Gang Green Nation
Taking a look at a young Jets center prospect
The New York Jets recently signed former Purdue center Gus Hartwig as an undrafted free agent. Today we break Hartwig down in detail.
The 23-year old Hartwig is listed at 6’5” and 312 pounds. He was a five-time all-Big Ten honorable mention. He started 48 games in his collegiate career.
Background
Hartwig was a four-star high school recruit who headed to Purdue ahead of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Having been a backup during the first three games, he started the last three games of the year and was named as an all-Big Ten honorable mention.
In 2021, he was named as the starting center and started every game. He also started in 2022 and 2023, although he missed a few games at the end of the 2022 season and the beginning of the 2023 season due to injury. In all three seasons, he was again named as an all-Big Ten honorable mention.
Hartwig would opt to return for a fifth season, during which he again started every game and earned honorable mention recognition for a fifth year in a row.
At the end of his college career, Hartwig was a, NFL scouting combine snub and wasn’t invited to the Senior Bowl, but did play in the Shrine Bowl.
After Hartwig went undrafted, the Jets signed him to an undrafted free agency deal with $190K guaranteed.
Let’s move onto some more in-depth analysis of what Hartwig brings to the table as a player, based on extensive research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
Hartwig has decent size, but below average length and he is tall, so pad level will inevitably be a constant concern.
His pro day numbers were solid but unspectacular, with average speed and agility numbers and slightly above average numbers for explosiveness. He only managed 18 bench press reps though.
Usage
Hartwig played virtually his entire college career at the center position, although his three starts in his freshman year were at right guard. He also moved out to right tackle in the middle of a 2023 game due to an injury, displaying his positional flexibility.
In high school, he played as a guard during his sophomore year but his last two years were at the center position again.
Pass Blocking
Hartwig battles well in pass protection and his numbers were solid throughout his career, as he only gave up six sacks in five seasons. Interestingly, though, his pressure rate didn’t improve over the course of his career and actually increased in his final season.
A lot of the time, he would be employed as a spare man or in a double-team with one of the guards, so he didn’t block one-on-one all the time. When he did, he could sometimes struggle against bull rushes.
He could, at times, find himself isolated in space on a stunt or delayed blitz and lack the short-area range to get across and pick up a defender.
Run Blocking
Hartwig had some success as a...
