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9:39JP Acosta Breaks Down 2026's Instant Impact Rookies
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1:13Panthers' Biggest Draft Steal: C Sam Hecht
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Draft Scouting Report
Pro Comparison: Drew Dalman
Summary
Sam Hecht is a highly reliable center who plays with consistency and a competitive edge. After starting as a walk-on, he developed into a technical standout capable of anchoring against much larger defenders. He excels moving in space to find blocks downfield and rarely allows pressure, making him a steady presence in both the run and pass game.
About
- 2025: First-team All-Big 12
- Career: Did not allow a sack
Strengths
- Elite pass-rush anchor who has not allowed a sack in two seasons.
- Exceptional athlete in space, effectively reaching second-level defenders and on screens.
- Plays with great leverage and a nasty streak at the point of attack.
Weaknesses
- Occasionally oversets against nose tackles, leaving him susceptible to swim moves.
- Can become vulnerable to push-pull techniques if his pad level rises.
- Lacks prototypical bulk at under 300 pounds.
Combine Data
- 40-yard dash: 5.10 seconds
- Vertical jump: 28 inches
- 20-yard shuttle run: 4.71 seconds
- Broad jump: 8 feet, 5 inches
- 3-cone drill: 7.75 seconds
Top Sam Hecht News
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Panthers' Sam Hecht: Picked by Panthers
The Panthers selected Hecht in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 144th overall.
Hecht only emerged as starter in his fourth and fifth seasons at Kansas State, but he played very well from that point and otherwise logged pre-draft athletic testing with mostly good results. At 6-foot-4, 303 pounds Hecht has only an average frame by center standards, though, and his 31 and 5/8-inch arms grade as only 13th percentile among centers, according to Mockdraftable. Second-round pick Logan Jones of the Bears had even shorter arms yet, but Jones is something like a 90th-percentile athlete at center while Hecht is probably only something more like a 65th-percentile athlete at center. Either way, there's still a plenty good chance Hecht emerges as an average or better starting center for Carolina, including potentially as soon as 2026. Luke Fortner is the only competition otherwise, and Hecht might be better as a rookie.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-4, 300 lbs |
| Birthplace: Shawnee, KS |
| Age: 23 |