Atlanta Falcons: 5 centers to consider drafting

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Sep 26, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans center Jack Allen (66) gestures to the Central Michigan Chippewas during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 30-10. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

Jack Allen knows a thing or two about anchoring a great offensive line. For his entire tenure with the Michigan State Spartans, Allen played for a perennial Big Ten contender that was routinely playing in New Years’ Six Bowls.

Allen was a focal point of the 2015 Michigan State offensive line that saw the Spartans win the Big Ten and play in the second annual College Football Playoff. At 6’2″, 297 pounds, Allen could work well in the Atlanta Falcons’ zone blocking scheme, assuming that the front office think that he has the athleticism to play in an NFL ZBS.

He has great leverage skills as a former high school wrestler and knows how to win in the trenches in big games, something that Atlanta has not done in years. Jack Allen is a tough player that will play through the whistle, a trait many NFL offensive line coaches want to see out of their players.

Allen projects as a third to fourth round draft selection in the 2016 NFL, as he is a bit undersized for a traditional center and may not have the athleticism to thrive at the next level. However, the Atlanta Falcons are probably going to look for their next starting center at rounds two through four, right where Allen will supposedly end up getting drafted. There is a good chance that the Atlanta Falcons use either their third or fourth round pick to draft Jack Allen out of Michigan State in this year’s NFL Draft.

Next: 1. Nick Martin, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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