Olaivavega Ioane, G Penn State: 2026 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Ioane was a three-star recruit from Graham-Kapowsin High School in Graham, Wash. in the class of 2022

Penn State guard Olaivavega “Vega” Ioane has one of the highest floors at his position in the 2026 NFL Draft. Ioane needs to become more consistent, but he possesses all of the physical tools to develop into an NFL starter.

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Olaivavega Ioane, G Penn State: 2026 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt junior right guard from Graham, Wash.

Background: Ioane was a three-star recruit from Graham-Kapowsin High School in Graham, Wash. in the class of 2022. He was the No. 573 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 536 for On3.com. Ioane was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 79 grade out of 100. He originally committed to Washington before flipping to Penn State. Ioane experienced an extremely successful high school career, going 15-0 as a senior and winning a Class 4A State Championship in addition to going 5-0 during the shortened 2020 season and 11-1 in 2019. He was a MaxPreps Second Team All-American in 2021 while leading the way for a Graham-Kapowsin team that averaged 456.3 yards and 44.1 points per game.

Injuries & Off-Field: Briefly exited vs. Maryland (2024) but returned to action

Awards: 2023 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (Media), 2024 Second Team All-Big Ten

Pros: Only penalized three times in 2024, experience at left guard and right guard, thick throughout frame - especially in his lower half, full stopping power in pass pro, impressive and powerful jump sets, arm length meets guard requirements, drives good power through his hands, powerful one-handed strikes, snatch-trap, good urgency getting off the line in the run game, quick enough to reach block, nice speed to climbing or short pulls, positions body to protect run lanes, overpowering force to redirect linebackers at the second level

Cons: Length is good but not elite, pad level rises quickly in pass pro, not going to win many leverage battles, late to deploy hands, allows too much free access to chest, slow to replace or refit hands when swiped, doesn’t sustain framed pass blocks for long enough, lack of high end lateral agility softens shoulders late in plays, inconsistent mirroring twitchy DTs, late to adjust for some stunts and blitzes, pad level pried up in run game, doesn’t generate consistent vertical displacement, aggression in the run game comes and goes, needs to clamp down and sustain run blocks for longer, lacks the high end agility to mirror linebackers in the open field, whiffs on some second level blocks

Overview: Ioane has taken significant snaps at both left and right guard, sometimes playing both roles in the same game. He’s also taken a handful of snaps at both tackle spots and center. Ioane survives being moved around the line because his frame is already NFL-caliber. He’s thick with great density and mass and has continued to refine his build by shedding some unnecessary weight heading into 2025. That build empowers Ioane’s stout anchor, which stalls bull rushes on the spot and prevents the pocket from being pushed. Ioane weaponizes his build with powerful jump sets that immediately crush any momentum the defensive linemen could build and trap them within Ioane’s frame. His arms appear to check the league’s length requirements for a guard but don’t range into elite territory. The Washington native delivers aggressive strikes that re-route or stall defenders. His hand usage has a long way to go, but its foundation is built on two and one-handed strikes and a snatch-trap. Ioane must improve his strike timing. He shoots his hands too late, which allows defenders into his chest and worsens his issues with leverage. He also needs to refit his hands more quickly when the defender swipes or chops them in order to keep blocks framed and controlled for longer in pass protection. Despite being just 6'4", Ioane suffers from some leverage issues. His pads pop up quickly in pass protection, and defenders pry him up in the run game, making it difficult for him to generate displacement. Ioane’s agility may improve now that he has trimmed some weight, but he lacked the high-end movement skills to mirror twitchy rushers in 2024 and suffered some losses late in plays when his footwork grew heavier. The redshirt junior gets off the line with urgency in the run game and showcases surprising quickness to reach block or find targets on short pulls or climbs. He lacks the agility to consistently mirror linebackers in the open field and suffers some whiffs, but it gets ugly for the linebacker when he makes contact. Ioane understands the best way to position his body to keep run lanes open. He needs to latch and sustain blocks for longer and showcase more consistent aggression in the run game.

Overall, Ioane is a high-floor guard prospect with the mass and developing hand usage to eventually become a serviceable starter in the NFL. Concerns with his agility, leverage, and inconsistent production in the run game limit his ceiling, but he projects as a multi-contract player with the ability to fill in at both guard positions as a swing lineman at worst or a unit’s third-best player at best.

Role & Scheme: Left guard in an inside zone or gap scheme

Round Grade: Third Round

Size: 6'4", 330 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 02-25-25