Jax Tanner
Bio
Recruiting
Scouting Report
Jax Tanner is a high-floor, physically dominant interior offensive line prospect with a mauler's mentality and advanced technique for his age. His impressive junior season, earning Idaho's Gatorade Player of the Year award with 115 pancake blocks and zero sacks allowed, reflects his ability to control the line of scrimmage in both run and pass protection.
Physical Profile
Possesses a well-proportioned frame for an interior lineman, standing just under 6-foot-4 and weighing around 285 pounds. While he may not have prototypical tackle height, he boasts excellent length with 34-inch arms, a key trait that allows him to engage defenders early and maintain control. He demonstrates impressive athleticism, having shined at the Under Armour Next Camp, and also competes in track and field, which translates to good lateral mobility and balance on the football field.
Play Style
Tanner is an aggressive, tone-setting lineman who plays with a non-stop motor and a finisher's mentality. On film, he consistently seeks to bury opponents and takes pride in dominating his assignments. He is a fluid mover who shows good lateral agility, capable of riding defenders out of the pocket in pass protection and sealing lanes in the run game. He is an intelligent player who demonstrates a good understanding of blocking schemes and defensive fronts.
Strengths
- Powerful Run Blocker: Tanner plays with a mean streak and excels at generating movement at the point of attack, frequently finishing blocks to the ground as evidenced by his 115 pancake blocks his junior year. He is adept at combo blocks and shows the mobility to climb to the second level.
- Advanced Technique & Balance: More than just a mauler, he plays with sound technique, staying square and balanced in his sets. This allows him to effectively handle twists and stunts and recover with his feet, rarely getting beat by speed rushers.
- Positional Versatility: While his highest upside is likely at guard or center, he has the length, footwork, and balance to play tackle at the collegiate level if needed. This versatility adds significant value to an offensive line room.
Areas to Improve
- Pad Level Consistency: Like many young linemen, continued focus on maintaining a consistently low pad level will be crucial to maximizing his power and leverage against elite collegiate defensive linemen.
- Pass Set Footwork: While technically sound, continued refinement of his pass set footwork and hand placement will be necessary to handle the speed and variety of moves he will face at the Power Four level.
College Projection
Tanner projects as a multi-year starter at the Power Four level with the potential to be an anchor on the interior of the offensive line. He has committed to BYU and plans to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before enrolling. Upon his return, he has the frame and foundational skill set to compete for playing time early in his career.
NFL Outlook
Given his verified measurements, athletic profile, on-field production, and aggressive demeanor, Tanner possesses a high ceiling and projects as a player with a clear NFL future. His combination of length, power, and technical proficiency gives him the traits that professional scouts covet for an interior offensive lineman.
Best Fit
A program with a balanced or run-heavy offensive scheme that values physical, aggressive, and technically sound offensive linemen. His skill set is a perfect match for a team that wants to establish a dominant presence at the line of scrimmage. His commitment to BYU fits this mold, as their offensive scheme historically relies on strong, physical line play.
Player Comparison
Similar size profile at 6'3" 295 lbs with exceptional football IQ and fundamentals that made him effective despite not being the most physically imposing prospect. Both represent undervalued recruits from non-traditional football regions who maximized their potential through superior instincts and coachability, with Kelce coming from Ohio as a lesser-recruited center who became an All-Pro through technical excellence.