From now until the 2025 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on South Carolina offensive guard Torricelli Simpkins III.
No. 76 Torricelli Simpkins III/OG South Carolina – 6045, 312 pounds (Redshirt Senior)
MEASUREMENTS
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand Size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Torricelli Simpkins III | 6045/312 | 10 1/8 | 32 3/8 | 82 1/2 |
| 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| 5.45 | 1.84 | N/A | N/A | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| 9’2″ | 29 | N/A |
THE GOOD
– Thick build with big hands
– Powerful player who knows his playing style and consistently displays aggression on tape
– Strong and torquey with tight, grippy hands; pancakes fill his tape
– Snappy out of stance as a puller and effective on the hoof in short spaces
– Great anchor and stalls out bull rushes; defenders can’t beat him down the middle
– More athletic than you’d expect, able to reach and redirect in space
– Drives feet and finishes plays
– Held own playing up to competition after years at FCS level
– Able to wash defenders on down blocks and create run lanes
– Center/guard background
– Leadership traits
The Bad
– Lacks ideal length for frame
– Plays a little tall in pass pro and would like to see more knee bend
– Can play over toes as a run blocker and fall off
– Two-hand puncher, leading to quicker defensive tackles knocking his hands down and beating him
– Vulnerable on his edges in pass protection
– Can play out of control and loses balance too often
– Lacks foot speed to be asset on third level in space
– Inconsistent footwork leads to poor angles and false steps
– Stunt/blitz pickup needs work, and he has to show more coordination with teammates
– Only one year facing FBS competition
Bio
– Turns 23 in June
– Four-year starter; spent four years at NC Central (2020-2023) before transferring to South Carolina for 2024 season
– Started at RG in 2024; split time at C (439 snaps, per Pro Football Focus) and RG (213 snaps) in 2023; primary C in 2022 (763 snaps) and 2021 (724 snaps)
– Zero-star recruit from Aiken, N.C. (moved to Charlotte growing up)
– Third-team All-SEC in 2024
– 2023 MEAC O-Lineman of Year
– 2024 team captain despite one year with team
– Pursued marine biology degree at NC Central to counter narrative that football players don’t take hard classes
– Mother is a chemist
– Reduced body fat from 27 to 23 percent during first eight months at South Carolina
Tape Breakdown
Torricelli Simpkins III had no problem playing “up” from North Carolina Central to South Carolina, quickly earning captain status and cracking the Gamecocks’ starting lineup. Thickly built, Simpkins is powerful and physical with a chip on his shoulder.
Few cook up pancakes like Simpkins. It’s all over his tape in pass protection and in the run game. Here are a bunch of examples. He’s strong with tight hands that create torque and strain to finish his blocks. He is the right guard in all the below clips.
While Simpkins is known for being a booth blocker, he’s got an impressive snap and burst out of his stance and is an effective puller. Cut-up of those reps.
In pass protection, Simpkins has a great anchor and is strong down the middle. He’s able to rebuff bull rushes and hop step back if he has to give ground to dig in.
His game is a bit uncoordinated, and he can lose his balance as a run blocker, getting out over his toes. In pass protection, Simpkins is vulnerable on his edges. He’s a two-handed puncher and when he misses, he gets beat. Swipes are the way to win against him.
Conclusion
Overall, Torricelli Simpkins III is an aggressive and powerful run blocker effective in a booth and as a puller on gap schemes. He’s got a strong base in pass protection with good hand placement. He has to show better coordination and work on throwing his hands independently to make him less “all-in” on his two-hand punch that can miss against quicker and craftier defensive tackles.
Still, there’s a foundation to like here, especially for a guy who spent just one year at an FBS program. Sleeper potential and Day 3 value. There’s a little Ramon Foster here but my NFL comp is Sidy Sow.
Projection: Undrafted Free Agent
Depot Draft Grade: 7.3 – Fourth Round (Rotational Player)
Games Watched: at Clemson (2024), at Kentucky (2024), vs LSU (2024)
