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Bears’ Coveted Rookie O-Lineman Drawing Early Praise for 'Football Intelligence'
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The Chicago Bears have officially wrapped up offseason camp activities, with OTAs now in the books. All eyes have been on new head coach Ben Johnson as he begins molding this roster in his vision. While much of the buzz has centered around familiar names and position battles, one highly touted rookie has started to make waves—quietly earning the respect of coaches and analysts alike.

Ozzy Trapilo, the 6’8", 316-pound offensive lineman out of Boston College, spent five years refining his craft in the ACC. But coming out of Bears camp, it’s not just his massive frame turning heads—it’s his football IQ. In a recent segment from Bears at CHSN, analyst Jake Butt responded to Trapilo’s post-practice reflections on playing left tackle. Trapilo explained:

‘It’s a little easier I would say because I don’t go flow state like I do if I were to get on the right side. On that foreign side… you’re able to really hone in on the minor differences these coaches want to see.’

Butt followed up with high praise:

‘He seems like a really intelligent football player for a rookie.’

He even likened Trapilo’s mindset to that of Ryan Ramczyk, who successfully transitioned positions and became a three-time All-Pro.

Head coach Ben Johnson also echoed the sentiment early in rookie minicamp shared on the Chicago Bears Youtube channel:

‘He’s exactly who we thought he was going to be—super smart. He takes those concepts in the meeting straight to the field and applies them immediately.’

While the battle for left tackle is far from decided—especially with Braxton Jones still recovering from an ankle injury—Trapilo has firmly inserted himself into the mix. The Bears aren’t handing out starting roles just yet, but if this offseason is any indication, Ozzy Trapilo is someone worth watching.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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