Carson Hinzman
Carson Hinzman  OG  Ohio State | NFL Draft 2025 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Carson Hinzman
Height
6-5
Weight
300
College
Ohio State
Position
OG
Class
Junior
Home town
Spring Valley, WI
59.5/100
Player Rating
92
PositionRank (OL)
5.1
FortyYD Time

Carson Hinzman OG Ohio State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Carson Hinzman OG Ohio State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

SUB-POSITION: Guard/Center
Last Updated: 09/21/2024
Draft Year: 2025
40 time: 5.10 seconds (87%*)
Age: 20.11 DOB: 01/11/2004
Measurables:
Height: 6-5 (69%*) Weight: 300 (13%*)
Forty: 5.10 (O) (87%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
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SUB-POSITION: Guard/Center
Last Updated: 09/21/2024
Draft Year: 2025
40 time: 5.10 seconds (87%*)
Age: 20.11 DOB: 01/11/2004
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-5 (69%*) Weight: 300 (13%*)
Forty: 5.10 (O) (87%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
Overall Rating: 59.5 / 100
Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced
Defense Rating:
76%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
Pass Blocking:
39%
Run Blocking:
56%
DRAFT PROJECTION: UDFA
Overall Rank: #508 Position rank: #92
College Games: 22 College Snaps: 1116
Grade: 4 ESPN  Stars 4 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 82/100
Grade: 247 Sports 4  Stars 247 Sports 93 Stars 247 RATING: 93/100
Grade: 4 Stars 4 Stars RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
Trevor Downing - Iowa State
81%
Alan Ali - TCU
68%
Ryan McCollum - Texas A&M
67%
Draft Profile: Bio
Carson Hinzman, a center from Ohio State, enters the NFL Draft after starting 12 games for the Buckeyes in 2023. The Spring Valley, Wisconsin native redshirted his first year before winning the starting job as a redshirt freshman. Hinzman was a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, earning four-star ratings from major recruiting services and multiple all-state selections.

At Ohio State, Hinzman quickly became a key contributor on the offensive line, logging 758 offensive snaps in his first season as a starter. Off the field, he excelled academically, earning Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors and maintaining a GPA above 3.70 while majoring in sport industry. However, Hinzman's hold on the starting role has been tenuous, as he faced stiff competition in spring practice from Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin.

Despite losing his starting spot for Ohio State's Cotton Bowl due to snapping issues, Hinzman returned stronger in spring practice. Offensive line coach Justin Frye noted Hinzman's improved physicality and explosiveness, praising his offseason development. At 6'4" and 300 pounds, he has prototypical size for an NFL center and has shown the ability to compete against top-tier talent.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • Above-average athleticism for the position, displaying good movement skills and ability to reach the second level
  • Quick learner who earned starting role early in career at a powerhouse program
  • Intelligent player with a strong grasp of offensive concepts - super smart guy
  • Solid frame with room to add functional strength as he develops physically
  • Demonstrates resilience and competitiveness, bouncing back from setbacks to compete for starting role
  • Adapts well to stunts and blitzes, showing good awareness in pass protection
  • High character individual with strong work ethic and leadership potential
  • Experience in a pro-style offense against top competition in the Big Ten
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Struggles with consistency in snapping, leading to benching for bowl game
  • Lacks ideal power at point of attack and can get overwhelmed by stronger interior defenders
  • Still raw technically, particularly in hand usage and leverage
  • Pass protection needs refinement, often relies too much on athleticism over technique
  • Limited starting experience with only one full season under his belt
Scouting Report: Summary
Hinzman's NFL outlook has become significantly more uncertain due to the intense competition for the starting center position at Ohio State. If he loses this battle to Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin, it could severely impact his draft stock and overall NFL prospects. Failing to secure a starting role in college often raises red flags for NFL scouts and talent evaluators.

For a player who couldn't consistently start at the collegiate level, the path to an NFL roster becomes much steeper. Teams may view Hinzman as a project at best, questioning whether he has the necessary skills and competitiveness to succeed at the professional level. This situation could potentially push him into late-round consideration or even undrafted free-agent territory.

If Hinzman does lose the starting job, his NFL future likely shifts from a potential mid-round developmental prospect to a long-shot candidate fighting for a practice squad position. Teams may still be intrigued by his physical tools and academic acumen, but these attributes alone rarely overcome a lack of significant playing time at a major program.

Ultimately, the outcome of this position battle could be a defining moment in Hinzman's football career. To maintain viable NFL prospects, he'll need to either win the starting job outright or, at minimum, split time in a meaningful rotation. Anything less could relegate him to the fringes of NFL consideration, requiring an exceptional showing in pre-draft workouts and interviews to reestablish his potential value to NFL teams.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)

How other scouting services rate Carson Hinzman (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
517.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
86.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance. For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.

*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.