Austin Kawecki C Wisconsin |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #51 SUB-POSITION: Guard/Center | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 10/07/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 5.25 seconds (50%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.3 DOB: 07/02/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #51 | |
| SUB-POSITION: Guard/Center | |
| Last Updated: 10/07/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 5.25 seconds (50%*) | |
| Age: 23.3 DOB: 07/02/2003 | |
| Overall Rating: |
79.8 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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74% |
| Run Blocking: |
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60% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
7th
Overall Rank:
#235
Position rank:
#38 (OL)
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| College Games: 28 College Snaps: 1146 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
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247 RATING: 85/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Seth McLaughlin - Ohio State |
|
90% |
| Alex Forsyth - Oregon |
|
90% |
| Nick Gargiulo - South Carolina |
|
88% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A first-team all-district lineman and academic all-state honoree at Lebanon Trail, Austin Kawecki also competed in powerlifting and baseball in high school. Recruited as an offensive tackle, he chose Oklahoma State over offers from USC, Penn State, Utah and Baylor, among others.Kawecki redshirted in 2022 and spent the next two seasons as a reserve, making the first-team Academic All-Big 12 squad in 2023 after taking the bulk of the snaps at center against Cincinnati. He finally broke into the lineup in 2025, starting 12 games, 11 at center and one at right guard, and allowing two sacks in more than 700 snaps.
Kawecki joined Wisconsin as a graduate transfer in January, with new offensive line coach Eric Mateos calling an experienced center the staff's top offseason need. He opened the season as the starter for a 4-1 Badgers team that won at No. 13 Penn State, but left the October 3 win over Michigan State with an upper-body injury.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Pass protection is his calling card, with no sacks allowed through five games in 2026
- Experienced center with more than 1,000 snaps over the past two seasons
- Kept a clean sheet in the road win at Penn State, no pressures in 67 snaps
- Organizes the protection calls and adjustments for a young Wisconsin line
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Run game is the weaker half; he rarely displaces defensive tackles off the ball
- Snap exchanges were erratic against Notre Dame and Michigan State
- Left the Michigan State game with an upper-body injury, and his status is unclear
- Waited until his fourth college season to become a regular starter
- Will be nearly 24 on draft day, limiting his developmental upside
Scouting Report: Summary
Kawecki is a steady, cerebral center who waited his turn at Oklahoma State before taking over the job full time in 2025, then transferred to Wisconsin to anchor a young line. He has been at his best in protection, where he plays with good balance and is rarely beaten cleanly: through five games this fall he has not allowed a sack, and he had a clean afternoon in the win at Penn State. The Badgers' staff brought him in to organize the front, and he has handled that role well.However, there are real questions about his game. He rarely moves defenders off the ball as a run blocker, which limits his appeal to power-based offenses, and his snapping has been erratic, with several bad exchanges against Notre Dame and Michigan State. He also left the Michigan State game with an upper-body injury, and it is unclear when he will return. At almost 24 by draft day, he has limited room for growth.
Overall, Kawecki is a smart, experienced center with enough tools to stick on a roster, but he needs a strong finish to get drafted. He projects as a late-round or priority free agent center; the hope is a backup who can slide to guard in a pinch, the risk is a camp body. His health and snapping consistency will determine where he lands.
How other scouting services rate Austin Kawecki (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
190.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
34.0
*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.
*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.