Spencer Fano has been predicted to be one of the first offensive linemen in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is a projected early first-round pick, and frequently appears in the top 20 of major big boards.
Spencer Fano Shows He’s Team-First by Considering Center Role
Scouts and general managers frequently praise Spencer Fano for his versatility, as he even took snaps at center during the NFL Combine to increase his value. Over the past three seasons at Utah, he primarily played left and right tackle, but he has never been opposed to switching positions.
During an appearance on the “Up & Adams Show,” host Kay Adams asked Fano if he wants to move to center.
“I think that my best ball would be at tackle,” Fano replied (4:54). “But yeah, I’m fine playing wherever. And so they just came up and asked all of us, like, ‘Hey, who thinks that they could snap the ball well and wants to get some center snaps in?’ And I played center in eighth grade, so I was like, ‘You know what? I’ll give it a shot.'”
“And so I went and took some snaps. I mean, there’s always a little transition, but I’d be fine to do it. I do think that tackle is a little harder than the other two. But because the other two, you just work everything’s a lot faster with a garden center, but you have a lot more space with tackle. But I think it’s a lot easier to transition to having less space.”
Earlier in March, Fano told Stacey Dales of NFL Media that he’s open to whatever it takes to succeed at the next level. This discussion comes after Fano’s arms measured 32 1/8 inches at the Combine, just under the typical 33-inch benchmark for NFL tackles.
This could be a concern for teams evaluating him for tackle, as scouts noted Fano may need to add functional strength to handle elite power rushers.
Fano has been linked to teams seeking offensive line help, including the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. While he doesn’t have a preferred NFL team, he shared the type of coaches he likes: either a high-energy, motivational style like Dan Campbell or a serious, disciplined approach.
“I love all of them,” Fano told Adams (7:14). “I mean, the Dan Campbell kind of guy was awesome. You know, get you hyped, but a serious kind of guy could do well. That’s how it was my freshman and sophomore years at Utah. Our OC was very serious. I’m good where I’m good with whatever.”
Fano has that combination mixed with a frame with room for more mass, which is why he is one of the top prospects in this year’s draft. He finished the 2025 season with zero sacks and zero quarterback hits allowed.
This performance earned him the No. 3 spot nationally in PFSN’s College Football Player OL Impact Metric with an impact score of 94.0.
