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Micah Vanterpool Scouting Report | Hawaii OL | 2023 NFL Draft

Micah Vanterpool Scouting Report | Hawaii OL | 2023 NFL Draft
Micah Vanterpool Scouting Report | Hawaii OL | 2023 NFL Draft

Player Bio

Before Micah Vanterpool was a two-time All-Mountain West Offensive Guard at the University of Hawaii, he was a two-star Offensive Tackle prospect from Central High School in Phoenix, Arizona.

Vanterpool earned his first Division I scholarship from UNLV three weeks into his senior season and finished the year with six offers from programs such as Montana, New Mexico State, UC Davis, Northern Colorado, and Hawaii. As a senior in 2016, Vanterpool anchored the left side of Central’s offensive line and led the Bobcats to a 9-2 record. He also received First Team All-6A honors after not giving up a single sack on the season.

During Vanterpool’s time at Central, he earned varsity letters in basketball and track & field, became a first-team all-academic selection in 2016, and graduated magna cum laude in 2017.

On National Signing Day, Vanterpool signed his letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Hawaii under former Rainbow Warriors’ Head Coach Nick Rolovich.

In his first year at Hawaii, Vanterpool used the season to redshirt and maintain an extra year of eligibility.

As a redshirt freshman in 2018, Vanterpool made nine appearances as a reserve offensive lineman and received valuable reps on special teams. After the season, Vanterpool earned academic All-Mountain West honors.

In 2019, Vanterpool played sparingly as a redshirt sophomore, seeing limited action in four games on the offensive line and special teams. For the second-straight year, Vanterpool received recognition for his academic performance, winning the University of Hawaii’s Scholar-Athlete Award.

Vanterpool’s redshirt junior season would be a breakout season for the fourth-year offensive lineman, as he played in all nine games in Hawaii’s 2020 campaign. Vanterpool started the final five games of the season – four at Left Tackle and one at Right Tackle – helping the Rainbow Warriors close out the year with a 3-2 record, which included a victory over Houston in the New Mexico Bowl.

Vanterpool began the season as a starter on Hawaii’s offensive line for the first time in his career. Starting in 11 games at Left Guard, Vanterpool had a pass-protection success rate of 98 percent and only allowed two sacks on the season. Despite missing the final two games of the season due to injury, Vanterpool received All-Mountain West Honorable Mention recognition after anchoring one of the most efficient and balanced offenses in the conference.

Vanterpool returned to Hawaii for his sixth and final season in 2022. In his first season playing under new Head Coach Timmy Chang, Vanterpool started in all 13 games at Right Guard and earned Second-Team All-Mountain West honors for the first time in his career. Vanterpool was the only offensive lineman in the Mountain West to not give up a sack in at least 500 snaps, and one of two offensive linemen nationally without a penalty in at least 900 snaps.

Overall, Vanterpool started in 29 of 46 games during his Hawaii career – 13 at Right Guard, 11 at Left Guard, four at Left Tackle, and one at Right Tackle. 

Scouting Report

At 6-foot-6, 315 pounds, Vanterpool possesses NFL-ready size with an athletic build, a well-developed lower half, and excellent ankle/knee flexibility.

As an athlete, Vanterpool boasts tons of athletic ability and upside. Vanterpool has strong ankle/knee bend and foot/body quickness, allowing him to move fluidly along the line of scrimmage and in open space. With proficient body control, great explosion off the ball, and underrated straight-line speed, Vanterpool is most effective when he can pull and use his athleticism to open up running lanes between and outside of the tackles. He has a good radar to locate targets on short pulls, keeps his feet driving through contact, and can reach the second level without any wasted movement.

Vanterpool unlocks his hips well and uses his low center of gravity to establish a leverage advantage when firing off the ball in the run game. Vanterpool operates with solid play strength and toughness while competing in the trenches, which is evidenced by his ability to finish off blocks with energy and physicality. Vanterpool has above-average hand placement and a decent reach step, which leads to some inconsistent angles against quicker interior defensive linemen.

Vanterpool’s bend, lower-body flexibility, and balance/body control play to his advantage as a pass blocker. Vanterpool possesses terrific lateral mobility, a low pad level, and a firm base to support his strong pass set. Vanterpool has heavy hands and is accurate with his punch, making him a difficult blocker to shed once he gets inside your frame. With high football intelligence and sharp instincts, Vanterpool can recognize twists as they develop and handle them without hesitation. Vanterpool only gave up two sacks in 46 games for Hawaii, which proves his capability and dominance as a pass blocker.

Given that Vanterpool played four different positions on the offensive line during his time at Hawaii, his position versatility will carry heavy value going into the 2023 NFL Draft. Although Vanterpool is better suited for the guard position at the next level, he has the lateral mobility, arm length, and pass set to be a capable depth option as a swing tackle.

Despite his intriguing size, athleticism, technique, and position versatility, Vanterpool is a prospect that has flown under the radar throughout his entire career. However, when allowed to showcase his talents on a large scale, Vanterpool has shown the potential to be one of the most productive offensive linemen in his class. Vanterpool is a true “diamond in the rough” and should garner plenty of attention from NFL organizations on the third day of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Draft Projection

Mid 5th-Priority Undrafted Free Agent

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