Olaivavega "Vega" Ioane

NFL Draft Profile: Olaivavega "Vega" Ioane

Position: Interior Offensive Line (IOL) | School: Penn State | Class: Redshirt Junior

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

College Career Summary

Olaivavega "Vega" Ioane is widely considered the most versatile and physically imposing interior lineman in the 2026 NFL Draft class. After redshirting in 2022, Ioane became a Swiss Army knife for the Nittany Lions. In 2024, he gained national attention for playing snaps at all five offensive line positions and even lining up at Tight End and Fullback as a lead blocker.

The 2025 season saw him settle into a permanent home at Left Guard, where he evolved into a "brick wall" in pass protection and a primary "people-mover" in the run game. He anchored an offensive line that paved the way for two 1,000-yard rushers (Singleton and Allen). Ioane’s draft stock skyrocketed after he allowed zero sacks throughout the entire 2025 regular season, showcasing a rare blend of massive size and nimble feet that scouts call "First Off the Bus" athleticism.

Career Stats & Highlights

• Career Starts: 32 (5 in 2023; 16 in 2024; 11 in 2025)

• 2025 Sacks Allowed: 0 (Elite efficiency)

• 2025 Total Pressures Allowed: 4 (PFF)

• Pancakes: ~62 (2025 Season; led team)

• Holding Penalties: 1 (2025)

• Honors: 2025 Second-team All-American; 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team; Polynesian Player of the Year Finalist.

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	@ West Virginia	B+	Dominant run push; 0 sacks allowed in a hostile road environment.
2	vs Bowling Green	A-	Paved way for two 100-yard rushers; technically flawless.
4	vs Kent State	A	The Apex. Helped set school record 718 total yards; multiple pancake blocks.
5	vs Illinois	A-	Controlled the interior; elite combo-blocks to the second level.
7	@ USC	B+	Clean sheet in pass pro; handled West Coast speed with ease.
9	@ Wisconsin	B	Physical battle; maintained anchor against a heavy nose tackle.
10	vs Ohio State	C+	Worst Game. Pad level rose against elite 3-techs; struggled with leverage.
11	vs Washington	A-	Zero tackles for loss allowed by his unit; moved DTs against their will.
12	@ Purdue	A	Perfect pass-blocking grade; showcased great lateral agility on pulls.
13	@ Minnesota	B+	Gritty "mud game" performance; reliable in short-yardage sets.
14	vs Maryland	A-	0 sacks allowed; led the team in pancake blocks (6).

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 96/100

• Leadership: Elite. Team leader by example; praised by staff for his work ethic and "unselfishness."

• Mental Toughness: High; successfully mastered multiple positions (OT/OG/C/TE) under pressure.

• Competitor: Elite; plays with a "bully ball" mentality and finishes defenders.

• Team Player: Credits his running backs and coaches; known as a "selfless" worker.

• Star: High; his presence at LG dictates the flow of Penn State's inside run game.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 94/100

• Height/Weight: 6'4", 330 lbs. (Elite mass; carries weight exceptionally well).

• Stamina: Plus; maintains intensity, though will need to watch weight at the NFL level.

• Durability: High; started all 16 games in 2024 and every game in 2025.

• Injury History: Medically clean.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 92/100

• Run Block: Strength. A true "mauler" who can displace DTs by 3-4 yards consistently.

• Pass Block: Elite. Statistically one of the best in the nation (0 sacks in '25).

• Strength: Plus; "heavy hands" that shock defenders on contact.

• Technique: Plus; excellent awareness of stunts, though pad level can rise.

• High Motor: High; always looking for extra work or a "friendly shove" to help a teammate.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 88/100

• Speed: Plus; surprisingly fast for a 330 lb man climbing to the second level.

• Agility: Good; loose hips for his size, though some stiffness is present.

• Flexibility: Average; needs to improve knee bend to avoid playing too tall.

• Acceleration: Sudden; fires off the snap with violent intent.

• Footwork: Plus; light on his feet, though can get "turned" by elite lateral twitch.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 98/100

• Awareness: Outlier. Exceptional ability to diagnose blitzes and pass off complex stunts.

Scouting Report

• Strengths: Gargantuan frame with the versatility of a center and the power of a guard; elite pass-protection efficiency (87.3 PFF grade); "First Off the Bus" physicality; highly intelligent and unselfish leader; superior at executing combo-blocks and second-level targets.

• Weaknesses: Pad level will occasionally rise, making him vulnerable to leverage-based bull rushes; footwork in pass pro can become stagnant when mirroring elite 3-techs; must maintain conditioning to keep high impact through 4 quarters.

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

• NFL Comparison: O'Cyrus Torrence / Kevin Dotson.

Scout's Final Word

"Vega Ioane is a pro-ready 'mauler' with the technical floor of a 10-year veteran. You don't find 330-pounders who can move to Tight End on one play and stonewall an All-Big Ten defensive tackle on the next. While his run-blocking can occasionally look 'raw' due to leverage issues, his zero-sack pass-pro record in the Big Ten is undeniable. He is a plug-and-play starter at Guard with All-Pro potential. Draft Projection: 1st Round (Top 25)."