10 Jun Preseason Scouting Notes: Austin Deculus, OT, LSU
Senior | 6’7” 322 lbs | Mamou, LA | March 12, 1999
A thickly built, physical right tackle with NFL starter-caliber strength, power and nastiness
Overview:
Austin Deculus is a two-year starter at right tackle for LSU who took over the job two games into the 2018 season. His first career start came at left tackle before he switched over to the right side full-time. In 2019, he was a part of the unit that won the Joe Moore Award for the best offensive line in the nation, which helped pave the way for Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow and LSU’s national title run. He’s the only returning OL starter for the Tigers’ spread offense.
Strengths:
– Good size and length for the position
– Sufficient reactive athleticism and foot quickness to mirror rushers
– Flashes good punch timing and placement to alter rushers
– Has the ability to drop his anchor and withstand power
– Does a very good job of recognizing rush games and is a vocal pre-snap communicator
– Plays with good overall balance and body control
– Generates movement up front by keeping his feet moving on contact
– Displays good execution and timing on combo blocks
– Shows good hand placement with the latch strength to sustain blocks
– Flashes some nasty and is willing to finish blocks
Areas to improve:
– Gives his opponent a soft edge to work with
– Opens his hips too early in his pass sets and leaves himself exposed to inside moves
– Required some tight end help with speed rushers at times
– May lack the range to consistently cut off NFL linebackers
– Not the most natural athlete in space
– Can have some issues adjusting to moving targets when climbing to the second level
– Could show better timing for cut blocks
Injury concerns:
2019: Right Ankle – Missed two games
Projection:
Deculus profiles as a right tackle-only prospect due to his limited quickness and athleticism, but he projects as a lower end starter by his second season. Deculus plays in a zone-heavy running scheme at LSU, but he may fit better into gap schemes at the next level due to his combination of size and power. He will need time to work on some technical flaws, but he has NFL talent and should hear his name called late Day 2 or early on Day 3 assuming he continues to improve.
What to watch in 2020:
As the only returning starter on LSU’s offensive line, Deculus will be called upon to lead a relatively inexperienced offensive line. LSU is coming off a dominant season, but they have lost many key players that led to their success and they will need good play out of team veterans like Deculus if they hope to find similar success in 2020. Deculus has made steady improvements to his play the past couple seasons and it will be interesting to see if he can take the next step in his development.
- A native of South Lyon, MI, Alex originally played football at Heidelberg University.
- He graduated from Central Michigan in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management and a minor in Journalism.
- Alex has a passion for football and hopes to work in the industry as a scout or coach.