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2021 NFL Draft Profile: Air Force OL Parker Ferguson
Three years of starting experience and all-conference performances have put Parker Ferguson on the NFL’s radar.
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How draftable is Parker Ferguson?
Measurables
Height – 6′ and 3 3/4″
Weight – 306 pounds
40-yard time – 5.18 seconds
10-yard split time – 1.79 seconds
Arm length – 32 5/8″
Hand size – 9 1/4″
Wingspan – 79 5/8″
Vertical jump – 31″
Broad jump – 8′ 7″ (or 103″)
Shuttle time – 4.9 seconds
3-cone drill time – 7.75 seconds
Bench press – 24 reps
After a decorated career at the Air Force Academy, cadet-athlete Parker Ferguson finds himself in rare territory as an NFL prospect directly out of a military academy. He is now just a few weeks removed from showcasing his talents at the Pro Day which was held in Colorado Springs.
It shouldn’t be all that surprising to see Ferguson among those from the academies being evaluated and considered prospects for this year’s NFL draft. Beyond the changes to eligibility that enable military athletes to defer their service in pursuit of professional careers in the NFL, Ferguson in particular has shined as an offensive lineman for three years now.
Part of one of the most dominant offensive lines in the country (not to mention arguably the top left side anywhere), Parker Ferguson’s consistent play earned him an invitation to the Hula Bowl this past January. In addition to this NFL select showcase, he was also a first team All-Mountain West selection each of the past two seasons to go along with his nomination to the Outland Trophy watch list, which is reserved for college football’s best offensive linemen.
https://twitter.com/parkerferg33/status/1376636286488961030
DRAFT DAY
Despite all of the accolades that Parker Ferguson has earned in his tenure as a Falcon, which included being graded by Pro Football Focus as the Group of 5’s top offensive lineman in 2019, he’s not going to be a lock to hear his name called in the 2021 draft.
The offensive scheme that Air Force runs will always work against their linemen when it comes to stacking up against other prospects, even those as distinguished as Ferguson. It’s part of the process, though, and the NFL Draft will always be an inexact science, but it is a place where the highest level of scrutiny is to be expected.
A lot of what was just described as reasons he may not get drafted are less than tangible or quantifiable. What has been validated is Ferguson’s character: Even during his Pro Day, he was still navigating the grueling end of a term cadet schedule. Furthermore, Ferguson is a player who validated his worth game in and game out for three years as an elite offensive lineman, and that is quantifiable.
We’ve seen former Falcons like Ben Garland have nice NFL careers by finding their way under the radar. They are even similar in that both of these guys were recruited on the other side of the ball, as well, because Ferguson started his collegiate career as a defensive lineman. Hopefully ,Ferguson is rewarded for his hard work and performance by hearing his name called this April in the NFL draft.
If he doesn’t, though, I’ll quote a book that I know Ferguson is well versed in: “Don’t lose heart in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”. Parker Ferguson is an NFL talent, whether drafted or not, April will not be the end-all-be-all to his place on a team’s roster.
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