Welcome to the NFL young beginner! After being important players in their universities, rookies must once again earn their places in the pros. Who are they and what hopes do they raise? Come and discover these new gems. Heading to Florida to discover a rookie from the “far north”: Cody Mauch.
Cody Mauch
Born January 15, 1999 in Breckenridge, Minnesota
1m98 for 137 kilos
Offensive guard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A combative player, Cody Mauch is also a humble and hard-working man: the Dakota spirit runs through his veins.
If I were a journey: from a snowy farm to the sunny beach
Born in a hospital on the Minnesota-North Dakota border, Cody Mauch grew up less than 100 kilometers from the Minnesota campus. Bison from North Dakota State. So logically he joined this university.
He will be a four-time university champion there! Certainly, we are talking here about Division 1 FCS, which is one level below the 130 universities in Division 1 FBS. But at this level of competition, North Dakota State is a sort of next-level Alabama or Georgia: an ogre that devours the competition.
Agile and mobile, basketball was his number 1 sport. It was during a basketball game in fifth grade, while diving to retrieve a ball, that Cody Mauch broke two teeth on his upper jaw.
His athletic qualities and size led him to be recruited as a tight end. His natural growth as well as his investment in a weight room allowed him to gain 18 kilos between 2017 and 2018! Not to mention his frequent attendance at the university canteen.
He therefore changes position and after two years in the rotation, Cody Mauch becomes an indisputable starter for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Playing on the offensive line corresponds to the mentality of young people in his region, as he declared to local media In Forum .
“There are a lot of good offensive linemen in Dakota. Here, all the young people have this “tough guy” mentality. Always give your all without ever complaining: an offensive lineman is like a farmer in this extreme Dakota climate. »
Obtaining his diploma in relation (Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering), he intends to take over the family farm after his sporting career. It is located between Hankinson (921 inhabitants) and Mantador (64): very far from Tampa Bay, its 3 million inhabitants and its sun, 3000 kilometers further south!
If I were a project: the signature dish
Because recruiting a college player gives random results, to reassure themselves, NFL staff reproduce recipes that have worked in the past.
Bill Belichik (Patriots) likes his runners to be strong, from Steven Ridley and LeGarette Blount to Damian Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson or Ezekiel Elliott. In Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin wants his 1st round draft picks to come from the best universities in terms of football: Broderick Jones (Georgia), Najee Harris (Alabama), Devin Bush (Michigan), TJ Watt (Wisconsin) or Ryan Shazier (Ohio State).
Manager of the Buccaneers, Jason Licht had success by drafting offensive linemen from a lower level: Ali Marpet in 2015 and Alex Cappa in 2018. In 2023, he was therefore confident when it came to redoing this recipe. Especially since the high performer Ryan Jensen comes from a 3rd division university. These three players have established themselves in the NFL and Cody Mauch is well on his way to meeting the same destiny as them.
For players at this university level, the draft process is even more important than for the others. Cody Mauch managed to be a media darling during the Senior Bowl (good on the field and friendly off it) before performing extremely well during the athletic tests at the 2023 NFL Combine.
If Cody Mauch was a quality: strong and light-footed
Cody Mauch is very mobile for his size. During the NFL Combine, his times on 20 Yard Shuttle And 3-Cone confirmed his ability to change direction quickly.
An offensive Guard must know how to react quickly because the defensive tackles are aligned only a yard or two away! This player must also be able to move to offer a block to the other side. Also, being able to counter an attacker suddenly changing angle of attack. Being sharp is therefore essential in this position.
In this podcast before the 2023 draft (12th minute), Cody Mauch is compared to a star dancer!
If Cody Mauch was a fault: arms too short
During the NFL Combine, the athletic qualities of players are scrutinized. They are also interviewed there and also meticulously measured. Of the 51 offensive linemen invited in 2023, only five have shorter arms than him!
To play tackle in the NFL, game intelligence is essential: identification of the threat and good timing for the intervention. The technique too: playing low on your supports and positioning your hands well. But you also have to be able to keep your opponent at bay like a boxer. When a player has the reach advantage, he often wins his duel.
Before the draft, analysts agreed that Cody Mauch would play more inside in the NFL, due to this deficit. The Buccaneers thought the same way and immediately installed him at guard.
Whether it is justified or not, NFL staffs attach importance to measurements according to positions.
If Cody Mauch was an NFL player: Brandon Schreff (Jaguars)
If the former Washington player is a little taller, the two players nevertheless share a lot of similarities.
Both played tackle at the college level and both slid inside in the NFL. These two players also share superior athletic qualities, highlighted during their NFL Combine respective.
Brandon Schreff is playing his 9th season and has been elected to the Pro Bowl 5 times. In 2020, he was even on the typical NFL team. Cody Mauch signed immediately for the same career. Tampa Bay too!
