The Stanford Cardinal’s offensive line took a major hit on Tuesday, as head coach David Shaw announced that offensive tackle Walker Little will be out for the year with a knee injury.
Little started all of 2018 as Stanford’s left tackle, his performance earning him All-Pac-12 first-team honors. A preseason first-team All-American, the junior entered the 2019 season as one of the top offensive linemen in the country.
His 6-foot-7, 309-pound frame, his athleticism for his size and his strength at the point of attack had him viewed by most draft experts as one of the best blockers in the 2020 class. Before his injury, he appeared to be a safe bet to go in the first round of the draft next April.
Little will have a tough road to recovery ahead of him, and his draft stock will surely fall a bit as a result of his injury. However, his tape is good enough to still warrant using an early pick on him. If he chooses to declare for the 2020 draft, he could still end up being a first-round pick to a team in need of a blindside protector.
