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          College Football Nation Blog

          McShay projects BYU OL as a first rounder in 2011

          • Graham Watson, College FootballApr 28, 2010, 04:03 PM ET
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              Watson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Missouri Tigers and the Big 12 Conference for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She also covered college football recruiting for the Dallas Morning News.

          With the 2010 draft in the books, ESPN’s Scouts Inc., analyst Todd McShay is looking ahead to 2011.

          That’s right. McShay released his first 2011 mock first round draftInsider, which includes a player from the nonautomatic qualifying schools.

          McShay projects that BYU offensive lineman Matt Reynolds will be selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 20th pick.

          Reynolds’ job is to protect the quarterback’s blindside. He has spent the past two seasons as a left tackle protecting Max Hall, but has yet to figure out where he’ll play in 2010. The Cougars are still trying to determine their quarterback situation. If freshman Jake Heaps gets the job, Reynolds will stay on the left. If it’s junior Riley Nelson, a southpaw, Reynolds will shift to the right.

          That type of versatility is what has made Reynolds the best offensive lineman on BYU, one of the best in the Mountain West Conference and according to McShay, one of the best in the country.

          Of course, McShay’s projection is based on Reynolds opting to leave school a year early since he’ll be a junior in 2010.

          Reynolds is the third of four brothers to play on the offensive line for BYU. His brother Dallas is a center for the Eagles.