Ali Marpet

Hobart offensive lineman Ali Marpet is fast, strong and intelligent, but the leap from Division III to the NFL can be difficult to project.

(AP File Photo)

Leading up to the 2015 NFL draft, MLive.com writers Justin Rogers and Kyle Meinke will preview prospects who could be a fit for the Detroit Lions.

Name: Ali Marpet

Position: Offensive lineman

School: Hobart

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 307 pounds

Projected round: Second-third

40-yard dash time: 4.98 seconds

Bench press reps: 30 reps

Key stats: Marpet started every game the past three seasons, dominating the D-III competition. He didn't allow a sack as a senior and Hobart averaged just north of 200 yards rushing per game in 2014.

How he fits: A left tackle at Hobart, Marpet is expected to slide inside at the professional level. Going against top-flight defensive tackles at the Senior Bowl, including Washington's Danny Shelton, Marpet showed he's up to the task.

Extremely athletic for his size -- with top times in the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle at the combine -- Marpet should have no problems pulling or getting to the second level. That's without sacrificing strength as indicated by his showing on the bench press, which only four linemen bested in Indianapolis.

On top of his physical gifts, Marpet is intelligent, scoring academic All-Conference honors. That should ease the transition, both taking on a new position and learning the significantly more extensive verbiage he'll encounter in the NFL.

Quotable: "I'm pretty aggressive on tape. I'm usually taking the fight to defensive players. I don't really take plays off." -- Marpet describing his style of play.

"Marpet is a good athlete for an offensive lineman. He has good not great NFL size but also has the frame to easily get to 315. While his arm length (32 7/8) is not conducive to playing outside at the NFL, he can easily play guard or even center. Marpet has good feet and plays with bend. He keeps his back straight and stays in balance. He has good initial quickness, comes out of his stance low, and has some snap in his hips when he makes contact. At Hobart, he easily dominated and had no problem knocking opponents off the line of scrimmage. At Mobile (Senior Bowl) this week, he also showed that he could generate movement, especially when he kept his feet moving. I liked that he does a good job keeping his hands inside." -- Greg Gabriel, National Football Post, former director of college scouting for the Chicago Bears.