Xavier Su’a-Filo quickly found a home Friday, as the UCLA guard was selected by the Houston Texans with the first pick of the second round. Su’a-Filo was the highest drafted UCLA offensive lineman since Jonathan Ogden was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in 1996.
Su’a-Filo was rated as one of the top guards in the draft by many experts, and is known for the athleticism and agility that he displays on pull plays and getting off the snap quickly. He figures to add to an offensive line that helped the offense average 108.9 yards on the ground a year ago.
With his experience playing both tackle and guard, Su’a-Filo provided a stabilizing force in 2013 for a Bruins offensive line that ended the season with a different starter at every spot than what was seen on opening day but center. The versatility that made Su’a-Filo extra valuable to UCLA probably won’t factor much into his starting minutes at the pro level. Many draft analysts, such Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay of ESPN, see Su’a-Filo as solely a guard, albeit one of the best ones available this year.
Compiled by Jordan Lee, Bruin Sports senior staff.