Caleb Lomu, LT Utah: 2026 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Lomu was a four-star recruit from Highland High School in Gilbert, Ariz. in the class of 2023

Utah Utes left tackle Caleb Lomu is a future first round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He still needs to polish many elements of his game, but the potential he showcased during his first year as a starter suggests he’ll be one of the top 15 prospects in the upcoming class.

Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.

Caleb Lomu, LT Utah: 2026 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt sophomore left tackle from Gilbert, Ariz.

Background: Lomu was a four-star recruit from Highland High School in Gilbert, Ariz. in the class of 2023. He was the No. 112 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 121 for Rivals, and No. 107 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 239th in the nation with an 81 grade out of 100. Lomu won the BJ Media and Randall McDaniel Offensive Lineman of the Year award after leading Highland to its second consecutive State Championship. He also earned First Team 6A Northeast Valley All-Region honors. Lomu was invited to the All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl.

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: 2024 First Team Freshman All-American (The Athletic)

Pros: Age, rarely penalized, impressive frame with room to add mass, quality arm length, hip flexibility, quick first step in pass pro, range to drive rushers up and around the arc, very quick to redirect and close B-gap, takes defenders attacking B-gap and drives them across the face of the pocket, poised to remain in front of spin moves, quick to recognize and redirect for stunts, re-anchors against speed to power rushes, flashes of heavy hands, stonewalls rushers when he times his strike properly, twitchy chop counter vs. long-arms, polished snatch-trap, quickly resets hands, defenders fail to play through his frame in the run game, sturdy frame to seal open run lanes and limit negative displacement, mobility and quickness to operate in a gap scheme, good vision and angles working to second level, consistent finisher who seeks out pancakes

Cons: Pad level pops up quickly, footwork needs significant work, needs to gain more depth in initial kick step, footwork gets overreactive, must address forward lean and play with better balance in pass pro, play strength is average and anchor falls below high end range, base becomes too narrow and makes him vulnerable to power rushes, put on his butt in pass pro by Tyler Batty (2024), footspeed sometimes fails and makes him vulnerable at top of the arc, overextends and whiffs on jump sets, overextends in pass pro initiating contact softening outside shoulder, poor overextensions lead to him chasing pass rushers up the arc, late hands leave chest exposed, two-handed punch whiffs and exposes the B-gap, two-handed punch easy to swipe, needs to develop independent hand usage, not a big time one-on-one mover in run game, inconsistent ability to establish and maintain reach blocks, GPS falters on gap runs

Overview: Lomu is a young prospect with an impressive frame that has room to continue developing. His arm length meets the league’s thresholds, and his hip flexibility makes him one of the loosest offensive tackles in the class. Lomu has a quick first step and the range to stick with rushers up the arc, preventing them from breaking into the pocket. He needs to refine his footwork to develop a more reliable kickstep that gains better depth and eliminate some of the wasted movement caused by being overreactive. Lomu’s footspeed sometimes fades near the top of the arc, presenting an opportunity for bendy rushers to whip around his shoulder. He should be able to work this out of his game with more experience. Lomu redirects for B-gap attacks quicker than his teammate Spencer Fano and prevents these interior rushers from threatening the quarterback. The Arizona native is a poised lineman who catches spin moves and doesn’t get confused by stunts. He plays with a high pad level and forward lean in pass protection, which costs him the leverage battle and leads to some balance concerns against power rushers. Lomu overextends to initiate contact, leading to him whiffing on his initial punch and chasing the defender. He needs to play with better balance and more independent hand usage to avoid these quick losses and maintain a strong outside shoulder. Lomu deploys heavy hands that stop defenders in their tracks when he strikes with proper timing. His timing needs to improve to maximize his length and keep defenders out of his chest. The redshirt sophomore uses twitchy chops and snatch-traps to counter long-arms and to knock defenders off balance, disrupting their rush plans. Lomu’s play strength in pass protection is average and will improve as he continues developing his frame. He re-anchors against speed to power but suffers some losses against bull rushers. The former four-star recruit doesn’t generate much vertical displacement in the run game, but defenders fail to win through his frame. He’s a sturdy player who keeps run lanes open and gives limited ground to defenders. Lomu still needs to land blocks in space more often, but his mobility, quickness, and desire to finish plays with pancakes make him a versatile lineman in the run game.

Overall, Lomu is still physically and technically developing, but the frequent flashes and baseline play for a first-year starter in 2024 suggest he possesses a first round ceiling. His pad level and footwork must improve, but his athleticism, hand usage, improving frame, and mobility make him one of the top prospects in the 2026 class.

Role & Scheme Fit: Left tackle in an inside zone scheme

Round Grade: Late First to Early Second Round

Size: 6'6", 304 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 05-10-25