Emmanuel Pregnon, USC: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Pregnon was a two-star recruit from Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, Colo. in the class of 2020
Guard Emmanuel Pregnon and recent center convert Jonah Monheim are the offensive linemen on the USC Trojans with the best chances of being selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. Pregnon packs impressive power, but his agility and balance raise concerns.
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Emmanuel Pregnon, G USC: 2025 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Redshirt senior left guard from Denver, Colo.
Background: Pregnon was a two-star recruit from Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, Colo. in the class of 2020. He was an unranked two-star recruit for Rivals. Pregnon did not receive a star rating or grade out of 100 from 247Sports, On3, or ESPN. He transferred from Wyoming to USC for the 2023 season. Pregnon played on offense and defense in high school. As a senior, he totaled 12 pancake blogs on offense to accompany 51 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble.
Injuries & Off-Field: Missed 2022 New Mexico and Utah State games, exited 2022 Fresno State game with an injury
Awards: 2022 Second Team Freshman All-American (CFN)
Pros: Starting experience at right guard and left guard, thick frame and a wide base, difficult player to bull rush, matches power with power, anchor rarely challenged vs. Washington (2023), strong upper body extensions, firm punches to halt defenders, strong grip and punches re-route pass rushers, resets hands often, core strength to torque defenders and move them out of gaps, displaces defenders on down blocks, displaces defenders on gap runs, overwhelms second level defenders
Cons: Penalized seven times in 2023, questionable arm length, a little high-hipped, hip stiffness limits looseness, extends chest over knees in pass pro, foot speed fades quickly, reps where slow to redirect for stunts, pulled and tossed off balance by Howard Cross III frequently (2023), struggled to match Gabriel Murphy’s twitch (2023), called for holding vs. Gabriel Murphy (2023), inconsistent sustaining run blocks, forward momentum leads to him slipping off some blocks, heavy forward lean in run game, vulnerable to swim counter in the run game, struggles to mirror defenders at the second level, struggles to establish and stay attached to second level blocks
Overview: Pregnon has starting experience at right and left guard. He sports a thick frame and wide base, making him a difficult offensive lineman for defenders to bull rush. Pregnon naturally matches power with power to cancel long-arms, speed to power, or two-armed bull rushes. Washington’s defenders rarely challenged his anchor in 2023. The Colorado native also has impressive upper body strength. His firm punches and strong upper body extensions stun and halt defenders in their tracks. His grip strength and ability to re-route pass rushers jump off the tape. Pregnon resets his hands often and then engages his core to torque defenders out of gaps. The redshirt senior displaces defenders on down blocks and generates movement on gap runs. His power represents an overwhelming force at the second level. Pregnon was penalized seven times this past season. His frame has questionable arm length and is a little high-hipped. Some hip stiffness limits his looseness and movement. He extends his chest over his knees in pass protection, and his foot speed fades quickly throughout the play. Pregnon is occasionally slow to recognize and redirect to cover for stunts. He struggled in pass protection in 2023 against Howard Cross III and Gabriel Murphy. Cross pulled him off balance several times while Murphy used his superior twitch to force a hold. These losses raise concerns about Pregnon’s ability to match NFL-caliber athleticism. His forward momentum and erratic balance make him inconsistent at sustaining run blocks. The former two-star recruit’s heavy forward lean leads to him falling off blocks or being duped by swim counters. He struggles to mirror defenders at the second level because of his movement skills in the open field.
Overall, Pregnon is a powerful guard with a strong anchor and sturdy frame, but his limited agility and movement skills prevent him from excelling in any single area of the game. Pregnon’s lack of balance in the run game limits his ability to connect with and displace defenders. He projects as a depth piece with above-average play strength.
Role & Scheme Fit: Left guard in a gap or inside zone scheme
Round Grade: Sixth Round
Size: 6'5", 320 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 06-02-24