2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report - Luke Kandra

Luke Kandra

Position: Interior Offensive Lineman - G

College: University of Cincinnati

Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 324 lbs

Class: Redshirt Senior

Newt Westen

Luke Kandra is a 5th year senior at the University of Cincinnati. He spent the first three years of collegiate football at Louisville where he redshirted his 2020 season and played mainly in a backup role for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. In 2023 he followed his coach, Scott Satterfield, to Cincinnati to play football back in his hometown. Since arriving in Cincinnati he has been a standout player, receiving First Team All-Big 12 and Third Team All-American honors in 2023. This year has been another step forward as he was named one of the captains for the Bearcats and most recently was awarded Second Team All-American honors.

Kandra stands out with an impressive build, showcasing the ideal size and weight for an interior offensive lineman. His combination of height and mass positions him as a formidable presence on the field. One of his most notable strengths is his exceptional mobility in space, which allows him to maneuver effectively and engage defenders at various points during plays. He is a plus pass blocker, demonstrating great footwork and the ability to initiate contact with defenders early, ensuring a strong protection scheme for his quarterback. Furthermore, he excels as a run blocker, consistently delivering impressive performances and landing hits downfield, making him a valuable asset in both the passing and running game.

For Kandra, one notable area to improve would be his technique and balance in pass protection. At times, he tends to overextend, which can lead to a lack of stability and loss of control. This tendency may expose him to being beaten by quicker defenders at the next level, highlighting an area for improvement as he continues to develop his skills in the game. Play strength will be another note scouts look at as he needs to continue to get stronger to handle interior defenders at the next level.

The growth shown by Kandra over these last two seasons shows that there is already a high floor that he will be going into the league with. Given his size, movement skills, mauler mentality, and work ethic, he projects to continue to grow and improve into a solid starting NFL guard. While it may not be his rookie campaign, Kandra looks to be a comfortable pick to be in a starting front five for an organization.

Grade: Early/Mid 2nd

Cincinnati offensive lineman Luke Kandra (67) in pass protection his senior season for the Bearcats. (Abduol Sow)