Nick Gargiulo NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for South Carolina IOL

BR NFL Scouting DepartmentContributor IApril 22, 2024

Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

HEIGHT: 6’5″

WEIGHT: 318

HAND: 10⅜”

ARM: 33⅞”

WINGSPAN: 81¼”

40-YARD DASH: 5.25

3-CONE: 7.33

SHUTTLE: 4.65

VERTICAL: 32.5″

BROAD: 8’5″

POSITIVES

— Generates the necessary torque to uproot and seal off targets on angle-drive blocks.

— Understands how to maintain an inside-out relationship on rushers to limit drifting and oversets.

— Has good grip strength, weight distribution and recovery balance to maintain his base through shed attempts.

— Strains, runs his feet and plays with tremendous effort to finish blocks.

— Renowned leadership skills and smarts that show up on tape with alert, clear eyes.

NEGATIVES

— Tall, lean build contributes to shaky stopping power, ability to root his feet and anchor.

— Below-average square power and ability to create immediate displacement when needed.

2023 STATISTICS

— 12 starts; seven at center and five at left guard

— Team captain

NOTES

— Born July 19, 2000

— Former 0-star recruit from the 2018 class, per 247Sports

— Earned his bachelor’s degree from Yale with a double major in economics and political science while starting 24 games before transferring to South Carolina for the 2023 season

— Selected as the lone team captain during his 2022 season at Yale

— Broke his right ankle/fibula during the 2021 season that required season-ending surgery

— 36 career starts at center (17), left tackle (14) and left guard (five)

OVERALL

Nick Gargiulo was a two-year starter at Yale (left tackle and center) before transferring to South Carolina and starting 12 games (seven at center, five at left guard) in the Gamecocks’ 53-47 pass-run split, multiple run scheme in 2023. Gargiulo was the lone team captain for Yale in 2022 before earning captain status in his lone season as a Gamecock this past season. He has a broad frame with a lean build, long limbs, big hands and good athletic ability.

Gargiulo wins in the run game with good length, hand placement and timing to establish quick leverage on opponents before torquing and working his hips around to create alleys and seals on angle-drive and combo blocks. He negotiates combos with effective stabs on releases and burst to intersect targets. He has good grip strength and active feet with a tremendous motor to strain and stay attached to blocks through the echo of the whistle.

However, Gargiulo will struggle to generate immediate movement when needed and maintain his posture through contact against head-up nose tackles. He also struggles to hold ground on back blocks when defenders play through him.

In pass protection, Gargiulo is a quick processor with good discipline in his positioning in one-on-one situations. He has the length, feet and hand-fighting skills to mirror and recover when needed against speed moves, but he will struggle rooting his feet, anchoring down and holding firm against power.

Overall, Gargiulo has only played one year of FBS football, but he did so admirably. He has the length, smarts, demeanor and movement skills to stick on blocks, although his struggles matching power with power will be a limiting factor in the NFL. Considering his makeup and positional versatility, he’ll likely be able to carve out a role as a swing interior backup.

GRADE: 5.9 (Backup/Draftable — 6th-7th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 189

POSITION RANK: IOL27

PRO COMPARISON: Joe Haeg