JC Latham OT Alabama: Scouting Report

Height: 6’6

Weight: 360

Overall

JC Latham is a powerful right tackle in Alabama’s balanced offense. In his 3 seasons with the Crimson Tide, he played in 40 games, starting 26 of them. He was dominant on film, especially in the run game and he played a key role in Alabama’s offensive success these past 2 years.

Pass Game

In the pass game, Latham has a good initial step in getting to his pass set but he has very heavy feet. When edge rushers start outside then use an inside move, he struggles in redirecting his balance and lacks the athleticism to recover when he gets out of his stance. Once he gets his hands on his man though he does a very good job of staying square and using his strength to keep them in his grasp. He has an elite blend of size and power allowing him to match-up against power rushers on the edge. Against bullrushes he has a good anchor but at times he will give up too much ground, shrinking the pocket behind him. While he has some struggles against more athletic linemen on the edge he has powerful hands and if he gets square with his man he is dominant in protecting the quarterback.

Run Game

In the run game, Latham is dominant on film. He has powerful hands and an elite initial punch to drive his man off the line of scrimmage and consistently opens up running lanes behind him. He is very physical and does a good job of driving his feet after initial contact to move defensive linemen off the ball. He has experience playing in both zone and gap running schemes. In zone he is good at redirecting his man to the outside but he struggles blocking at the second level. Once he gets past his initial block, he lacks the athleticism to square up against linebackers down the field. In gap runs, he is sufficient in being used as a pulling lineman but he is phenomenal as a downblocker where he can wall off defenders creating holes on the inside while the pulling linemen get around him to the edge. He has elite strength and block temperament, and he will be a dominant lead blocker in the run game at the next level.

Last Word

Latham projects best in a run-heavy offense where he can consistently open up running lanes both in zone and gap run plays. While he shows some struggles pass-blocking against more athletic edge rushers, he shows the strength to overpower his man once he gets his feet square. If he fails to improve against speed rushers, a move to Guard should not be an issue and he should continue his dominance on the interior. His physicality in the run game will make him extremely valuable on short 3rd down plays and he will be an immediate contributor on Special Teams with his size and aggression. 

One-Liner: JC Latham is an elite run blocker and if he can improve his foot speed, he can be a franchise right tackle.

Grade: 6.8 (Solid Starter with 2 Position Flexibility)

Games Watched: 2023 - LSU, Georgia, Ole Miss, Michigan

Team Fits: Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers