Tanor Bortolini was a three-star interior offensive line prospect in the 2020 recruiting class from Kewaunee High School in Wisconsin. He received 17 scholarship offers predominately from Big Ten schools along with Yale, Dartmouth, and Columbia, showcasing his intelligence which will help him transition to the NFL.
After committing to Wisconsin, Bortolini saw snaps early in his career at center, guard, right tackle, and tight end in his first two seasons. He took over as a starter as a redshirt sophomore, playing mostly guard, but also saw snaps at center and tight end.
As a senior, Bortolini transitioned full-time to center, collecting an 80.3 pass-blocking grade (PFF) and earning All-Big Ten Third Team honors. He received an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl, where he can cement his status as a top-five center in the 2024 NFL Draft class.
Wisconsin OC Tanor Bortolini #NFLDraft
— Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) January 9, 2024
Most are familiar with the top 3-4 centers, but here's an option for the Bears later in the draft who has experience at multiple positions. His versatility, hand technique, & recovery skills make him an intruiging option #BuildingTheBoard pic.twitter.com/eygW3pkyzn
Bortolini's versatility will be his most appealing trait to NFL teams. He can play any spot on the interior and has experience as a sixth offensive lineman. For a likely Day 3 pick, that gives him an excellent chance to stick on a 53-man roster as a rookie.
Bortolini is a technically sound offensive lineman with a limited upside due to his average athleticism and below-average length. But he should be able to have a good career due to his technique and awareness as both a pass and run blocker.
Beyond his athletic limitations, Bortolini can also get caught bending at the waist, allowing defenders an opening. Luckily, his ability to recover when beat showed multiple times on tape and will be a huge asset, especially early in his career as he becomes acclimated to bigger, more athletic defensive linemen.
If Bortolini wants to stick at center in the NFL, he'll also need to fix his shotgun-snapping issues. His placement is fine, but he doesn't get the necessary velocity on his snaps which can throw off the timing of routes.
The Chicago Bears need a center, and Bortolini has a good chance of being the best option in the second tier of this class behind Graham Barton, Zach Frazier, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and Sedrick Van Pran. While athleticism isn't a strength, Bortolini is athletic enough to work in any scheme. But his best fit is probably in a power-run scheme. If he tests better than expected at the NFL Combine, his tape is good enough for him to see a rise up boards.
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