He was perhaps the best run blocker on an Arkansas line that paved the way for Darren McFadden (1500 rushing yards and 15 TD’s) and Felix Jones (1100 yards and 11 TD’s). How can such a valuable guy go unnoticed for a big time program like Arkansas?
He played in the shadow of Tony Ugoh for most of his collegiate career. Ugoh was drafted by the Colts last year in the second round and started from day one. He owned the LT position for the Razorbacks through out his career and Garner was his back up.
Garner was a late bloomer who made great strides in his overall game as a senior but was anonymous before that. He lacked the strength to be a regular contributor early on and played mostly on special teams.
He used his time well as a back up and put in extra work in the weight room. He improved his overall strength during his sophomore and junior campaigns and prepared himself for the opportunity that would come in his final season.
Jets fans can look at this guy one of two ways. He is either a project who was unable to break the starting lineup in college or he was a late bloomer who was not ready to play until last year. The Jets will either have a player who struggles to make the team or a real diamond in the rough.
With all the Jet’s preparation in scouting Darren McFadden, they probably stumbled across Garner. This happens all the time during the scouting process. A team spends a lot of time scouting a player then inadvertently finds another guy who keeps jumping out at them on film.
Garner could be that guy. After four seasons of waiting for a chance to start, he took over at right tackle in 2007. The Razorbacks produced 20 of their 32 touchdown runs over his side of the line during his senior year.
He achieved a blocking consistency grade of over 90% in six of the 13 games he started during his final season. That’s pretty good for a first year starter!
Garner is very intelligent. In addition to being recruited by Auburn, Notre Dame and Arkansas, he was courted by Harvard as well.
As a junior, he saw limited playing time backing up a veteran offensive line but finally got his chance to start in his senior season. He took over right tackle chores and earned All-SEC second-team honors, as he collected 60 knockdowns and graded 87% for blocking consistency, leading the team's linemen.
He is a tough competitor who plays with a mean streak. He has good quickness off the snap and impressive strength to create movement on the defensive line.
He sustains his blocks well and has the feet to slide laterally. He has good in-line blocking skills and is a real finisher.
His pass-blocking skills need work, however, and he will need to devote time to develop this part of his game. Just like 6th round pick last year, Jake Bender, Garner will need to work on his pass protection in his first season with the Jets.
He has a punishing hand punch to jolt edge rushers but he needs to improve his overall hand usage and footwork to mirror defenders. He plays with a good base but he lacks the hip flexibility of a natural pass blocker so he will have to refine his technique to compensate.
He projects as a right tackle because he has the necessary power to drive defenders off the line but he lacks the speed to play against edge rushers on the left side.
Garner already has the attitude and strength to be a solid run blocker in the NFL but will need to improve his pass blocking before he can be considered a viable option at the position.
Look for Garner to spend a lot of time with offensive line coach Bill Callahan. If he can improve his pass protection he could push for playing time in his second year.