Keylan Rutledge

NFL Draft Profile: Keylan Rutledge

Position: Offensive Guard | School: Georgia Tech | Class: Senior

Height: 6'4" | Weight: 330 lbs | Archetype: Balanced (Zone/Power Hybrid)

College Career Summary

Keylan Rutledge is the embodiment of resilience and interior dominance. After a stellar start at Middle Tennessee, where he earned All-Freshman and First-Team All-Conference USA honors, Rutledge transferred to Georgia Tech for the 2024 season. His impact was immediate, helping the Yellow Jackets' front rank among the national leaders in fewest sacks allowed.

His 2025 season was a masterclass in interior protection and run-blocking power. Despite a horrific car accident in late 2023 that nearly cost him part of his foot, Rutledge returned to form as an AP All-American. He anchored a unit that paved the way for a top-20 rushing offense and earned him a prestigious invitation to the Senior Bowl. Statistically, he has been one of the most efficient guards in the country, maintaining a clean sheet in sacks allowed for the vast majority of his ACC tenure.

Career Stats & Highlights

• Career Starts: 47 (17 at MTSU, 30 at Georgia Tech)

• 2025 Sacks Allowed: 0 (Regular Season)

• 2025 Pressures Allowed: ~6

• Pancakes: ~58 (2025 Season)

• Holding Penalties: 2 (2025)

• Honors: 2025 AP All-American (3rd Team); 2x First-Team All-ACC (2024, 2025); Brian Piccolo Award Winner (Courage).

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Grade	Scout's Notes
0	vs Florida State	A-	Massive effort in Ireland; neutralized FSU's interior speed.
1	vs Georgia State	A	Dominated at the point of attack; erased linebackers on the second level.
3	vs VMI	A+	The Apex. Total displacement; led a 300+ yard rushing day.
5	@ Louisville	B+	Handled elite 3-tech twitch well; zero sacks allowed.
7	@ North Carolina	A-	Paved lanes for Haynes; displayed elite leg drive in short-yardage.
8	vs Notre Dame	B	Tough physical battle; held his own against potential 1st-round talent.
10	@ Virginia Tech	B-	Worst Game. Flagged twice for holding; struggled with lateral recovery.
11	vs Miami	A	Critical performance in the upset win; anchored the interior perfectly.
13	@ NC State	B+	Gritty performance in the cold; flawless in pass protection.
14	@ Georgia	B+	Stood tall against the nation's best interior; elite anchor strength.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 98/100

• Leadership: Elite. Team captain and the vocal soul of the Tech offense.

• Mental Toughness: Off the charts; returned from a near-career-ending accident to earn All-American honors.

• Competitor: Elite; high-hustle player who plays with a "mean streak."

• Team Player: High; constantly praises his unit and accepts multiple roles for the team.

• Star: High; his presence at Right Guard transforms the GT running lanes.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 88/100

• Height/Weight: 6'4", 330 lbs. (Borderline height, Exceeds weight).

• Stamina: High; maintains power through high-snap-count drives.

• Durability: High; missed only one game in his career despite major off-field injury.

• Injury History: Serious foot injury (2023) is fully healed but remains a medical check.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 92/100

• Run Block: Strength. A heavy-handed mauler who creates massive movement.

• Pass Block: Plus; very reliable anchor (0 sacks in 2025 regular season).

• Strength: Plus; elite weight-room power translated to on-field leverage.

• Technique: High; improved hand placement and timing in the ACC.

• High Motor: Constant; finishes blocks 15 yards downfield.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 80/100

• Speed: Average; good enough to pull, but not a vertical burner.

• Agility: Weakness. Can struggle with secondary moves from twitchy rushers.

• Flexibility: Good; shows natural knee bend for a 330-pound man.

• Acceleration: Good; explosive first step off the snap.

• Footwork: Clean; quick and choppy steps that prevent him from being "turned."

IQ (.20) — Grade: 95/100

• Awareness: Elite. Exceptional at diagnosing late blitzes and passing off stunts.

Scouting Report

• Strengths: Pro-ready frame and power; elite mental toughness and leadership traits; statistically dominant pass protector (zero sacks allowed in 800+ snaps); elite run-blocking grades (PFF top 10 nationally).

• Weaknesses: Lateral Recovery. Shorter arms and massive frame can make him vulnerable to "cross-face" moves from elite twitchy athletes; height is slightly below the "ideal" 6'5" benchmark.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for a Power-Gap or Inside Zone system (e.g., Lions, Browns, Ravens).

• NFL Comparison: Robert Hunt / Kevin Dotson.

Scout's Final Word

"Keylan Rutledge is the 'heart and soul' prospect of this interior class. While he lacks the elite length for Tackle, his performance as a Guard in the ACC has been flawless. He is a 'plug-and-play' starter who brings a veteran’s brain and a brawler’s hands. NFL teams will fall in love with his comeback story and his 0-sack production. Draft Projection: 3rd - 4th Round."