Olaivavega Ioane is a guard and 2026 NFL Draft prospect who played for Penn State after transferring from the University of Washington. A native of Graham, Washington, Ioane was a three-star recruit who briefly committed to Washington before signing with Penn State just 60 minutes before signing day in February 2022. He appeared in limited action as a redshirt freshman before winning five starts in 2023, earning Offensive Player of the Week recognition from the coaching staff after a strong performance against Iowa. He seized the starting left guard spot full-time in 2024, starting all 16 games as Penn State reached the College Football Playoff semifinals and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors from coaches and media. In 2025 he was dominant, surrendering just four pressures across 613 pass-blocking snaps while allowing zero sacks and zero quarterback hits, earning first-team All-Big Ten and first-team All-American recognition, then opting out of the Pinstripe Bowl to prepare for the draft.
Measuring 6 feet 4 inches and approximately 329 to 330 pounds, Ioane is one of the most physically dominant interior linemen in the class, combining elite lower-body strength and hand power with a punishing finish mentality that consistently drives defenders off the ball on double teams and in combination blocks. His pass protection tape in 2025 is exceptional, with patience in his sets, powerful strikes that stun rushers at first contact, and an impressive feel for stunts and delayed pressures. The concerns most frequently noted are his arm length, which measures around 32.75 inches and is below the preferred threshold for a guard, and his lateral quickness, which becomes an issue when quicker three-techniques can cross his face before he can redirect. He projects as a late first-round or early second-round selection with all-pro upside if his functional mobility develops and his hand timing continues to improve against elite interior rushers at the professional level.
