Keagen Trost is a 6’4”, 316-pound offensive lineman from Kankakee, Illinois, who took a long and unconventional path to becoming a full-time SEC starter. He committed to Morgan State out of high school and played his freshman season there in 2019. He then transferred to Indiana State, where he missed his entire first year in 2020 due to COVID and battled several undisclosed injuries from 2021-2023, but would ultimately become a solid FCS starter. He advanced his career during the 2024 season at Wake Forest by starting 11 right tackle games against Power Five competition before completing his career at Missouri as a graduate transfer in 2025. That season was the best of his career, as he anchored the right tackle spot, allowed just one sack, seven pressures, and earned an elite 92.4 PFF grade, establishing himself as a good NFL prospect through his great power, gap blocking, and anchoring abilities. Throughout his college career, he recorded more than 2,800 snaps, resulting in 8 sacks, 7 quarterback hits, and 33 hurries, while demonstrating consistent improvement at each level of competition.
Trost’s game depends more on his ability to maintain strength, power, and stability than his athleticism. His body structure is very thick and well-built, which allows him to use his upper-body strength during downhill movements from a square stance. His starting speed enables him to move well from point A to point B in a straight line, but he lacks lateral mobility and strong redirection when facing a longer defender with speed off the edge. More of his strength exists in his cognitive abilities than in his physical skills. Trost demonstrates strong defensive skills because he understands defensive patterns and leverage, which helps him identify stunts, twists, and blitzes, while staying composed. His ability to adapt to different offensive systems stems from his experience across multiple programs, as he has played various schemes while maintaining his understanding of the game. He maintains a steady play speed, which enables him to reach his designated position and fulfill his duties, but this speed becomes a disadvantage when he needs to address problems that arise during play.
The identity of Trost as a player shows up clearly in how he wins reps. He achieves peak performance when he uses square stance to deliver his first punch before transforming the match into a contest of strength. His hand usage is reliable against power, as he times his punch well and uses his grip strength to control and steer defenders once engaged. The run game shows his strongest performance through downhill concepts, which let him drive blocks to create movement while executing double teams and reaching the second level through controlled climbing. He anchors exceptionally well and keeps the pocket clean against bullrushes with his strong base and ability to land his punch early in the rep. Trost plays with a low pad level putting him in a good position to place his hands on his assignment, but also does not rely on flash technique like a lot of other tackles in this class. The limitations of his game show themselves in the same way. His shorter arm length and foot speed make it difficult for him to consistently handle edge rushers with speed and length, and his biggest tell comes against inside counters. His feet stop moving when defenders change direction or attack from inside-out, which causes him to over extend on his lunge instead of resetting his feet, causing him to lose leverage and not recover once he loses the rep. He can operate within zone systems, but his spatial range limits his ability to win in open areas of the field. His physical attributes better match guard position, where he can optimize his strength and anchor power and his ability to maintain square position.
Scheme Fit and Team Fit:
Trost performs best in a gap-heavy scheme that emphasizes a unique blend of power and vertical speed downhill. If the team that drafts him runs a lot of 13 personnel that can assist him with speed on the edge, then he can flourish at tackle, if not a move to guard would be very suitable for his playstyle. The Steelers, Ravens and Bears are all teams that employ some of these looks that can help maximize Trost’s strengths.
NFL Player Comp: Isaiah Wynn
Trost compares well to Isaiah Wynn as a lineman who wins with strength, technique, and control rather than athleticism. The two players face difficulties because their tackling performance requires them to demonstrate both length and foot speed to handle fast opponents and counter techniques, which suggests they would be better suited as guards given their existing strengths.
Projection: League Average Starter
Trost is an average starting offensive lineman who excels in his position when he plays in his optimal system, which emphasizes downhill, power-based schemes. His combination of strength, experience, and dependable performance enables him to maintain a continuous presence on the field. His speed and ability to react to counter-moves will pose challenges at the next level. He adds value through his ability to perform consistently and match his assigned duties rather than through exceptional potential. It is also important to note that his arm length is a lot shorter than the NFL average, and he is about to turn 25 years old; both of those things could very well suggest a move to guard and could potentially stunt his growth if placed in the wrong system.
Grade and Round Projection: 4.83, 5th Round Pick
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