Hunter Nourzad was an underrecruited prospect from Mariette, Georgia. He was a three-time all-region selection on the offensive line at The Walker School and earned first-team honors in his last two campaigns. The two-year captain was named to all-state teams by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Recruit Georgia, and the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association. Nourzad was the Regional Lineman of the Year as a senior and earned first-team all-county accolades. He also lettered in lacrosse and track and field, garnering all-region honors in the shot put.
Nourzad started his career at Cornell where he started 20 consecutive games at right tackle, earning first-team All-Ivy League and second-team All-American (AFCA) honors. He was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, also known as the Academic Heisman, and earned Academic All-Ivy League honors.
After transferring to Penn State in 2022, Nourzad played mostly at left guard in 11 games (eight starts) and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors from coaches and media. In 2023, he started playing center full-time for the first time in his life. After a rough first couple of games, he settled into the role nicely and solidified his NFL future.
Nourzad was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl, where he was one of the standout performers.
Penn State iOL Hunter Nourzad #BuildingTheBoard
— Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) January 25, 2024
If the Bears choose to sign a center in FA, they should still target a center at some point in the '24 draft on day three. And Nourzad could be their guy to let sit and develop. The former Cornell OT has played all 5 OL positions… pic.twitter.com/gnvKVqGcjZ
Nourzad gave up 16 pressures in 2023, ranking 109th among centers in college football. That figure isn't great at first glance, but some context is needed. It was his first time playing center, 10 of those 16 pressures came in two games — vs. West Virginia in his first game at the position and vs. a damn good Ohio State team. And despite the pressures allowed, Nourzad didn't surrender a single sack. In his 11 other games, he allowed zero sacks, one QB hit, and six pressures (18th).
Nourzad's run-block grade (77.0 PFF) was good for 12th among centers in 2023. And while his 61.9 pass-block grade looks rough, it was significantly impacted by two bad games. Otherwise, he had eight games with a pass-block grade above 73.5 and four games with a grade over 80.
Nourzad is best suited for an outside zone scheme that takes advantage of his athleticism and understanding of run angles. Coaches will love his play style and toughness. His lack of elite traits and advanced age limit his upside, but his smarts, versatility, and competitive toughness give him a good chance of sticking on an NFL roster for a while. Nourzad may never be a multi-year starter, but he should be a top reserve who can fill in at multiple spots when called upon.
The Chicago Bears need a center this offseason, and I expect them to sign one in free agency or draft one with more high-end potential than Nourzad offers. But with his versatility, he could be a good second lineman taken to fill out the roster and build some depth.
Last year, Penn State center Juice Scruggs went to the Shrine Bowl and elevated his stock to get drafted in the third round. Nourzad, by all accounts, was one of the best offensive linemen at the event and could see a similar rise in his stock as we approach the 2024 NFL Draft.
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