The 2026 Panini Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to showcase themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Georgia Tech interior offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge plans on taking full advantage. Rutledge recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Rutledge also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, displaying versatility by playing guard and center, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Rutledge better ahead of his journey to the Panini Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite, and what was your initial reaction?
Keylan Rutledge: One of our coaching staff members told me about my Senior Bowl invite on the Thursday before our last game of the regular season. The invites had just arrived at our facility.
He handed me the Senior Bowl invite box with a big smile on his face. I knew it was meant for me (laughs). It was after the Georgia game, I believe. The coach brought me into his office and handed me the invite.
I was excited. One of my main goals going into the season was to get that Senior Bowl invite at the end of the year. I’m excited to go compete with the best.
JM: What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Keylan Rutledge: You watch it every year, I mean, at least I know I do (laughs). I’ve been watching the Senior Bowl since I was a kid playing football. I watch the one-on-ones with the offensive linemen. I’ve always wanted to be in that position, to be that lineman competing against good players.
I’m a competitor. I’ve always wanted to be there. It was a no-brainer for me. I want to play with the best of the best and test my abilities against these prospects. There’s going to be a lot of great coaches in attendance.
Heck yeah, man. I’m fired up!
JM: We’re excited for you! What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Keylan Rutledge: I want them to see that I’m the same player you see on tape. I’m a finisher. I’m always working to improve my technique, making little refinements to my game. I am who I am. I’m going to continue improving. I can come in and play all three interior offensive line spots. I’m ready to come in and compete.
JM: Talking about playing all three positions across the interior, are you hoping to prove that you can play both guard and center at the Senior Bowl?
Keylan Rutledge: No doubt about it. I pretty much played right guard exclusively throughout my college career. I took some reps at center during practice. I’ve been training on both sides, left and right guard. That’s part of it. I want to show NFL teams that I’m comfortable at all three spots. I want to bring that versatility to the table on day one.
JM: How would you write your own scouting report? Self-scout yourself for us. What are your standout traits and abilities as an interior offensive lineman?
Keylan Rutledge: I’m a finisher, period. That’s first and foremost. That’s the biggest part of my game, the highlight of my game right now. I’m always gonna finish and put dudes in the dirt.
I’m an aggressive player. I think I’m pretty athletic as well. I have good athleticism for my size. I play well in space. I’m a damn football player at the end of the day, a mauler. I love getting after dudes.
JM: Would you describe yourself as more of a mauler in a phone booth then, or an athletic blocker out in space?
Keylan Rutledge: When I think about my aggressiveness, my overall mindset as a player, I really love displaying my power in a phone booth. I love getting in there and mixing it up with guys.
I think I’m a decent athlete in space, too, though. I think that area of my game is a little underappreciated. I’m ready to show teams at the Senior Bowl that I do have that aspect to my game as well. I think what I do at the NFL Combine, teams are gonna see that I can move.
I do love getting very physical, though. I wanna mix it up with defenders in a phone booth.
JM: You’re so much fun to watch on tape. If you had to compare yourself to a current NFL offensive lineman, who would you choose and why? Is there anyone in particular you try to study and learn from?
Keylan Rutledge: I love Quinn Meinerz from the Denver Broncos and how he plays the game. I just love the way he finishes. I really do. He’s a total mauler. He had a huge week at the Senior Bowl back in his Mobile days. I remember that well.
He’s a D-III guy who had a big week at the Senior Bowl. I love the way he finishes. He plays the game the right way. I also love Chris Lindstrom from the Atlanta Falcons. He can do it all. I love his entire game. He can block in pass protection. He can thrive in space in outside zone. He’s physical enough to move guys around. He’s a really good blocker.
JM: I remember having this exact conversation with Quinn Meinerz before his Senior Bowl! We’ve appreciated your time today. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Keylan Rutledge?
Keylan Rutledge: I’m excited to reinforce what I’ve shown on tape. I want to expand on that even further by going out there and moving defenders from Point A to Point B. I can displace bodies in the run game. I want to be effective in pass pro as well, and win reps in protection.
Not only laterally, but to move guys off the line of scrimmage. I’m going to get into my jump set and win those one-on-ones. I want to be a leader, that physical presence I know I am. I want to show everybody there.
