Iapani "Poncho" Laloulu

NFL Draft Profile: Iapani "Poncho" Laloulu

Position: Center / Interior Offensive Line | School: Oregon | Class: Junior

Height: 6'2" | Weight: 325 lbs | Archetype: Balanced (Zone/Power Hybrid)

College Career Summary

Iapani "Poncho" Laloulu has been a cornerstone of Oregon’s offensive line since he stepped onto campus as a true freshman in 2023. A 247Sports True Freshman All-American, he demonstrated rare maturity by playing in all 14 games and earning his first start at Center in the Fiesta Bowl. In 2024, he took over the starting center job full-time, anchoring a unit that was a Joe Moore Award finalist.

The 2025 season saw Laloulu emerge as a premier interior talent in the Big Ten. Named a Rimington Trophy Finalist, he was the brain of an Oregon offense that ranked among the nation's best. Statistically, Laloulu has been nearly impenetrable in pass protection, allowing only one sack across the entire 2025 campaign. Despite being slightly undersized in height, his elite core strength and "bowling ball" build make him a nightmare for interior defensive tackles to displace.

Career Stats & Highlights

• Career Starts: 29 (Started every game since the 2023 Fiesta Bowl)

• 2025 Sacks Allowed: 1

• 2025 Total Pressures Allowed: 6

• Pancakes: ~52 (2025 Season)

• Holding Penalties: 3 (2025)

• 2025 Honors: Second-team All-Big Ten; Rimington Trophy Finalist; PFF 5th-ranked Pass Blocking Center nationally.

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs Idaho	B-	Gritty debut; uncharacteristic 47.3 PFF grade due to leverage issues.
2	vs Oklahoma St	A	High Point. 80.5 PFF grade; physically overwhelmed the interior.
4	@ UCLA	A-	Flawless in pass pro; effectively led several outside zone pulls.
6	vs Ohio State	B+	Handled elite interior speed; zero pressures allowed in a tight win.
7	vs Indiana	C-	Worst Game. Struggled with lateral recovery against blitzing LBs.
9	@ Michigan	B	Solid in the "Big House"; anchored well against massive DTs.
12	vs Wisconsin	A	Paved lanes for 200+ team rushing yards; elite second-level climbing.
14	vs Penn State (B1G)	A-	Zero pressures allowed; earned an 83.6 pass-blocking grade.
Bowl	vs Ohio State (CFP)	A	Career-best 87.2 pass-blocking grade against NFL-caliber talent.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 96/100

• Leadership: Elite. Voted to the leadership council; high vocal presence as an upperclassman.

• Mental Toughness: High; handles high-stakes CFP environments with calm efficiency.

• Competitor: Plus; plays with a "mean streak" and finishes blocks through the whistle.

• Team Player: Credits his "Law Firm" (Oregon OL) for his success; selfless leader.

• Star: High; his pre-snap calls are the heartbeat of Oregon's offensive execution.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 82/100

• Height/Weight: 6'2", 325 lbs. (Under height benchmark; Exceeds weight).

• Stamina: High; maintains intensity through Oregon's high-tempo "Go-Ducks" pace.

• Durability: Elite. Has played in every possible game (28+) over two seasons.

• Injury History: Medically clean; robust health record in the Pac-12/Big Ten.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 91/100

• Run Block: Plus; uses natural leverage and a powerful base to drive defenders.

• Pass Block: Strength. Statistical leader; elite hand placement and "heavy" hands.

• Strength: Elite. 10 out of 5 core strength; effectively a "human fire hydrant."

• Technique: Plus; mastery of the "reach and seal" technique in zone schemes.

• High Motor: Consistent; high effort on every play.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 84/100

• Speed: Good; gets to the second level surprisingly fast for his girth.

• Agility: Plus; short-area quickness is his calling card in pass sets.

• Flexibility: Plus; "loose hips" for a 325-pounder, though height aids his bend.

• Acceleration: Sudden; fires out of his stance with violence.

• Footwork: Clinical; very quick, clean feet that rarely get tangled.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 98/100

• Awareness: Elite. "Computer-like" mind for processing pre and post-snap blitz looks.

Scouting Report

• Strengths: Pro-ready pass-protection efficiency (top 5 PFF pass-pro grade); elite core strength and natural low center of gravity; high-IQ "field general" capabilities; versatile enough to play any of the three interior spots.

• Weaknesses: Shorter Stature. At 6'2", he will face arm-length disadvantages against elite NFL "long-arm" rushers; can occasionally lunge if he gets beat laterally, leading to balance issues; run blocking is consistent but lacks "mauler" displacement at times.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for a Wide Zone or Balanced offense that requires a mobile, high-IQ center (e.g., Dolphins, Rams, Lions).

• NFL Comparison: Tyler Linderbaum / David Andrews.

Scout's Final Word

"Poncho Laloulu is the safest interior prospect in the 2026 class. While his lack of prototypical 6'5" height might push him down some boards, his tape against Ohio State and Penn State is a masterclass in interior leverage. He’s a plug-and-play NFL starter who will stabilize a franchise for a decade. Draft Projection: 2nd - 3rd Round."