McKivitz talking to teams, putting in work for NFL Draft
Former WVU offensive line standout Colton McKivitz spent time today, Monday, on the phone with the Carolina Panthers.
It was the fourth such FaceTime or Zoom call – the others being from New England, New Orleans and the Los Angeles Rams – as McKivitz awaits the April 23 NFL Draft.
“Teams get an hour,” McKivitz said. “We’ll go over plays. They’ll install a protection or run scheme and I kind of spit information back to them.”
It’s an exciting time for the former Mountaineer. Although it’s a sparse draft in regard to former West Virginia players, McKivitz and ex-WVU defensive back Kenny Robinson, the latter of which played in the XFL, are expected to be selected.
Where? What round?
Throw a dart. Spin the wheel.
“My biggest hope is third, fourth round, but you never know where or when you’ll go,” McKivitz said. “No one really knows.”
Indeed, the 6-6, 306-pound native of Jacobsburg, Ohio, is rated a prospect for rounds four through eight. If you judge strictly by overall NFL Media player rankings, McKivitz should go in the middle of the fourth round. His grade is 5.99, which signifies a backup/special teamer. Draftsite.com has him going in the sixth round to the Green Bay Packers. DraftScout.com has him going anywhere from the fourth through seventh rounds.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com writes this:
“Tackle prospect with below-average arm length, average athleticism and above-average nasty. While he’s likely to be tagged as a right tackle, he may have the tools to fit into a swing tackle role if needed. He’s got good natural strength, but some lower body tightness hinders leverage both as a drive blocker and in his pass anchor. McKivitz can be a little tardy on backside cutoffs, but moves well enough to handle blocking duties in space. His dirt-dog mentality will be welcomed in offensive line rooms, but he will have to fight to be become an NFL starter.”
Zierlein then goes into detail about what he considers strengths and weaknesses.
Whatever the case, McKivitz is doing what he can to make the most of his opportunities. The former first-team Ohio all-state football and basketball standout is in Arizona working out.
“I’m in Chandler, Arizona, about 25-30 minutes south of Phoenix,” McKivitz said. “I’m still working out – taking precautions because of the whole coronavirus thing. But getting work in.”
He’s getting work in via invitation. McKivitz is working at L.Bentley O-line Performance center, which was the very first invitation-only training club specifically for offensive linemen.
And, yes, L. Bentley should ring a bell.
“My agent [Jonathan Feinsod] said he knew [former Ohio State All-America center and two-time NFL Pro Bowl player] LeCharles Bentley,” McKivitz said. “Obviously, I knew who LeCharles Bentley was. To be able to work out with him and some of the other performance guys here is pretty much every lineman’s dream.”
McKivitz, a third-team Associated Press All-America and second-team All-Big 12 player, was invited to OLP along with Wake Forest guard-tackle Justin Herron, Oregon linemen Shane Lemieux and Jake Hanson and Ohio State product Branden Bowen.
Feinsod, who is with Schwartz & Feinsod out of Brooklyn, N.Y., has a tie with Bentley.
Anyway, McKivitz is putting in the work. And soon the payoff will come.
“I kind of try not to get into it too deep,” McKivitz said. “Some people say stuff and you think, ‘Man, this guy knows nothing.’ But we’re 10 days out. It’s starting to get a little nerve-racking.
“I’m sure I’ll start thinking about it more.”
Oh, and he got a call the other day from the Cleveland Browns.
I automatically jokingly asked if he could really block for Baker Mayfield.
“I mean, I’d have to!” he laughed.
McKivitz said he plans to return to the Ohio Valley on April 22 to watch the draft.
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Mitch Vingle covered sports in West Virginia for 38 years. Follow Mitch on Twitter at @MitchVingle and be sure to check out the rest of Wheelhouse Creative’s website for your marketing and advertising needs. If interested, call us at 304-905-6005.
