Scouting Report: Spencer Fano
Name: Spencer Fano | Height: 6’6” | Weight: 308 lbs | School: Utah | Year: Junior
Strengths
- Run Blocking: A consistent "mauler" who displays excellent technique, power, and drive.
- Athleticism: Moves well for his size; slides fluidly and excels at pulling or reaching the second level.
- Engaged Control: Displays strong hand placement and balance; effectively uses an aggressive rusher’s momentum against them.
- Anchor: Maintains a sturdy anchor and rarely gets overpowered, even when giving up initial ground.
- Reliability: A long-time starter with a proven track record; allowed only three sacks over his entire three-year career.
Concerns
- Processing: Struggles at times to diagnose stunts, blitzes, and second-level assignments.
- Speed Rushers: Can get caught flat-footed against elite edge speed; prone to "grabby" hand placement around the collar/neck area.
- Footwork: Feet can become heavy or "stuck in the mud" when mirroring quicker pass rushers.
- Technical Discipline: Needs to avoid reaching or placing hands too wide, which increases the risk of holding penalties.
Overview:
Spencer Fano has been a cornerstone of the Utah offensive line for four years. A homegrown talent and former top recruit, Fano stepped into a starting role almost immediately, playing 12 of 13 games as a freshman before taking over as the full-time starter at right tackle.
Fano is a highly solid, dependable tackle who excels in the run game. He is a natural mauler who uses his size and athleticism to displace defenders at the point of attack. While Utah’s complex blocking scheme frequently asks him to pull or navigate to the second level, Fano handles these responsibilities with relative ease. Occasionally, he struggles to identify the correct target once he reaches the second level, but this is likely an issue of scheme complexity rather than a lack of football IQ.
In pass protection, Fano is a cerebral player who is comfortable baiting defenders and reacting to their moves. While he may not possess an elite initial burst off the snap, his fluid lateral movement allows him to mirror most defensive ends. His biggest tests came against elite speed—most notably a high-profile matchup against David Bailey—where he occasionally struggled to keep his hands clean. Against such speed, Fano’s hands can drift high toward the collar, leading to holding risks.
Ultimately, Fano is an impressive prospect who profiles as a day-one starter in the NFL. A run-first team will particularly value his mauling style. While he will need to sharpen his technique against elite NFL speed, his track record of pass protection—allowing only three sacks in three seasons—is a testament to his consistency and poise.
Film Reviewed: Arizona State (2025), BYU (2025), Kansas (2025), Texas Tech (2025), Kansas State (2025)
Written By: Tom Schultz
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