NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Illinois OT J.C. Davis

J.C. Davis is a broadly built, four-year starter at left tackle with inconsistent strike timing and hand placement, resulting in unreliable sturdiness and sustain skills. Davis' experience, frame and flashes of play strength are enough to forecast a backup role at tackle or guard.

Davis is a 6'4", 322-pound offensive line prospect, who played one year of JUCO ball at Contra Costa College in California before transferring to New Mexico as a 2-star recruit in the 2022 class. He started 24 games at left tackle over the next two years before transferring to Illinois in 2024.

Davis started 25 games at left tackle during his two season in Champaign, Ill., and ended his collegiate career with 49 consecutive starts on the blind side, earning AP First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2025.

Brandon Thorn: Brandon is the author of the Trench Warfare newsletter, which focuses exclusively on offensive and defensive line evaluation. He also contributes as an analyst to Establish the Run, serves as the scouting coordinator for OL Masterminds and is a selection committee member for the Joe Moore Award. 

Highlights

J.C. Davis Highlights

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Where He Wins

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— Thick, well-rounded build with solid grip strength and physicality.

— Does a nice job processing and working through gap exchanges, twists and stunts.

— Has a solid snatch-trap technique to steal leverage from leaning rushers.

— Extensive experience at left tackle.

Areas of Improvement

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— Late, wide strike-timing and hand placement consistently exposes his chest and saps his power.

— Unstable posture and base result in him being pried open far too easily.

— Leans into contact with late feet that leads into overextension and shaky contact balance.

Grade, Rank and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 5.9 (Backup/Draftable — 6th Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: Trevor Reid (5.2 in 2023), Richard Gouraige (5.7 in 2023), Adrian Ealy (6.3 in 2021)

OVERALL RANK: 244

POSITION RANK: OT19

PRO COMPARISON: Trent Scott

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 322
Arm: 34 ½"
Hand: 10 ⅛"

40-Yard Dash: 5.16
10-Yard Split: 1.78
Vertical: 30 ½"
Broad: 8'3"
Shuttle: NA
3-Cone: NA
Bench: NA