San Diego Chargers: Top Offensive Linemen Prospects
A.J. Cann
As it stands right now, A.J. Cann is the nation’s best offensive guard prospect and is most likely going to be drafted around the late-first or early-second round of the 2015 NFL Draft (and for good reason).
Born with the first name Aaron, A.J. Cann is a native of Bamberg, South Carolina and was a two-sport athlete while attending Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School where he was an offensive and defensive tackle.
According to his University of South Carolina bio, Cann was “graded out at 96 percent with 60 knockdown blocks as an offensive tackle, did not give up a sack [and] also logged 95 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and six sacks as a defensive lineman for the Red Raiders.”
Combined with being given a chance to play in the Under Armour All-American game and Carolina Shrine Bowl, Cann was also named the second best center in the nation in 2009 by Rivals.com and was given the four-star recruit label by Scout.com as well as ESPN.
During his four seasons at the University of South Carolina (Cann redshirted in 2010), Cann was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll every single season. Like Laken Tomlinson, Cann is a very smart football player and takes his studies very seriously (contrary to popular belief).
Cann earned first-team Freshman All-American honors by CollegeFootballNews.com, CBSSports.com, FOXSportsNext.com and Phil Steele and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team by SEC Coaches’ and Rivals.com all during his freshman season.
And while his sophomore and junior seasons were unremarkable in comparison, Cann’s senior season saw the two-time captain nominated first-team All-America by Sporting News, ESPN.com and CBSSportsline.com, second-team All-American by Walter Camp, Associated Press and Sports Illustrated, and third-team selection by College Sports Madness to go along with first team All-SEC honors by the coaches and ESPN.com and was a second-team pick by the AP.
At 6’4,” 311 pounds, Cann is a fine specimen with a great physical frame and skills.
According to Dan Bugler and Rob Rang of CBS Sports, “Cann started all but one game at left guard the last four seasons with a balanced mix of athleticism and power. He is a bottom line blocker (sees it, hits it) with the aggressive hand use, wide frame and power to seal off inside run lanes and hold his own in pass protection.”
With that stated, I think that Cann is the best option if the Chargers are going to use their second-round pick on an offensive guard. He may sometimes over-pursue targets and has some timing issues, but overall, Cann can make a great left guard on the Chargers offensive line.
It remains to be seen where he is taken, but I believe the former South Carolinian’s balance of pass and run protection could make him the best possible option to the Chargers run-deprived offense.
Next: Number 1: Cameron Erving