2026 NFL Draft Scouting Reports: OT Caleb Lomu

Name: Caleb Lomu (24.3

Position: OT - Primarily LT

School: Utah Utes

Class: Redshirt Sophomore (2025 season)

Hometown: Gilbert, Arizona (Highland High School)

Recruiting Rank: 4-star recruit (247Sports: #112 national, top player in Arizona – Class of 2023; committed to Utah November 2022 over Arizona, Michigan, USC)

Draft Projections (March 2026):

• ESPN (Mel Kiper Big Board, updated March 2026) → OT5

• Pro Football Network (PFN Big Board, March 2026) → #29 overall (OT4)

• PFF (Big Board, updated March 2026) → #29 overall (high OT)

• NFL.com (Lance Zierlein prospect profile) → Day 1 projection

• NFL Draft Buzz (profile) → Late 1st round

• Consensus (NFL Mock Draft Database, March 2026) → Late 1st round (Expected: 1st round, range 20-40)

Career Background

A four-star recruit from Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona, Lomu redshirted as a true freshman in 2023 before earning Freshman All-American honors (The Athletic) in 2024 while starting at left tackle. In 2025 he started all 12 games, earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors, and helped anchor one of the nation’s top offensive lines. He declared for the 2026 NFL Draft after his redshirt sophomore season.

Lomu has a spotless off-field record with no arrests or known issues and is widely regarded as a high-character leader. Head coach Kyle Whittingham and the Utah staff have praised his work ethic, toughness, and blue-collar mentality. Of Tongan descent, he has participated in Polynesian Bowl events and team community service initiatives, embodying the program’s values of discipline and service to others.

NFL Combine Measurements & Testing (Ranking Percentile Among Peers)

•  Height: 6’6” (56%)

•  Weight: 313 lbs (43%)

•  Arm Length: 33⅜” (29%)

•  Hand Size: 9½” (24%)

•  40-Yard Dash: 4.99 seconds (93%; top-10 among 2026 OTs) 🟢

•  10-Yard Split: 1.74 seconds (75%)

•  Vertical Jump: 32.5” (92%) 🟢

•  Broad Jump: 9’5” / 113 inches (94%) 🟢

•  3-Cone Drill: N/A

•  20-Yard Shuttle: N/A

•  Relative Athletic Score (RAS): 8.7 (elite for size; top-tier movement skills) 🟢

•  Bench Press: Did not perform (N/A)

Lomu tested as one of the most explosive and fluid athletes at the Combine for his size, confirming his movement skills translate to the next level. He has slightly short arms and slightly smaller hands, but near the 33.5” minimum threshold wanted for the position.

Verified 2025 PFF Stats

•  Games Played: 12

•  Snap Count: 823 total (383 at LT)

•  PFF OFF Grade: 68.4 🟠

•  PFF PBLK Grade: 82.1 🟢

•  PFF RBLK Grade: 62.0 🟠

•  Total pressures 8 (0 sacks/2 hits/6 hurries)

•  Pass Block Efficiency (PBE): 98.9

•  Penalties: 0

Scouting Report Summary

Lomu is a young, long, and highly athletic left tackle with tremendous upside. He excels in pass protection with smooth lateral movement, quick hands, and the ability to mirror speed rushers while re-anchoring against power. On film he shows good patience, balance, and awareness in zone schemes. His best football is still ahead of him as he continues to add functional strength.

Strengths

• Explosive athleticism and length allow him to cover ground quickly and win with leverage in pass pro.

• Fluid mover who redirects well and processes stunts cleanly.

• High ceiling with only two full seasons of starting experience; frame has room to grow.

• Rarely penalized and shows finishing mentality once engaged.

Weaknesses

• Still developing run-blocking power and consistent anchor against NFL-level bull rushers.

• Leaner build and average play strength can lead to being walked back in gap schemes.

• Limited experience against elite competition as a redshirt sophomore.

Final Evaluation

Ideal for zone-heavy or outside-zone schemes that can take advantage of Lomu’s elite athleticism and technical refinement. He possesses legitimate Day-1 starter potential at left tackle. While some teams may still project him outside, his frame and movement skills give him a more natural long-term fit at tackle. Lomu is a high-floor, higher-ceiling prospect with Pro Bowl upside once he adds functional mass and strength. As one of the favorite young offensive line prospects in 2026, he is expected to hear his name called in the late first or early second round.

Sound

•  Pro Football Focus (PFF) – 2026 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings, 2025 College Season Grades & Blocking Data Export

•  Bleacher Report – Brandon Thorn’s 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Big Board (March 2026 update)

•  The Draft Network – 2026 NFL Draft Big Board & Detailed Scouting Reports

•  NFL.com – Lance Zierlein’s 2026 Draft Prospect Scouting Reports & Rankings

•  ESPN / Pro Football Network (PFN) / 33rd Team – 2026 NFL Draft Consensus Big Boards & Position Rankings

•  Relative Athletic Score (RAS) Database & Next Gen Stats – Official 2026 NFL Combine historical percentiles & athletic testing data

•  247Sports & ESPN Recruiting – Caleb Lomu high school profile & rankings (Class of 2023)

•  Utah Utes Athletics, Deseret News, KSL Sports – Coach quotes, awards, and career background (2023-2025)

•  ESPN, PFN, PFF, NFL.com, NFL Draft Buzz & NFL Mock Draft Database – 2026 Big Board & Mock Draft Consensus (March 2026 updates)