NC State center Dylan McMahon stands out at East-West Shrine Bowl
While NC State linebacker Payton Wilson tends to grab all of the NFL Draft headlines among the Wolfpack’s eligible players, center Dylan McMahon spent last week at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas in front of dozens of NFL scouts.
The center was one of two players in a Wolfpack helmet at the 99th annual all-star game, accompanied by long snapper Joe Shimko. But it was McMahon that impressed those in attendance during the practices.
Nick Baumgardner, a senior writer and NFL Draft analyst for The Athletic, tabbed McMahon (6-2, 295) as one of the 15 most intriguing players at this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl.
“Don’t get lost in the measurables here. Despite a small frame and less-than-ideal length, McMahon is an explosive, balanced athlete who’ll jump very well — he was a member of Bruce Feldman’s 2022 Freaks List,” Baumgardner wrote. “I didn’t see him lose a padded rep in team drills. McMahon’s hand speed and general burst off the snap was too much for just about everyone he encountered, in protection or in the run game.”
“One of his first reps of the week came against Auburn bull rusher Justin Rogers (6-2, 338),” Baumgardner continued. “McMahon got his hands on Rogers first, maintained leverage and ate the former five-star recruit’s best shot with great anchor and balance throughout the rep.”
Baumgardner was not the only media member to rave about McMahon’s practices in Frisco. Chad Reuter, NFL.com’s draft analyst, named the center the No. 2 performer after the Jan. 29 practice at the event.
“McMahon has been the best lineman in Frisco this week,” Reuter wrote. “He played some guard in earlier practices but starred at center Monday, stuffing big tackles like Auburn’s Justin Rogers in one-on-ones, even though he gave up over 40 pounds. McMahon’s powerful base allowed him to sit in his stance against Washington’s Tuli Letuligasenoa in team work, which is no mean feat.”
“The quickness and strength of his hands into the body of his man after the snap were impressive; once engaged, McMahon sticks on his man throughout plays in team or position drills with balance and footwork,” Reuter continued. “He looked like an eventual NFL starter.”
McMahon, a four-year starter on the Wolfpack’s offensive line, is the No. 9 center available in the draft, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.
The Savannah, Ga., native played 684 snaps across 11 of the Pack’s 13 games in his first season as the team’s primary center. He posted an overall grade of 66.2, according to Pro Football Focus, including a 71.3 pass blocking score and a 67.8 run blocking mark.
McMahon faced 381 pass blocking snaps this past fall and he allowed just 12 quarterback pressures in the process. Of those opportunities, defenders logged 10 quarterback hurries, one quarterback hit and one sack. McMahon conceded the lone sack against Notre Dame in Week 2, and he did not allow another the rest of the season.
Before the 2023 campaign, McMahon was a utility offensive lineman. He played at least 115 snaps at left guard, center and right guard during the 2022 season, and he logged at least 300 snaps at both left and right guard during the 2021 campaign. In the 2020 season, McMahon broke into the starting lineup at right guard.
Through his final two seasons of college football, McMahon allowed just two sacks on 867 pass blocking snaps.
