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File IOL-44 · National rank 600 · 2027 class

Joe Cruz

#78· Syracuse ·IOL ·R-Sr ·2027 Draft · Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
6'5"Height 315 lbWeight
RepresentationRep Unknown
High FloorHigh MotorLeaderLow Risk +1
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My Grade
6.0/10
Priority UDFA
Current · UDFA Territory
5.6 Floor range 0.8 Ceiling 6.4
6.4/10
Priority UDFA
Ceiling · +0.4
5.6/10
Priority UDFA
Floor · −0.4
Ceiling: Projected 2026 starter (LG1) — real opportunity to climb; close to ceiling (+0.4) · up-year team · ACC draft-temper.
Floor: Proven starter — high, stable floor · returning-starter role secures it; downside −0.4.
Grade last reviewed 1mo ago
8.9+ Round 1 Caliber
7.8+ Day 2 Caliber
6.7+ Day 3 Caliber
5.6+ Priority UDFA
4.4+ UDFA
3.3+ Long Shot
2.2+ Raw Prospect
1.1+ Deep Project
0.0+ Non-Prospect
Grade History
6.0 2025
Re-graded after each season · 2025 is the beta baseline.
Scouting Notes

Team captain, five-year program lineman, and the definition of earned respect: Cruz worked from three appearances in 2022 to wall-to-wall starter in 2025, starting all 12 games while absorbing a midseason move from guard to center without the operation skipping a beat. That flexibility — real snaps across the interior plus a tackle background — is his NFL argument, because versatile backup interior linemen are a genuine roster species. The leadership profile is unusually strong even by captain standards. However, the athletic ceiling is the constraint: a former three-star (No. 1894 nationally) who wins with preparation and angles rather than power or recovery quickness, with no dominant tape to point at. Priority-free-agent path — teams will value the intelligence, the snap-to-whistle consistency and the ability to back up three spots with one helmet, and that camp-to-roster route is well-worn for exactly this profile.

Sources None