Sam Brenner: 5 Things You Need to Know About the Utah OG

This year's crop of interior linemen is one of the deepest groups in recent memory.

Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper were both taken among the first 10 selections in the draft, but there should still be plenty of starting-caliber offensive guards in the draft.

Utah's Sam Brenner started games at left tackle but translates better to being a traditional, road-grading offensive guard at the NFL level.

Background

Full Name: Samuel Callaghan Brenner

Birthday: April 27, 1990

Hometown: Oceanside, Calif.

High School: Oceanside

Major: Communications

Year: RS Senior

Brenner was a two-year starter for the Utes. He comes from a family of athletes: his father, Jim, swam for the University of Buffalo and his mother, Eileen Malik, played basketball for Cal State-San Bernardino.

Statistics

Utah's offensive production:

2011: 4,041 total yards (310.8 YPG, 106th in NCAA)

2012: 3,893 total yards (324.4 YPG, 109th in NCAA)

As a two-year starter at Utah, Brenner flashed versatility, as he played both guard and tackle. As a senior, Brenner allowed only one sack in 743 plays. He played in 50 games throughout his college career and made 25 starts. Utah wasn't exactly a prolific offense when Brenner was there, but he has a good chance at making an NFL roster.

Draft Process

Measurables

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 307

Arm length: 32 1/2"

Hand size: 9 3/4"

Combine Results

40-yard dash: DNP

Broad jump: DNP

Vertical jump: DNP

Pro Day Results

40-yard dash: 5.03

225-pound bench: 29 reps

Broad jump: 8'8"

Vertical jump: 29"

Although he wasn't invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, Brenner put together a solid showing at Utah's pro day. A 40-yard dash time means next to nothing for an offensive lineman, but Brenner clocked an impressive time of 5.03 and managed 29 reps on the 225-pound bench press. That type of strength is what you look for in an interior offensive lineman.

Stats courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com

Interesting Facts

Not many interior linemen are capable of protecting their quarterback's blind side, but that's what Sam Brenner was able to do at Utah. He started 25 games as a junior and senior, playing both guard and left tackle.

As a senior, Brenner was named second-team All-Pac 12. He started the final 12 games of the season at left tackle.

Both of his parents are athletes, and his mother is now in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Observations

Versatility will help Brenner on draft day, but it probably won't help him at the NFL level because his size and arm length will hold him back from playing anything other than guard as a professional.

He's capable of playing in multiple blocking schemes but would be best suited in a traditional, power-blocking scheme.