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Returning to Green Bay, bring Wisconsin Badger Tanor Bortolini home.
It’s well known that the University of Wisconsin produces a lot of offensive lineman for the NFL. Badger offensive linemen have a long history of success in the NFL, ranging from Pro Football Hall of Famers like Joe Thomas and Mike Webster to NFL legends like Ryan Ramczyk, Tyler Biadasz, and Travis Frederick. Tanor Bortolini, a two-year starter who can play a variety of spots along the offensive line, is the next player in line to be selected this year.
Bortolini, a native of Kewaunee, Wisconsin, may follow in the footsteps of Mark Tauscher, a Badger and native of Wisconsin who eventually signed with the Green Bay Packers. Bortolini, who started 28 of his 35 games as a UW player, was predominantly a center, though he also had experience at guard and tackle.
Given his smaller stature and obvious agility, Bortolini fits the Packers’ ideal offensive lineman profile, much like current center Josh Myers, who is in the last year of his rookie contract. Although Bortolini’s agility is evident on film, his ability to avoid really uncomfortable body positions is what really stands out. In Senior Bowl one-on-ones, when players might occasionally overextend and get exposed and where there is no assistance whatsoever, he demonstrated this skill set.
Bortolini doesn’t use much force when he throws his hands in the action, even though he usually positions his body well to block. He catches Newton, giving him the opportunity to take control of the rep and bypass him right away.
Prominent draft experts like Dane Brugler and Daniel Jeremiah frequently assert that “there is no such thing as a perfect prospect.” Bortolini has to improve his consistency with the hands, particularly if he continues in the middle. But I could see Bortolini replacing either Myers or Rhyan in Year 1 after starting as a backup. He has excellent mobility, fits in well with an outside-zone run scheme, and has the seventh-highest pass-blocking rating in the Big Ten (80.3) according to PFF.
Bortolini also has the air of a sponge who only wants to improve. He discussed at the combine how his progress was accelerated by former teammate Logan Bruss, who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round. “It doesn’t matter where you put your hands, where you step, or where you load up in your stance,” stated Bortolini. “Bruss helped me get to where I wanted to go and was a great guy to lean on.” It seems like the kind of man who would pay attention to what seasoned professionals like Elgton Jenkins have to say.
Fans of both the Packers and the Badgers may easily support Bortolini as a draft potential. Bortolini is ranked 211th overall by Pro Football Focus, and a lot of draft analysts think he’s getting better. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if the Packers decide to choose Bortolini in the fourth or fifth round. I hope he gets the opportunity to wear the Green and Gold in September.