Completing his Stanford career with unanimous All-American honors, Joshua Garnett expects to hear his name called somewhat early during the 2016 NFL Draft.
From the very beginning of his college career at Stanford, it was clear that Joshua Garnett was bound to one day become an NFL player.
Check out images of defensive end Joshua Garnett during his collegiate career at Stanford.
After being one of just three freshman offensive linemen – along with current New Orleans Saints tackle Andrus Peat and fellow 2016 prospect Kyle Murphy – to record action during the 2012 season, Garnett had developed into easily one of the best interior linemen in college football as a senior.
Starting every game for a Cardinal team that would breeze to a Rose Bowl victory, Garnett was selected as the Outland Trophy winner along with becoming just the ninth player in program history to be named an unanimous All-American.
He was also selected to the All-Pac 12 first-team.
During an October game against the University of Washington, Garnett's ability was on full display when he got out in front of running back Christian McCaffery and shouldered a defender completely off his feet, clearing extra running room for the Heisman Trophy candidate.
In January, Garnett participated in the Senior Bowl against some of the top talent in the country.
"Couldn't imagine it, man," Garnett said of being considered one of the top senior prospects. "I mean to be able to do this is a dream. It's a lifelong dream come true to be able to come out here and compete against some of the best, it's awesome."
For now, Garnett, who is Mike Mayock's third rated guard in the draft, feels like he's strongest blocking in the run game.
"I feel like I get off the ball a little bit, which sometimes use it against me a little bit it if get to head heavy," Garnett said. "But yeah, just coming off the ball, finishing plays, kind of bringing it every day, bringing that guy who is going to set the tone."
As he's prepared himself for the NFL, Garnett, who has ideal size at 6-foot-5 and 321 pounds, has been training alongside some of the best prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft.
"I've been training at EXOS in San Diego with guys like Landon Turner, Spencer Drango, all those guys, Jack Conklin, Deforest Buckner, just all those types of guys," Garnett said. "We're out there in San Diego competing with each other, give you a good preparation for the Senior Bowl when you're in there with the weight room, on the field, in the running, just competing with all those guys just gives you really great preparation for all this."
Going against NFL talent has never been a problem for Garnett. He was exposed to that level of play early in college, going against current Redskins outside linebacker Trent Murphy, a second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
"I went against Trent Murphy a couple of times [at Stanford], but I don't think I ever successfully blocked him, as a freshman, at all," Garnett said. "I mean he's just unreal. You see Trent every day, he's a freak, he's one of the freakiest athletes I've ever seen. He's a great guy though, he's a great player, he's going to be one of those guys who is All-Pro, playing for a long time."
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