Big 12 Football: Each team’s top 2020 NFL Draft prospect

ATLANTA, GA - December 6: Oklahoma Head Coach Lincoln Riley speaks at the College Football Playoff Semifinal Head Coaches News Conference on December 6, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - December 6: Oklahoma Head Coach Lincoln Riley speaks at the College Football Playoff Semifinal Head Coaches News Conference on December 6, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 03: Martell Pettaway #32 of the West Virginia Mountaineers rushes for a touchdown in the fourth quarter defended by Anthony Wheeler #45 of the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 03: Martell Pettaway #32 of the West Virginia Mountaineers rushes for a touchdown in the fourth quarter defended by Anthony Wheeler #45 of the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. Right Tackle. Colton McKivitz. 53. 877. Pick Analysis. Senior. player

Five Mountaineers were taken in the 2019 NFL Draft — and somehow David Sills wasn’t one of them — but the ‘Eers have one particular prospect to keep an eye on looking toward the 2020 event: Colton McKivitz.

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McKivitz paved the way in 2018 for an ‘Eers offense that ranked second in the Big 12 and 8th nationally in yards per game with 512. However, the three-year starter at right tackle will need to take a larger leadership role following the departures of key offensive figures like Will Grier and Gary Jennings.

He’ll be without long-time running mate at left tackle, Yodny Cajuste, too, as he was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. At 6-foot-7 and 312 pounds, though, McKivitz possesses size you just can’t teach, making him a hot commodity for lineman-needy teams.

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With the right tutelage, McKivitz could work his way into the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Where a slew of injuries forced Cajuste down draft boards, McKivitz doesn’t have those same issues; he’ll be coveted just as Cajuste was pre-injury.