Reuben Fatheree II, OT, Texas A&M
Size:
Height: 6’8” | Weight: 315 lbs
Accomplishments:
Freshman All-SEC (2021)
“Reuben Fatheree II has all the makings of an NFL right tackle with the size, movement skills, and upside to be a draft riser if he can stay healthy.”
Strengths:
Length and size
Good movement skills at 6-foot-8
Comes off the ball well in the run
Stays inside-out of defenders consistently in pass protection
Lots of upside
Concerns:
Technically unrefined in pass protection
Finds himself out of frame and over-extended too much on film
Waist-bender
Film Analysis:
Reuben Fatheree II was a four-star recruit coming out of Richmond, Texas before committing to play for the Texas A&M Aggies in 2021. He immediately made an impact when he got to school, starting nine games his true freshman season and then 12 starts in his sophomore year. Unfortunately, Fatheree II was unavailable for most of his junior season due to injury, thus his return to school this year. Fatheree II has all the makings of an NFL right tackle, and if he can stay healthy, there's a real opportunity for him to make a name for himself come draft time.
The first thing I noticed when watching Fatheree II was his quickness and snap off the ball in the run game. For a guy his size, this was really encouraging to see. In a gap scheme, he does a great job as a playside blocker when asked to use a gallop technique to displace B-gap defenders, then does a fantastic job covering linebackers up at the second level. Similarly, on playside zone-scheme blocks where he’s the outermost blocker on the line, he really has a knack for bringing the fight to his defenders and opening up running lanes. He’s a good enough mover in space and powerful enough in the box to be proficient in any scheme.
In pass protection, Fatheree II showcases a promising skill set with his movement skills and length. While he struggled to hit his landmarks consistently with his hands, he was able to play long and create extension with his arms to keep defenders from getting to his chest. He’s a high-alert protector, always quick to recognize rushers working back to the QB at the apex of the defenders' rush. At 6-foot-8, his size is his biggest asset and he uses it as such. He has a natural understanding of how to use his frame to his advantage, something that is very difficult to teach.
What’s keeping Fatheree II from a first-round conversation for me are a handful of technical issues that show up on film. He often opts to run defenders by, rather than maintain pocket integrity. This is a byproduct of him losing structural integrity within his set—turning his shoulders and dropping his catch foot allows defenders to double down on winning the edge. In the NFL, his size and length won’t solely bail him out in those situations. I’d also like to see Fatheree II play more within his frame. Oftentimes, I found him overcompensating and playing overextended in his upper body, lunging and throwing his facemask into defenders when he missed with his hands. This allowed defenders to use his momentum against him to get him off balance and lose control.
Fatheree II looks eerily similar to the Patricks Pauls and Daniel Faalales of past drafts, but what he showed me in the run game makes me even more excited than his comparable predecessors. I see him as a developmental prospect, but I also believe there’s a path for him to make an immediate impact on an OL-needy team. His game is by no means a finished product but I would have a hard time seeing him go anywhere past the fourth round. He’s simply got too much to like to not be willing to take a chance on him.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Role-Specific Contributor
Exposures: Miami (2022), South Carolina (2022), Auburn (2022), LSU (2022)
