Pat Coogan

NFL Draft Profile: Pat Coogan

Position: Center / Offensive Guard | School: Indiana (via Notre Dame) | Class: Redshirt Senior

Height: 6'5" | Weight: 311 lbs | Archetype: Pass Blocker (High-IQ Anchor)

College Career Summary

Pat Coogan is the definition of an "old-school" interior technician with a "new-age" cerebral approach. After spending four years at Notre Dame, where he was a 13-game starter at Left Guard and eventually the starting Center, Coogan made a massive late splash in the 2025 transfer portal by heading to Indiana.

At Indiana, Coogan was the missing link for Curt Cignetti’s squad. He transitioned full-time to Center, becoming the "brain" of a unit that fueled a record-breaking offense and a Big Ten Championship run. Coogan’s value lies in his versatility and intelligence; he is a Joe Moore Award finalist veteran who has seen every defensive front the Big Ten and ACC can throw at a blocker. He finished the 2025 season as a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection, known for a "clean" style of play that prioritized protection over highlight-reel pancakes.

Career Stats & Highlights

• Career Starts: 39 (26 at Notre Dame, 13 at Indiana)

• 2025 Sacks Allowed: 0.5 (Surrendered just one half-sack in the Big Ten title game)

• 2025 Pressures Allowed: 9 (A massive improvement from his 2023 season at ND)

• Pancakes: ~30 (2025 Season)

• Holding Penalties: 1 (2025)

• Honors: 2025 Second-Team All-Big Ten; 2023 Joe Moore Award Semifinalist; Academic All-Big Ten.

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs FIU	A	Clinical debut; handled every protection call perfectly.
2	vs Western Illinois	A	Total command of the second level; opened huge lanes in the run game.
4	@ Charlotte	B+	Clean sheet in pass pro; one minor miss on a reach block.
5	vs Maryland	A-	Neutralized a heavy blitzing front; high-level IQ on display.
6	@ Northwestern	B+	Solid outing in a physical game; zero pressures allowed.
8	vs Nebraska	A	The Apex. Completely erased the Huskers' interior rush; 5 pancakes.
9	vs Washington	B	Fought hard against a twitchy 3-tech; maintained a solid anchor.
10	@ Michigan St	B+	Expertly handled late-game stunts to secure the win.
11	@ Penn State	A-	High-stakes mastery; didn't blink in a loud environment.
12	vs Wisconsin	A	Flawless protection for his Heisman-contending QB.
13	@ Purdue	B+	Disciplined game; led a unit that posted 56 points.
14	@ Ohio State (B1G)	B-	Worst Game. Surrendered a half-sack; struggled early with Buckeye power.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 98/100

• Leadership: Elite. Voted a leader immediately upon arriving at IU; commands the entire line.

• Mental Toughness: High; successfully navigated the transfer portal and a position change.

• Competitor: Elite; plays with a technical "intensity" that demands excellence from teammates.

• Team Player: Credits his ND roots and the IU coaching staff; high-character "program guy."

• Star: Moderate; his "star" power comes from his pre-snap calls and zero-penalty reliability.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 85/100

• Height/Weight: 6'5", 311 lbs. (Meets 6'5 benchmark; Below 315lb weight).

• Stamina: Plus; a high-snap count veteran who stays fresh through the 4th quarter.

• Durability: Elite. Has appeared in 41 career games; a true "iron man."

• Injury History: Medically clean.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 92/100

• Run Block: Good; uses leverage and hands effectively, though not a "mauler."

• Pass Block: Elite. A specialist in identifying stunts and maintaining a stone-wall anchor.

• Strength: Plus; correlates weight-room power to the field effectively at the center spot.

• Technique: Elite. Mastery of hand placement and head placement (technician's dream).

• High Motor: Constant; never stops searching for work in pass protection.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 76/100

• Speed: Average; not a burner but efficient when climbing to the second level.

• Agility: Moderate; can struggle if a twitchy DT crosses his face instantly.

• Flexibility: Average; lacks the "coiled" lower-body power of elite tackle prospects.

• Acceleration: Good; explosive enough out of the snap to establish contact first.

• Footwork: Clinical; very clean, methodical foot-fire.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 99/100

• Awareness: Outlier. Possibly the smartest interior lineman in the 2026 class.

Scouting Report

• Strengths: Elite Football IQ—functions as a second QB on the field; technically refined pass protection (zero sacks allowed for long stretches); veteran leadership and experience in high-pressure games; clean injury history and high durability.

• Weaknesses: Limited Athletic Upside. He isn't a "freak" athlete and can be overmatched by pure raw power/speed from elite 3-techs; pad level can occasionally rise when he is forced to move laterally; not an overwhelming "displacer" in the run game.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for a Pro-Style or West Coast system (e.g., Colts, Vikings, Rams) where interior protection and pre-snap identification are paramount.

• NFL Comparison: Mitch Morse / David Andrews.

Scout's Final Word

"Pat Coogan is the guy you draft when you want to stop worrying about your Center for the next eight years. He isn't going to wow anyone with his broad jump, but his tape against Big Ten competition is a masterclass in 'working the angles.' He's a professional's professional who will likely walk into an NFL locker room and be a Week 1 contributor. Draft Projection: 3rd - 5th Round."