Christian Pellage scouting report: Offensive tackle with potential

Christian Pellage is a tall offensive tackle prospect in the class of 2015.

Pellage, out of Nature Coast Tech in Brooksville, Fla., stands 6'7 and weighs in at 282 pounds, and he runs a reported 5.1-second 40-yard dash. As of April, he's rated as a consensus four-star player by 247Sports, Rivals, Scout and ESPN. ESPN is the most bullish, ranking him No. 10 at his position. The 247Sports Composite ratings, a compilation of data from the four major recruiting services, lists him as the 162nd-best player in the nation, 19th-best offensive tackle and 24th-best player from the state of Florida.

Pellage is drawing interest from many top programs around the country. He holds scholarship offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Alabama, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina and Tennessee, among several others.

Fans can follow Pellage on Twitter @CPellageNCT15.

What makes him such an in-demand prospect? Potential.

Pellage at 6'6, 230-240. Photo credit: ESS

Pellage has been a known prospect since 2012, but it is his recent muscle gains and continued physical maturity that have taken him from merely a prospect of interest to a player who is receiving offers from major schools across the country. He is now 30-40 pounds heavier than he was in the photo (at right).

Pellage's frame is longer than it is wide, but I think he will eventually be able to play north of 300 pounds. He is fairly new to the position and his skills are unrefined. Still, there is a lot to like.

The athleticism displayed on tape is quite good, as one would expect from a good basketball player. And with that, Pellage pairs a lot of tenacity and aggressiveness. He finishes quite a few blocks on his highlight tape.

I want to see Pellage generate more power from his hips and create more movement on initial contact, as opposed to doing so by keeping his feet moving and driving. While the latter is very good, more of the former is needed in the run game.

Pellage does show the ability to bend well, which is very important for a tall prospect. And he can adjust in the open field when blocking linebackers at the second level.

He is still feeling out the position, particularly in pass protection. At times, he will show his athleticism and reactive quickness, but at others, he looks awkward. He will need to have better body control and considerable coaching before he can become a good pass protector at the major college football level.

I feel safe in saying that Pellage is one of the 20 best offensive tackle recruits in the country for the class of 2015. He has the potential to be a multi-year starter, but I think a redshirt, both to learn the position and add muscle, would be beneficial.