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On Friday night in Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Chargers used their second round selection (38 overall) on Western Kentucky tackle Forrest Lamp. Lamp was a four year starter with WKU playing in 51 out of 53 games and didn’t give up sack in his junior and senior seasons. The Hilltoppers were the Conference USA champions in both of those seasons. Lamp was also third-team AP All-American as a senior and earned all-conference honors or honorable mention in each of his college seasons.
Here’s a look at his combine results.
- Height: 6’ 4”
- Weight: 309 Lbs
- Arm Length: 32 1/4”
- Hands: 10 5/8”
- 225 Lb. Bench Press: 34 reps
- Vertical Jump: 27.5”
- Broad Jump: 9’ 3”
- 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.62
- 3-Cone Drill: 7.55
Lamp’s selection broke a couple of notable records for the Tops and for Conference USA. Not only is Lamp the highest selected WKU player in history, he is also the earliest offensive line selection in the history of Conference USA.
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The previously earliest selected WKU player was defensive back Joseph Jefferson back in 2002 when he was selected by the Colts in the third round (74 overall). The previously earliest selected CUSA lineman was Sebastian Vollmer out of Houston when the Patriots nabbed him in the second round of the 2009 draft.
Other WKU players projected to be drafted this weekend include receiver Taywan Taylor, defensive lineman Omarius Bryant, linebacker Keith Brown, offensive lineman Max Halpin, and defensive back Branden Leston.
Lamp will more than likely move down to guard due to concerns about his arm length. His strength, however, will allow him to help the Chargers improve on just over 2 yards per rush a year ago. The team is really still figuring out their o-line with the addition of Russell Okung from Denver last month and injury concerns with #1 right guard Donavan Clark. Lamp can really play guard and tackle well and he has the potential to learn center, so he can be a great utility guy for a line that needs improvement.
Wherever they throw him in, he’s definitely proven that he can more than hold his own against NFL caliber defensive lineman. I’d expect Lamp to get some solid time blocking for Melvin Gordon and Philip Rivers this season.