[2023 NFL Draft/2-62] Juice Scruggs, C/G, Penn State

6. JUICE SCRUGGS | Penn State 6032 | 301 lbs. | 5SR Ashtabula, Ohio (Cathedral Prep) 1/19/2000 (age 23.27)

BACKGROUND: Frederick “Juice” Scruggs, who is the youngest of four boys, grew up in Ashtabula and looked to follow in his older brothers’ footsteps and play football. However, he exceeded the weight limit in the local youth league and instead played soccer at age 7. Scruggs discovered an indoor youth football league in Erie, Pa., and he and his mother (Karen) made the 50-mile drive for several years. At age 10, he started playing outdoor football and the family decided to move permanently to Erie so Juice could continue to play with the same players and coaches. Scruggs enrolled at Erie Cathedral Prep School, a Catholic all-boys school, where he was coached by Mike Mischler, who also coached him at the youth level. He received varsity reps as a freshman and played at offensive tackle and defensive tackle. After earning All-District and All-Conference honors as a sophomore, Scruggs started at left tackle and posted 31 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks as a junior, helping Cathedral Prep to a 14-0 record and the 2016 4A state championship. As a senior captain, he led the program to another undefeated season and the 2017 state title. Scruggs was named the 2017 4A lineman of the year and earned multiple All-State honors at left tackle. He also finished with 55 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and one interception as a senior.

A four-star recruit, Scruggs was the No. 4 center in the 2018 recruiting class and the No. 8 recruit in Pennsylvania. After his sophomore season, Syracuse became his first scholarship offer, followed by Iowa State, Michigan State and several MAC schools. Several nationally ranked programs also took notice and reached out with offers, including Ohio State, Michigan and LSU. But Scruggs fell in love with Penn State after multiple visits to Happy Valley and he officially committed in August 2017 before the start of his senior season. He was part of the same 2018 recruiting class that produced several NFL players, including Micah Parsons, Jayson (now Odafe) Oweh, Jahan Dotson and Pat Freiermuth. Scruggs earned his nickname “Juice” from his father (Frederick) because he preferred juice over milk when he was a toddler. He graduated with his degree in hospitality management (December 2022). Scruggs accepted his invitation to the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl.

STRENGTHS: Trim 300-pounder with decent length and big hands ... anchors well in his pass sets because of his sink and body leverage ... his hands stay patient and compact, allowing him to maximize his power potential ... plays on high alert to read stunts/twists ... uses the strength in his arms and upper body to finish in the run game ... shows accurate timing release on combos and second-level blocks ... team captain and was the veteran voice in Penn State’s offensive line room ... started every game the last two seasons after serious injury issues as an underclassman ... functional starting experience at both center and right guard and started at left tackle in high school.

WEAKNESSES: Average movement skills, laterally and out in space ... his base gets too wide and limits his ability to redirect or adjust to gap quickness (see 2022 Ohio State tape) ... his recovery balance will be tested versus NFL size ... doesn’t have the drive power to routinely move defenders from lanes ... needs to tighten his second-level blocking angles ... medical feedback will be crucial after a serious car accident (March 2019); he was thrown from the car through the window and suffered a break of his L3 vertebra. Instead of career-threatening surgery, he opted to allow the injury to heal on its own and required a back brace for a year as he slowly rehabbed back to playing shape.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Penn State, Scruggs lined up primarily at center in offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich’s gap/zone scheme. After working his way back from his off-field injury in 2019 and 2020, he started primarily at guard as a junior before moving inside full-time to center as a senior captain. As a pass blocker, Scruggs plays with a low center to root his feet, slow down power rushers and continually reset to stay square. He shows functional movements in the run game, but will find it tough to match the quickness of NFL defensive linemen. Overall, Scruggs needs to overcome his average recovery skills, especially in the run game, but he has the necessary build, strength and football IQ to be a swing interior backup capable of fighting for starting reps.

GRADE: 5th-6th Round