.) (4-16-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pete-prisco/25151739/nfl-draft-smallish-dt-grady-jarrett-headlines-my-better-than-team
Possible Lions draft targets 3.0 (Duke OG Laken Tomlinson is a 2nd-round option for the offensive line. He has the power, but not the athleticism necessary for an NFL offensive lineman.) (4-14-15): http://www.freep.com/picture-gallery/sports/nfl/lions/2015/04/14/possible-lions-draft-targets-30/25766415/
Duke vs. Wisconsin: Which school has better 2015 NFL Draft prospects? (2. Laken Tomlinson, G, Duke: As surely as Gordon is the best prospect on either the Wisconsin or Duke roster, Tomlinson is the second-best. A bullish guard with four years of starting experience in college, Tomlinson's performance at the Senior Bowl helped establish him as one of the draft's elite guard prospects. NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock views Tomlinson as the third-best interior lineman available, behind only two first-round candidates.) (4-6-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000483598/article/duke-vs-wisconsin-who-has-better-2015-nfl-draft-prospects
NFP Prospect Focus: Laken Tomlinson and John Miller (Tomlinson is a big and productive four year starter for Duke. Not only has he been productive, but also very durable. He hasn’t missed a start in his career. At 6’3 – 323 (Combine) he has excellent size to go along with strength and power. His testing at the Combine was average. He ran 5.33 and his agility drill times were a bit below average. Last week at his pro day, he came in at 316 and ran 5.22 and took off better than a tenth of a second in each of the agility drills. That can only help him come draft day. As a player, he is best as a run blocker. He comes off the ball low and has some explosiveness on contact. He does a good job getting movement with his blocks and has enough athleticism in space to get to the second level. He also does a good job with combo blocks. In pass protection, he shows a good punch and keeps his hands inside. He doesn’t consistently play with bend. When he gets tall, he has a tendency to overextend. He was better at the Senior Bowl in playing with bend. He also needs improvement with his recovery quickness. He can lose his man to a quick counter move. He moves better at the lower weight and if he can stay there, it will help his lateral agility. I feel Tomlinson can be an eventual starter at guard. When I say eventual, I mean he should be a starter by his second year. The team that drafts him may want to move him to center. With his girth and power, he can be a force versus the big nose tackles in the league. He has the smarts and leadership skills to be the leader of the O-Line from the center position. I expect Tomlinson to be drafted in the third to fourth round area.) (4-3-15): http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/nfp-prospect-focus-laken-tomlinson-and-john-miller/
Nos. 49-45: Offensive weapons bound for Round 2 (45. Laken Tomlinson, G, Duke: Bio: Born in Jamaica, Tomlinson moved to Chicago as a child and didn't play football until his freshman year in high school. He started 52 games at right guard for Duke, gaining multiple Academic All-American honors and All-ACC nods. He's a high-character person with some real potential at the position, but it may take a year or two before he's ready to deal with the realities of the NFL from a talent perspective. He's a projection, but worth the effort. Strengths: Dominant at times as a run-blocker in a phone booth—when he's in his gap and moving forward, Tomlinson is tough to deal with. Shows the potential for good form in pass-blocking and is very effective in zone-blocking when he keeps everything in front of him. Effective ability to move his man aside when he gets his arms locked in. Tremendous raw strength. Intelligent individual who wants to be a doctor with he's done with football. Looked good at the Senior Bowl against bigger players. Many of his technique flaws seem coachable. Weaknesses: Has the position's physical characteristics and plays with a wide base, but doesn't take advantage nearly enough. Very inconsistent with his hands and placement—tends to stab instead of locking on, and will lose defenders to either side. Athletic enough to pull effectively, but needs to hit targets across the field and at the second level more often. Not a multi-read blocker at this point—needs to learn to keep his head on a swivel and re-direct with authority. Will occasionally lose power battles even when he's the low man, which is more about technique than strength. Not as much of a finisher as you'd like—once in a while, you want to see a guy this big just destroy inferior competition. Conclusion: Outside of the possible tackle-to-guard prospects at the top of the 2015 draft board (like Iowa's Brandon Scherff), Tomlinson could be the most appealing guard prospect in this class. He could probably start at right guard in the NFL right away, and with the necessary technique fixes, may wind up as a fixture on the left side. At his best, he's a scheme-transcendent player. Pro Comparison: Trai Turner, Panthers (Round 3, 2014).) (4-2-15): http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/04/02/2015-nfl-draft-ranking-si-64-jay-ajayi-carl-davis-nelson-agholor
2015 NFL Draft: Offensive line lacks stars but offers depth (2/53. Laken Tomlinson, Duke, 6-3, 323, 5.31, 2: Island Import: Born in Jamaica, Tomlinson relocated to the US when he was 10 and didn't play football until he was a freshman at Lane Technical High School in Chicago. He picked up the game so well that Duke recruited him as both an offensive and defensive lineman and waited to see how he turned out. After some adjustment, Tomlinson started and starred at right guard in 52 games over the last four years and was a three-time All-ACC first-team selection. He appears to be perfectly constructed for an NFL guard with thick hips and a broad upper body that is difficult to neutralize. But he seems a bit robotic at times and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to taking on more athletic defenders in the NFL. He did impress at Senior Bowl workouts showing expected power against bull rush, but surprising lateral quickness in pass protection. Tomlinson is already looking beyond football and intends to enter medical school to become a neurosurgeon. Measuring up: In his March 25 pro day, Tomlinson improved some of his combine marks, including the 40-yard dash (5.16 seconds on hand held watch at pro day; 5.33 electronic time at combine). At combine he showed his sheer size is a great start with an 82 1/2 inch wingspan and big hands (10 1/4 inches). He benched 225 pounds 25 times and had a vertical jump of 31.5 inches. Notable quote: "Concussions in the NFL can lead to depression, especially in high impact positions. Wide receivers and running backs, those guys are prone to more low-impact collisions than anyone else in the game. So the research that's going on right now adds more to the knowledge at hand." -- Tomlinson at combine, when discussing his ambition to be a neurosurgeon.Frankly: Although Duke is better known for producing NBA guards, Tomlinson should be one of only four Blue Devil alums to play more than 50 games in NFL. Tomlinson will start as soon as he shows he can cope with the speed and athleticism of NFL players.) (4-2-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25131339/nfl-draft-offensive-line-lacks-stars-but-offers-depth
Duke star leads draft's best offensive guard prospects (1. Laken Tomlinson, Duke: Unless one of the higher-caliber tackle prospects kicks over to guard, Tomlinson is probably the most talented player at this position. At 6'3" and 323 pounds, he's a real problem when he's got his leverage going in run-blocking. Tomlinson can move people around decisively with his tremendous upper-body strength and wide base. He's also more agile and better in pass-blocking than you'd expect from a big man. He gets into trouble when he tries to hit targets at the second level; he's not always aware of his surroundings in space. He'll also need to learn how to pick up more advanced defensive schemes at the NFL level. That said, Tomlinson has a high football IQ and certainly a high IQ in general—he wants to be a doctor when his playing career is over. For now, he's best-suited to a team with a passing game that works off a power running system. Projection: Mid-second round.) (3-31-15): http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/03/31/2015-nfl-draft-positional-rankings-guard-laken-tomlinson
2015 NFL Draft: This Week In Pro Days (Teammate, guard Laken Tomlinson, had a solid positional workout and is one of the top guard prospects in the draft.) (3-27-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-nfl-draft-this-week-in-pro-days-3.html
Tomlinson Performs at Duke Pro Day (this is an interview with Tomlinson): http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22672&SPID=1843&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=209985398
What we learned from Wednesday's pro days (Tomlinson did nothing to hurt his standing in the eyes of clubs, either, with a good positional workout.) (3-25-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000481496/article/pair-of-speedy-receivers-highlight-proday-action-on-wednesday
Division rivals send coaches to check out Duke's Crowder at pro day (Offensive guard Laken Tomlinson (6-3 1/2, 216) ran the 40 in 5.23 and 5.2 seconds. He had a short shuttle time of 4.73 seconds and a three-cone time of 7.87 seconds. He had a 29-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot broad jump.) (3-25-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000481557/article/jamison-crowder-attracts-bengals-steelers-to-dukes-pro-da
Slam dunks: Williams leads list of 10 safest prospects in draft (G Laken Tomlinson, Duke: It's hard to find a bad scouting word about Tomlinson, who really turned heads at the Senior Bowl by holding his own against the aforementioned Shelton. He's not considered a high-end first-round draft pick because of the position he plays -- guard simply isn't a premium position. But the senior has every physical tool to play the position and is considered a player of high character, as well. You want durability? He made 52 career starts at Duke. And when football is over, he plans to go to medical school.) (3-18-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000479720/article/slam-dunks-10-safest-prospects-in-2015-nfl-draft
Walterfootball NFL Draft Stock Report - Pro Days (Tomlinson: There has been a lot of recent buzz about Tomlinson. Some feel that he could go as high as the second round and be one of the top guards selected. WalterFootball.com knows some teams that have graded him in the third round, but also think that the team likes Tomlinson enough to draft him could do so during the second round. Tomlinson had strong outings at the Senior Bowl and the Combine to help his draft stock.) (3-10-14): http://walterfootball.com/draft2015stock_26.php
2015 NFL Draft Outlook (Laken Tomlinson, G, Duke: 6-3 1/2, 323. Really helped himself during Senior Bowl week. "He's a big, square, flexible athlete," one scout said. "He's got good movement. He needs to work on his technique and balance." Four-year starter at guard. Arms were 33 5/8.) (2-21-15): http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/2015-nfl-draft-outlook-b99448618z1-293321531.html
Lions looking at versatile O-linemen at Combine (Many of the top prospects did not address the media Wednesday, but there were plenty of others who said the Lions interviewed them. One is Duke's Laken Tomlinson, who is the No. 2 guard in the draft according to CBSSports.com and No. 3 according to ESPN.) (2-19-15): http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/02/detroit_lions_looking_closely.html
2015 NFL Combine Bench Press Analysis - Offensive Lineman (A lot of the top-tier guard prospects didn't participate. Thus, Duke guard Laken Tomlinson had an opportunity to impress. Tomlinson (6-3, 323) had a decent performance with 25 reps. He benefits by others not participating.) (2-18-15): http://walterfootball.com/combine2015benchOL.php
2015 NFL Scouting Combine: Prospects Takeaway from Day 1 (One of the most well-spoken prospects during the media sessions at Lucas Oil Stadium was former Duke offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson. Tomlinson jumped onto a lot of teams' radars with a breakout performance at the Senior Bowl, but the big-bodied guard spent several minutes Wednesday discussing life after football, which Tomlinson said he hopes leads to him becoming a neurosurgeon. Not a bad career path for a Jamaica native who only managed to get into the game in middle school after eating "American food" made him gain weight.) (2-18-15): http://www.nfl.com/combine/story/0ap3000000471041/article/2015-nfl-scouting-combine-prospect-takeaways-from-day-1
Duke's Laken Tomlinson compares to Lions' Larry Warford (The Lions have met with Tomlinson) (2-18-15): http://oplions.blogspot.com/2015/02/dukes-laken-tomlinson-compares-to-lions.html
Mayock sounds off on 21 prospects prior to the Combine (On Duke G Laken Tomlinson: "This is a big, square, tough guy. Smart as can be. Has movement in the run game. Surprisingly quick in short areas. I think he really helped himself at the Senior Bowl. I think a lot of the doubters as far as his athleticism and ability to pass block went, 'Ooh, he's blocking some of the best defensive linemen in the country.' I think he's a really good player." Combine workout day: Friday.) (2-17-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000470842/article/mike-mayock-nebraskas-randy-gregory-needs-to-add-weight
Countdown to the Combine: O-line (Laken Tomlinson (OG), Duke: This is not a first-round selection, but the Lions have done well finding quality linemen in the second and third rounds the past two years -- Travis Swanson in 2014 and Larry Warford in 2013. If Tomlinson, who was an AP All-American as a senior, is around in the second or third round, he might be a wise pick for Detroit. He is 6-3, 325 pounds and is ranked the No. 3 guard in the draft class according to ESPN/Scouts Inc.) (2-16-15): http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/15265/countdown-to-combine-detroit-lions
Mayock: Tomlinson could have Larry Warford like impact for Detroit Lions (In 2013, the Lions struck gold by snagging Kentucky guard Larry Warford early in the third round. Mayock is convinced a team will land a similar caliber player this year in Duke's Laken Tomlinson. "This is a big, square, tough guy," Mayock said during a conference call on Monday. "Smart as can be, he gets movement in the run game, surprisingly quick in short areas. I think he really helped himself at the Senior Bowl. I think a lot of the doubters, as far as his athleticism and ability to pass block, went, 'Ooh." Tomlinson measured in at 6-foot-3, 323 pounds at the college All-Star game in Mobile, Ala. He's extremely durable, starting all 52 games in four years at Duke. Plus, his smarts extend beyond the football field. He was an academic All-American while double-majoring in evolutionary anthropology and psychology.) (2-16-15): http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/02/mike_mayock_dukes_laken_tomlin.html
NFL combine options wide open for Lions (Laken Tomlinson, Duke: The 6-foot-3 Tomlinson was a four-year starter at right guard and was impressive at the Senior Bowl. He's likely a Day 2 pick.) (2-16-15): http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/02/15/combine-options-wide-open-lions/23475107/
Lions Combine Preview: Interior Lineman (Tomlinson is rated as the No. 3 guard and No. 62 player overall according to ESPN’s rankings. Named All-ACC as a junior and an All-American by the Associated Press as a senior. He was born in Jamaica before coming to the United States as a kid.) (2-13-15): http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/15239/lions-nfl-combine-preview-interior-linemen
2015 Combine Preview: Guard (Best trait: Smarts – Tomlinson is a heady player who had one of the best weeks down at the Senior Bowl in Mobile against really good talent. That week improved his stock. He started 52 games at guard at Duke and didn’t allow a sack the last two seasons. Concern: Athleticism – Tomlinson isn’t a great athlete. He’s not a player that will do a lot on the second level or be an asset downfield in the screen game. He relied on his size and strength in college and won’t be able to do that in the pros. The skinny: Tomlinson is a smart player who played a lot of games and has a lot of upside, but doesn’t appear to be a guy who’ll step in and be a dominant starter from Day 1. He could get there, though.) (2-10-15): http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/2015-Combine-Preview-Guard/9c25ec78-2d88-4d2d-bb92-5e9bcf653bb0
Walterfootball NFL Draft Stock Report - Senior Bowl (Tomlinson: Tomlinson had a rough start to his senior year, which had scouts down on him. However, he bounced back in the second half of the season and carried that over into the Senior Bowl. Tomlinson (6-3, 323) had a quality week of practice. He is a tough run-blocker and could serve as a powerful right guard. Tomlinson needs to improve his pass protection and handling speed rushers in the NFL, but at the Senior Bowl, he held his own and represented himself well as having the potential to be a complete blocker. This performance should help solidify Tomlinson as a second-day pick.) (1-28-15): http://walterfootball.com/draft2015stock_20.php
Senior Bowl Review: Offense (I know many will rate Tomlinson higher on the list. I like him quite a bit, and each interior OL is pretty close in ranking. That is more important than the actual number. Tomlinson was among the best at consistently anchoring. It might not be on first contact, but he would slow and stop his opponents’ momentum at a high rate in 1 on 1s.)(1-27-14): http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/51877/351/senior-bowl-review-offense
2015 NFL Draft Stock - Senior Bowl (Tomlinson had a rough start to his senior year, which had scouts down on him. However, he bounced back in the second half of the season and carried that over into the Senior Bowl. Tomlinson (6-3, 323) had a quality week of practice. He is a tough run-blocker and could serve as a powerful right guard. Tomlinson needs to improve his pass protection and handling speed rushers in the NFL, but at the Senior Bowl, he held his own and represented himself well as having the potential to be a complete blocker. This performance should help solidify Tomlinson as a second-day pick.) (1-26-15): http://walterfootball.com/draft2015stock_20.php
Senior Bowl winners and losers: Miam's Walford up, Baylor's Petty down (Tomlinson was picked as a winner. He showed toughness and good leverage all week. NFL Media analyst Charles Davis said Tomlinson's performance specifically against Washington defensive lineman Danny Shelton -- arguably the top prospect in Mobile --served to forward his draft standingamong scouts. An AFC scout told CFB 24/7 that the All-ACC guard showed a high level of football intelligence as well. Mayock was high on Tomlinson's performance too.)(1-25-14): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000463448/article/winners-and-losers-from-the-2015-senior-bowlwinners-and-losers-from-the-2015-senior-bowl
Recapping the best and worst of Senior Bowl Tomlinson made the all-pro offense team. Collins, Mason and Tomlinson were rocks all week. Mason, Tomlinson and Marpet are guard-only prospects, though all three could wind up as top-100 picks -- Tomlinson or Mason maybe even top-50.)(1-24-15):http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/24/senior-bowl-recap
Davis: Top 10 Senior Bowl standouts (The scouting report I had heard coming into this week was that Tomlinson is a good player with heavy feet. However, I thought his feet were more than quick enough when I watched him in practices. Plus, he accepted the challenge of going up against Shelton, the consensus top player at the Senior Bowl, and Tomlinson had no problem dealing with Shelton. In fact, Tomlinson acquitted himself quite nicely when matched up against him. The former Duke guard is a big, strong, forceful interior lineman with a good hand punch. I think he helped himself as much as any prospect at the Senior Bowl.) (1-23-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462487/article/washingtons-danny-shelton-among-10-senior-bowl-standouts
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: inside the XOS film room with Josh Norris (Early in the week, Duke guard Laken Tomlinson had difficulty digging his feet in the ground to anchor the interior pocket. As he had more reps, Tomlinson showed improvements with his anchor and a natural ability to sink his lower half. He can bend in the ankles, hips and knees, enabling him to access his full lower body strength. Laterally, he also has the foot quicks to cut off inside counters.) (1-23-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-inside-xos-film-room-josh-norris.html
2015 Senior Bowl Rumor Mill (Sources say that Duke guard Laken Tomlinson has done a lot to improve his draft stock. Early in the 2014 season, teams were disappointed in Tomlinson and felt he was a day-three pick. However, they liked how Tomlinson played in the back half of the year as well as his performance at the Senior Bowl. Now, they view him more in the Round 3-4 range.) (1-22-14): http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2015rumors4.php
2015 Senior Bowl North Practice Report (Duke guard Laken Tomlinson finished his practice week in good form as he had a nice day in the pass-blocking one-on-ones. Tomlinson had wins over Arizona State's Marcus Hardison and Iowa's Louis Trinca-Pasat, and fought well against Washington's Danny Shelton. Tomlinson did well in the run scrimmage as well. He has achieved his objective to represent himself well at the Senior Bowl.) (1-22-15): http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2015practice6.php
Eight things we learned from Day 3 of Senior Bowl practices (Battle in the trenches draws mutual respect: The most-watched matchup this week in the trenches was undoubtedly the one-on-ones between possible top-10 pick Danny Shelton and Duke guard Laken Tomlinson. Tomlinson has handled Shelton the best of anybody on the North team.) (1-22-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462299/article/eighmayock-tj-clemmings-losing-buzz-as-potential-top10-pick
Mayock: Duke guard Tomlinson 'shot up draft boards' with his work at Senior Bowl this week (Mayock was especially impressed by Tomlinson's work in drills against Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton) (1-22-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462294/article/mayock-dukes-laken-tomlinson-starred-at-senior-bowl-practices
Small school players step up as Day 3 standouts at Senior Bowl (The Duke guard has been a fast-riser this whole week and put on yet another show in the one-on-one drills that you couldn't help but notice. He establishes such a good base and is so fundamentally sound that defensive linemen who don't have a plan to beat him often find themselves on the ground or well past the pocket. Even opposing defensive linemen unanimously said after practice that Tomlinson was the toughest player they faced among the North squad's offensive linemen.)(1-22-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462323/article/smallschool-players-among-day-3-standouts-at-senior-bowl
2015 Senior Bowl Thursday's North Practice Report (Duke guard Laken Tomlinson finished his practice week in good form as he had a nice day in the pass-blocking one-on-ones. Tomlinson had wins over Arizona State's Marcus Hardison and Iowa's Louis Trinca-Pasat, and fought well against Washington's Danny Shelton. Tomlinson did well in the run scrimmage as well. He has achieved his objective to represent himself well at the Senior Bowl.) (1-22-15): http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2015practice6.php
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Thursday North Practice Notes (Tomlinson and Douglas had somewhat inconsistent final practices, but both leave with a positive impression. When everything works, they’re each very good. Both sometimes allow the defender too far into the pocket, leaving them to reset their feet. They still win, so that’s a positive, but it’s something to improve upon.)(1-22-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-thursday-north-practice-notes.html
Senior Bowl: Pauline's Day 3 Risers (Tomlinson has not dominated this week but, at the same time, he's not been beaten and has impressed scouts with disciplined play. Tomlinson blocks with great fundamentals and did not give up an inch to defenders in either drills or scrimmage. He's moved from late-round prospect into the middle frames.) (1-22-15): http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Senior-Bowl-Paulines-Day-3-Risers/263499b2-483f-4e00-8daf-263e69383645
Buzz worthy and buzz kill players from Day 2 at the Senior Bowl (Tomlinson and Havenstein have really impressed scouts with their technical skills and awareness this week. Each player has shined in drills, despite facing some of the toughest run stoppers and pass rushers in the country. Part of their success can be attributed to their solid understanding of their respective games, which allows them to minimize their weaknesses by using clever tricks at the point of attack. Tomlinson, in particular, has been terrific working in tight quarters, utilizing a short set and quick punch to stone rushers in their tracks in one-on-one drills. In addition, he has shown the ability to anchor against power and protect the middle of the pocket to keep rushers out of the quarterback's face.)(1-21-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461678/article/buzzworthy-and-buzzkill-players-from-day-2-at-the-senior-bowl
What we learned on Wednesday at the Senior Bowl (Duke guard Laken Tomlinson has seemingly drawn the most reps against him. While Tomlinson has not been perfect, he's probably been the best of any of the interior linemen in handling Shelton during one-on-ones. Tomlinson, however, was far from the only star on Day 2.) (1-21-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461757/article/what-we-learned-tony-lippett-draws-senior-bowl-interest
Senior Bowl Day 3: Tomlinson, Shelton standing out as top NFL prospects (Tomlinson stood out as one of the best o-lineman during the three days of workout. He's drawn comparison's to Warford.) (1-22-15): http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/23/senior-bowl-day-3-laken-tomlinson-danny-shelton-nfl-draft
2015 Senior Bowl: Davis, Shelton show power in the Pitt (Tomlinson enjoyed the most impressive performance on Wednesday. Tomlinson, 6-3, 323 pounds has good initial quickness and lateral agility in pass protection, as well as impressive flexibility to anchor against bull rushers.) (1-21-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24982063/senior-bowl-carl-davis-danny-shelton-show-power-in-the-pit
Walterfootball's Wednesday's North practice report (Shelton repeatedly used his bull rush to earn wins over Duke guard Laken Tomlinson, Florida center Max Garcia and Marshall's Chris Jasperse. There was one play where Tomlinson had a nice recovery after Shelton achieved some penetration, but on all the other reps, Shelton was getting to the quarterback marker. After that one rep where Tomlinson did decent, Shelton came back with a furious rush of power to rock Tomlinson back, a swim move to toss him aside and speed to collapse the pocket.)(1-21-15): http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2015practice4.php
Seven things we learned from Day 2 of Senior Bowl practices (4. Duke guard excelling in the trenches: Most people believe Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton will be the highest draft pick among prospects at the Senior Bowl. As such, he is considered the measuring stick for players during practice, and Duke guard Laken Tomlinson has seemingly drawn the most reps against him. While Tomlinson has not been perfect, he's probably been the best of any of the interior linemen in handling Shelton during one-on-ones. Tomlinson, however, was far from the only star on Day 2.) (1-21-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461757/article/what-we-learned-tony-lippett-draws-senior-bowl-interest
Optimum Scouting's 2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Wednesday North Practice Notes (Tomlinson can bend and sink his lower half, but had difficulty anchoring immediately off the snap versus the strength of Danny Shelton. Pushed too far back into the pocket on one-on-one rush drills, Tomlinson has to improve his functional strength as a pass protector. He hardly panics when placed on his heels and shows the flexibility to drop his anchor to recover, but he needs to show more hip snap power at the point of attack.)(1-21-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-wednesday-north-practice-notes.html
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Tuesday North Practice Notes (One of the more consistent offensive linemen of the first day was Duke guard Laken Tomlinson. The 6’3”, 323-pounder had a couple of difficult matchups in Danny Shelton and Marcus Hardison. Shelton got the best of every other blocker except Tomlinson. Tomlinson is a power guard with strong hands, but he has enough quickness and balance to withstand the speed and strength combination that Shelton brings to the table. His monster performance Day 1 could signify that he’s going to be the top guard prospect.) (1-20-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-tuesday-north-practice-notes.html
2015 Senior Bowl: North Offense Scouting Preview (The well-built, plus-length and strong lower half blocker is the favorite to be the draft’s top true guard, and his ability to extend away with success against 5-technique types and keep quicker rushes away from his chest-plate is why teams could view him as a safe pick in a relatively lackluster and risk-based first-round. The Senior Bowl has been known to push up “safer” offensive line players with a good week.) (1-19-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-north-offense-scouting-preview.html
2015 NFL Draft Stock - Pre New Year's Day Bowls (Tomlinson is a potential Day-3 pick. The senior has finished up his career as a Blue Devil, but he hasn't really improved in being he still is notablr better in the ground game than in pass protection. Tomlinson struggled with some of the speedy defenders on the Arizona State defensive line, but he also managed some push at the point of attack. He needs a strong performance at the Senior Bowl and an impressive showing in its the pass-blocking one-on-ones to rise. ) (12-31-14): http://walterfootball.com/draft2015stock_18.php
Tomlinson and football a perfect fit (12-3-14): http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10069056/duke-blue-devils-laken-tomlinson-uses-football-pursue-dream
Week 14 Risers and Sliders (Laken Tomlinson/OL/Duke: Four years a starter on the Duke offensive line, Tomlinson has been a consistent blocker in college and intrigues NFL scouts. He’s a wide bodied lineman at 6-feet/3-inches and 325lbs, strong enough to open holes on the line of scrimmage and nimble enough to remove defenders on the second level. He’s not expected to wow anyone in pre-draft testing rather Tomlinson will be a name that slips into the later rounds of the draft then fights for a starting role at the next level.) (12-1-14): http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=10255
2015 NFL Draft: Acc Prospect Rankings (Its great to see Duke play winning football and we should start to see some of their players being selected in the draft. Laken Tomlinson is a stout, well built guard who sinks his hips on the line and blocks with leverage. He’s not overly effective blocking in motion but has enough ability to make the two-deep at the next level.) (8-26-14): http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=9954
2015 NFL Draft: Duke prospects preview (OG Laken Tomlinson (6'3 | 320 | 5.23 | #77): A second-team All-ACC selection as a junior and 39-time starter at right guard for the Blue Devils, Laken Tomlinson enters his senior year as one of the top guard prospects in the 2015 draft class. A three-time All-ACC Academic selection as well, the Chicago native has utilized an impressive combination of size, strength, athleticism and smarts to develop into one of the conferences most dominant lineman over the past three seasons, and has shown continual growth both physically and technically in that time. Tomlinson possesses the ideal thick, powerful build for an NFL guard and demonstrates impressive movement skills for his size with nimble feet, flexible hips and smoothness when asked to change direction both as a run blocker and in pass protection. His natural strength is obvious, as he's able to routinely dictate and finish opponents when he latches on, and he does a good job of holding ground when anchoring, even when asked to reset after being caught off guard or initially knocked back. From a technical standpoint, Tomlinson is still learning to use his hands, as he'll be seen from time to time allowing defenders into his frame rather than jarring his opponent with extension, due mostly to poor hand placement or lowering his shoulder on contact. He also needs to demonstrate better width in his lower half while sliding in pass protection, and continue to stay low off the snap to establish leverage earlier in the play, but these flaws aren't nearly as evident as they once were and he has become a much more consistent technician who relies less on strength and athleticism than he once did. Look for Tomlinson to draw first round grades heading into the 2015 draft if he's able to stay healthy.) (7-3-14): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24606711/nfl-draft-duke-preview
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