Andrew Vorhees, OL, USC | NFL Draft Scouting Report

The 2023 NFL Draft guard class isn’t exactly chock full of elite talent, but there are quality players to be had in the middle rounds. Having completed his sixth collegiate season (fifth as a starter), where does Andrew Vorhees’ scouting report rank among his peers?

Andrew Vorhees NFL Draft Profile

• Position: Offensive Line
• School: USC
• Current Year: Redshirt senior
• Height/Weight: 6’6″, 310 pounds
• Arm Length: 32 1/8″
• Hand Size: 10″

Hailing from Kingsburg, California, Vorhees played both offensive and defensive tackle in high school. He earned all-district honors in his final two years, culminating in a three-star recruit billing in the 247Sports Composite.

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Given that Vorhees is from the West Coast, nearly every Pac-12 program sought his services, but USC received his signature prior to his senior campaign. Six years later, Vorhees has a bachelor’s degree in business administration, is working on a master’s in communications management, and even married in 2018.

Across his career, the USC OL has played in 54 games, with 25 starts at right guard, 18 at left guard, and five at left tackle. Vorhees is as experienced as they come (nearly 3,500 career snaps), but how does that translate to his professional prospects?

Andrew Vorhees Scouting Report

Vorhees has been a staple on the USC offensive line for some time. And while he will be an older prospect (24-year-old rookie) in the 2023 NFL Draft, there is a lot to like about his overall profile. Let’s delve into his positives, negatives, and where he should hear his name called in April.

Where Vorhees Wins

The first thing you see when watching Vorhees’ tape is his physical demeanor. He’s always looking for work as a pass or run blocker and comes equipped with a hot motor. The USC OL is a menace in the ground game, using his opponent’s momentum against them. It’s not uncommon to see Vorhees on top of the defensive lineman when the whistle blows.

Although his arm length isn’t exceptional, Vorhees has a wide 6’6″ frame with functional lower body strength. He can effectively pool, turn, and seal in the ground game, and moving to the second level isn’t an issue (although locating defenders can be). His grip and core strength allow him to move defenders against their will, even if he doesn’t instantly win with leverage.

And in pass pro, that combination affords an entrenched anchor. Vorhees has flashed the ability to reset his hands to regain leverage. Additionally, he has excellent movement skills at guard, which he exhibited when starting at left tackle in 2021. While he shouldn’t be viewed as an OT prospect, Vorhees does have the athleticism, light feet, and frame to be considered an emergency depth piece there.

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That versatility will undoubtedly attract scouts, especially when you add in Vorhees’ vast experience. The USC OL is a dependable and consistent presence, as you’ll rarely find him on the ground. And if he is, it’s because he put a defender there.

Technique-wise, Vorhees has some things to clean up, but he keeps his head up, surveying for possible threats. He’s quick to process defensive front shifts and consistently takes proper angles in various run schemes. Furthermore, he bends at the knees, not the waist, and seldom lunges, keeping his weight behind his toes.

Vorhees’ Areas for Improvement

For a fifth-year senior, the USC OL is surprisingly unpolished. Vorhees’ hands are consistently inconsistent, striking opponents wherever they may. In fact, he frequently finds his hands on an opponent’s shoulders rather than inside their frame.

Part of that result is due to his flared-out elbows. It’s not something you’d expect from a player of Vorhees’ tenure, but his elbows are often outside his frame rather than tucked inside. This leads to wide punches — which looks like he catches opponents — and exposes his chest.

With his average length, longer-limbed defensive linemen can quickly take advantage (see: Utah’s Xavier Carlton vs. Vorhees last year). Vorhees does much better with one-hand strikes, but that dilutes his overall power when working downfield and opens a shoulder for defensive linemen to control. This concern may come from an overconfidence in his ability to anchor against power.

As for footwork, it is similarly underwhelming. Vorhees is light on his feet with excellent balance, but he gets too tall on occasion and finds his feet under his torso. At 6’6″, Vorhees will naturally struggle to win the leverage battle. However, he could do a better job of being patient and keeping his feet active. After conceding yardage, it’s not always easy for him to reset his base and anchor down.

Moreover, his base can widen when dealing with quicker DTs that don’t allow him to flip his hips, diminishing his strength. He must focus on deploying his hands here rather than rushing to slide his feet in response. And against stunts and twists, he must improve his awareness, as he can be late to pick up assignments.

Plus, there is the matter of his age, a 2019 foot surgery that ended his season, and the torn ACL he suffered during drills at the Combine. Outside of those injuries, Vorhees has been rather healthy, but they deserve attention.

Overall, Vorhees’ lack of refinement can be viewed in two ways. On the one hand, it’s a cause for hope, as he is already an NFL-caliber guard without NFL-level technique. On the other hand, 2022 was his fifth year starting. Why hasn’t he vastly improved?

Current Draft Projection for USC OL Andrew Vorhees

Vorhees is like a bowl of Cheerios for breakfast — it gets the job done but doesn’t quite excite like waffles, pancakes, or french toast. But simply getting the job done is an underrated trait. How many players have we seen go inside the top 10 with otherworldly physical tools that flame out quicker than Thanos’ snap?

High-floor, low-ceiling prospects don’t receive lofty draft picks but often stick around longer. That’s the mold Vorhees fits into. His lack of length, elite short-area athleticism, or overwhelming strength limit his potential, and he may never be a “set it and forget it” starter.

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But what Vorhees brings as a versatile and experienced depth option that can fill multiple positions in a pinch is valuable.

All told, Vorhees should hear his name called in the early Day 3 range — although his Combine injury may drop him further than his profile dictates. And with proper seasoning, who knows? Maybe Vorhees can crack a starting job early in his career. After all, adding just a bit of sugar to Cheerios makes breakfast substantially tastier.