FARGO — North Dakota State
offensive lineman Cody Mauch
is in the midst of an important week for his NFL Draft future.
The 6-foot-6, 303-pound Mauch is set to start practice Tuesday for the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. The collegiate all-star game for NFL Draft prospects who have completed their college eligibility is slated for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at Hancock Whitney Stadium and televised on the NFL Network.
Dane Brugler, an NFL Draft analyst for "The Athletic," had Mauch projected
to go in the second round of his mock draft in mid-January.
"Mauch might not have the ideal length for tackle in the NFL, but he has movement skills, hand strength and competitiveness to be an early NFL starter, regardless of position," Brugler told The Forum. "He can be a top-50 pick."
Mauch could improve his NFL Draft stock with a strong showing this week in Mobile. He was a walk-on at tight end when he entered the NDSU program and developed into an All-American offensive tackle.
Former Bison wide receiver
Christian Watson had a strong showing at the Senior Bowl last year
and the Green Bay Packers drafted Watson in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Below are images of Mauch during his Bison and high school careers:
North Dakota State's Braylon Henderson carries against Samford with support from Cody Mauch during their FCS quarterfinal championship football game Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, in the Fargodome. Michael Vosburg/Forum Communications Co.
Hankinson's Cody Mauch hauls in a 31-yard touchdown reception against Kidder County's Jamison Magstadt Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, during the N.D. 9-man playoffs in Hankinson. David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State left tackle Cody Mauch readies for FCS semifinal play against Incarnate Word at the Fargodome on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. David Samson/The Forum
North Dakota State's Cody Mauch warms up before play against South Dakota State in the NCAA FCS title game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. David Samson/The Forum
Hankinson tight end Cody Mauch, right, engages at the line of scrimmage against Fargo Davies cornerback Alex York during Tuesday's Badlands Bowl practice at Dickinson State University on June 13, 2017. Forum Communications photo
North Dakota State's Cody Mauch and South Dakota State's Caleb Sanders congratulate each other on the season after the NCAA FCS title game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. David Samson/The Forum
North Dakota State's Cody Mauch, center, cracks a smile with his teammates on media day in the 2019 FCS national title game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State's Cody Mauch drills during warmups before kickoff against Incarnate Word's during the NCAA FCS semifinals at the Fargodome on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. David Samson/The Forum
North Dakota State's Cody Mauch battles Incarnate Word's Sam Latham during the NCAA FCS semifinals at the Fargodome on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. David Samson/The Forum
North Dakota State's Cody Mauch David Samson/The Forum
North Dakota State's Cody Mauch David Samson/The Forum
North Dakota State offensive lineman Cody Mauch poses for photographer Zach Lucy during Bison Football media day at the Fargodome on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. David Samson/The Forum
North Dakota state offensive lineman Cody Mauch flips his hair during warm ups before the FCS semifinal game against James Madison at the Fargodome on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. David Samson/Forum Communications Co.
North Dakota State's Cody Mauch celebrates with family after the win over Montana State during the FCS title game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. David Samson/The Forum
North Dakota State lineman Cody Mauch embraces his upbringing at the family farmstead near Mooreton, North Dakota. David Samson/The Forum
Cody Mauch relishes being a role model for his siblings, including his younger brother Walker. David Samson/The Forum
North Dakota State offensive Cody Mauch is gearing up for his senior season and takes a break from lifting and running with a visit to the family farmstead near Mooreton, North Dakota. David Samson/The Forum
North Dakota State's Cody Mauch and nash jensen leave the field after the loss to Arizona at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. David Samson/The Forum
North Dakota State's Cody Mauch celebrates with family and fans after the win over Montana State during the FCS title game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022.
David Samson/ The Forum
North Dakota State's Costner Ching, Cody Mauch and Cordell Volson celebrate the win over Montana State after the FCS title game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022.
David Samson/ The Forum
North Dakota state offensive lineman Cody Mauch flips his helmet during warm ups before the FCS semifinal game against James Madison at the Fargodome on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. David Samson/Forum Communications Co.
North Dakota State's Cody Mauch leaps to grab a two-point conversion against Montana State during the NCAA FCS semifinal at the Fargodome on Saturday, Dec. 21. David Samson / The Forum
Southern Illinois cornerback James Ceasar rushes from the edge past North Dakota State's Cody Mauch on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, in Carbondale, Ill. David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State offensive lineman Cody Mauch gears up during practice at the Fargodome on Tuesday, Aug. 27. David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State offensive tackle Cody Mauch takes a break during the opening day of football practice on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
North Dakota State offensive lineman Cody Mauch readies for a set of reps during practice at the Fargodome on Tuesday, Aug. 27. David Samson / Forum News Service
Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996.