Considering the career offensive lineman Reese Dismukes had at Auburn University, it would have been pretty easy to think he would be selected at some point in the 2015 NFL Draft.
After all, Dismukes resume speaks volumes. As a 50-game starter and two-time All-SEC performer, Dismukes was a key player for one of the top programs in the country. He was the anchor of an offensive line that helped pave the way for one of the most explosive offenses in the NCAA. Last season, his stellar career culminated with being named a consensus All-American, along with being named the winner of the prestigious Rimington Award, given to the top center in college football.
With a resume like that, it would seem that the selection of Dismukes in the draft would be a forgone conclusion.
Yet seven rounds and 256 picks later, Dismukes went undrafted and would sign a free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Count Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn as one of those surprised to see Dismukes go undrafted. In a recent interview with the Montgomery Advertiser, Malzahn expressed his surprise.
“I was very surprised about that… I think he’ll make somebody a very good pro for a long time. Somebody they can count on, a very good football player.” Malzahn said.
Auburn offensive line coach J.B. Grimes echoed similar sentiments and believes that the 6-foot 3, 300-pound Dismukes has the mental tools to handle the rigors of the NFL.
“He is a guy that will glom on to the NFL terminology and the protections and all those kind of things that we don’t do,” Grimes told AL.com. “But he’ll be a guy that will be running your whole line in no time.”
Grimes comments may be a clue to one of the reasons teams passed on Dismukes; playing in a high tempo, frenetic offense at Auburn, there are some who may believe Dismukes might not be a fit physically for NFL offensive lines. Instead of playing zone blocking schemes in an offense that could at times look more like a track meet, Dismukes now will have to prove he can play against interior defensive linemen, square them up and hold the point of a attack.
Despite of these worries, Grimes believes that Dismukes might be able to prove his critics wrong, many who point to his small hands and short arms as further evidence he might not make it as a professional.
“I think the biggest questions that they have is when a 350-pound zero (technique) nose guard lines up on him and he’s offsides how does he handle it?” Grimes said. “The answer is, you got a guy that has great body leverage with great hands. He’s guy that’s really, really quick with his hands.”
Though the Steelers will also look at Dismukes at guard during camp, his experience as a four-year starter at center will provide flexibility and could give Dismukes a better shot at winning a roster spot. That’s because the team will almost certainly need a number of “jack of all trades” interior lineman who can be swing men for the team. Being able to play both guard and center could go a long way towards Dismukes making the 53-man roster.
Few would look at the competition for backup positions at guard and center as particularly exciting, but this could end up being one of the more intense battles for roster spots at Latrobe. Veterans Cody Wallace and Chris Hubbard both return after getting playing time for the Steelers in 2014, and fellow rookie free agents B.J. Finney and Miles Diffenbach will also bring solid college resumes to camp.
Considering the number of talented interior linemen heading to camp when it begins July 26, Dismukes will have to impress his coaches early and often if he is going to have a shot of making the team.
