Measurables
UNIVERSITY- Central Michigan AGE- 24 CLASS- SR
HEIGHT- 6’6 ⅛” WEIGHT- 304 ARM LENGTH- 33”
40 Time- 3 CONE- VERTICAL- BROAD JUMP- BENCH PRESS-
Overview
Bernhard Raimainn was raised in Steinbrunn, Austria. In efforts to pursue a career in football at the age of 14 he went to a school called Ballsportgymnasium Wien, an athletic-driven school in Vienna, Austria. For his junior year in high school, he moved to Detroit as a foreign exchange student. There he was a track/field stand-out as well as a wrestling stand-out to go along with football. His host family included a former Central Michigan football player. After his junior year he then returned to Vienna to graduate from Ballsportgymnasium Wien. From there he served his mandatory military service for the country of Austria. Once his military requirements were fulfilled he committed to Central Michigan where he was recruited as a tight end. In 2018 as a freshman he played in all 12 games(starting 4), he finished the season with 10 receptions for 88 yards. In 2019 Raimann appeared in all 14 games, starting 7. He totaled 10 catches for 76 yards. After the 2019 season the Central Michigan coaching staff decided to transition Raimann to OT. In his first season at OT he started in all 6 games, earning All-MAC honorable mentions. As a junior(covid JR) in 2021 he played in 12 games and earned First-team All-MAC, received All-American consideration by some publications and was named PFFs Offensive Player of the Year for the MAC.
Strengths
When you watch Bernhard Raimann play it’s impossible to know he’s only been playing OT for two years. He’s deceptively a very mobile athlete with fantastic foot quickness. Rainmann really shows off his athletic ability as a pass protector where he does a nice job of expanding speed rushers outside pass-rush arc. He shows excellent ability to redirect his momentum and adjust to counters from a rusher, especially the quick counter moves inside. More than anything though, there’s no wasted movement or steps in Raimann’s game, he does a very nice job of staying controlled and square. The lack of false steps allows him to never over-extend himself and fall off-balance. In addition to that, Raimann always manages to keep his hands inside to avoid holding penalties. There is a lot of polish to the technical side of his game as a pass protector. Bernhard also shows fantastic hand strength that makes it difficult for edge defenders to disengage once he gets locked-on. He shows great initial punch from his hands and a strong lower body base to hold the point of attack. As a run defender he is able to show his athleticism very well, He’s not the most nimble of athletes but he is always balanced and remains square to his targets. He does an excellent job on the move, reaching edge defenders and sealing off the perimeter; he shows good body-positioning in this aspect. His ability to stay balanced and square allows him to be great at reaching second level blocks. Rainmann also shows a very good understanding of his limitations, he won’t go chasing a block he knows he can’t make. He will simply turn up-field and look for someone else to block. I wouldn’t be surprised if Raimann is a step-in day 1 starter at OT, if not he will certainly be a valuable swing.
Weaknesses/Room for Improvement
I said previously that I believed Raimann wasn’t the most nimble of athletes so I’ll expand on that. You see Rainmann struggle to sit down in his pass-pro set, he is a very straight-up blocker. He lacks the hip-flexibility that you would like to see from an OT. This allows for edge defenders to win the leverage battle against him as he is unable to hold his base when players get underneath him. Rushers who excel at converting speed to power will likely be able to win against Raimann. He wins when he is able to get inside on rushers but his lack of length will make it more difficult for him to get inside. Defenders with good length are able to keep him at distance and fly past him at times. He shows a lack of leverage in the run game as well, where he again plays too straight-up. This prevents Raimann from getting good leg drive to finish blocks. There is more or less just a standstill when Raimann engages with defenders in the run game. Powerful players will be able to get around him if he’s asked to hold to the point of attack for an extended period of time. Although he shows really good foot quickness, it isn’t elite and he still has the ability to get beat by speed rushers. He won’t wow you with his athleticism working to seal the edge in the run game. He struggles with chopping defenders down and often ends up belly-flopping. Bernhard Raimann is such a young player at the position that’ll intrigue a lot of teams, if he can improve his ability to play with better leverage he could develop drastically.
Scheme Fit
Zone-Run Scheme as an OT
Round Grade
2nd Round