Martinas Rankin

Tackle | Mississippi State | Senior

Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 308 pounds

College Stats

2017: started nine of 10 games played (missed time with an ankle injury); named to All-SEC First Team by coaches and Second Team by the Associated Press; Kent Hull Award Winner (top lineman in Mississippi); helped Mississippi State set a school record with 3,272 rushing yards; part of an offensive line that allowed 13 sacks, the fewest in the SEC and fifth-fewest in FBS

Career: Started 18 of 23 games in two seasons; redshirted in 2015 after a heralded two-year career at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College; named to SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2015 and 2016; named 2016 SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (vs. Texas A&M) when he had three knockdowns and the Bulldogs didn't allow a sack; helped Mississippi State rush for 2,997 yards in 2016 and break that record the following season

Combine Results

Bench press: 24 reps of 225 pounds
Rankin did not participate in other timing and testing drills.

Profile

Summary: Rankin was a semifinalist for the 2017 Campbell Trophy, which is considered the "Academic Heisman" and is presented annually to the player with the best combination of academics, community service and on-field performance. Rankin played exclusively at tackle in games but participated only at center during 2017 spring practices because of injuries to teammates.

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein believes that **Rankin may be best-suited** to play on the interior of an NFL offensive line. Zierlein said playing center would allow Rankin's "instincts and intelligence [to] stand out," adding, "The further Rankin kicks inside the better he will be. He may be average as a tackle or guard, but he could become a good NFL starter if he gets his shot at center."

Stacking up: NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock listed Rankin in a **tie for fifth-best** among tackle prospects before and after the combine. Counterpart Daniel Jeremiah listed Rankin as the 48th overall prospect in his **Top 50**. Jeremiah wrote he could see Rankin "as a starting right tackle at the next level with the skill set to kick inside if needed."

In his words: Rankin used a screenshot on Twitter to post extended words of thanks for his time at Mississippi State.