INDIANAPOLIS — Zero. That is the exact number of sacks Indiana center Pat Coogan allowed during his dominant 2025 campaign. He didn’t just transfer to Bloomington to finish out his college eligibility; he arrived to dominate the trenches. After securing the 2025 Rose Bowl MVP—becoming the first offensive lineman to claim the honor since 1944—Coogan enters the 2026 NFL Draft as one of the most intellectually gifted interior blockers on the board.
Coogan is a classic “wins above the shoulders” prospect. You won’t see him break any stopwatches or set broad jump records, but his processing speed is elite. He diagnoses defensive fronts like a seasoned veteran, instantly decoding post-snap stunts and delayed linebacker blitzes. Once he reads the scheme, he smoothly passes off rushers to his guards, maintaining a clean pocket for his quarterback. In 16 games last season, he surrendered 0 hits and just 7 pressures.
When the ball is snapped, Coogan relies on a thick, durable 6-foot-5, 311-pound frame. He possesses a stout anchor and exceptional lower-body strength. Defensive tackles trying to bull-rush him usually hit a brick wall. He drops his weight, sinks his hips, and halts interior momentum cold. On the ground, he thrives in tight-zone concepts, generating immediate displacement on double teams before climbing to the second level.
NFL scouts will immediately circle his arm length on their clipboards. At 31 1/8 inches, Coogan falls below the professional average for interior linemen. This physical limitation means he sometimes throws late hands, exposing his chest to sudden defensive counters. Furthermore, his stiff knee bend forces him to play with a higher pad level than offensive line coaches prefer.
Athletically, Coogan lacks the lateral burst to mirror twitchy pass rushers. If a defensive tackle beats him clean off the snap, he simply does not have the foot speed to recover. His movement in space can also look erratic; he occasionally lunges and loses balance when hunting for linebackers at the second level. Still, he takes incredibly tight, efficient angles when pulling, ensuring no defender crosses his face to blow up the play.
“I try my best not to plan it out. I don’t want it to be fake or faked or anything like that. What will really strike a chord with me personally? It starts with me, and then what I believe will strike a chord with everybody else and what everyone else needs to hear.”
— Pat Coogan, Indiana Center (on his viral pregame speeches)
Coogan is the definition of a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect. Teams running heavy gap-power or multiple-zone rushing concepts will value his massive football IQ and unmatched locker-room presence. You can almost feel the energy shift when he delivers one of his legendary R-rated pregame speeches. He is a natural culture-builder. Expect Coogan to hear his name called early on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. He projects as an immediate high-end backup who can evolve into a reliable starter if he learns to mask his athletic limitations with technique.
