DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk NFL Draft 2026 Browns #9 pick Utah OT Spencer Fano

He was my #1 OT. I’m happy with this pick.

Dane Brugler's write-up....

BACKGROUND
Spencer Fano (fawn-oh), one of six children in his family (five boys, one girl), was born and raised in Spanish Fork, Utah, by his parents
(Bingham and Lori). His father, who grew up in American Samoa, attended Harvard Business School and is now a marketing vice
president. Spencer has a close bond with his older brother (Logan), who was a defensive end at BYU and Utah and is also a 2026 NFL
Draft prospect. His sister (Shalyn) played college basketball at Southern Utah (2019-20), Utah Valley (2020-23) and Grand Canyon
(2023-24). His younger brother (Mataio) is a four-star offensive tackle recruit in the 2028 class and holds offers from BYU and Utah.
He has four uncles (Gabe Reid, Spencer Reid, Tenny Palepoi and Anton Palepoi) who played in the NFL. Anton Palepoi played defensive
end at UNLV and was a second-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2002 NFL Draft. Fano’s cousin (Karene Reid) was a
linebacker at Utah (2021-24) and played for the Denver Broncos in 2025 as an undrafted free agent.

Fano started playing football in kindergarten, competing against third graders because he was so much bigger than kids his age. He was
primarily a running back throughout little league (he loved watching Marshawn Lynch and the Seattle Seahawks growing up). Fano also
wrestled and played basketball, and his father helped train both Logan and Spencer Fano throughout their childhoods. Because of his
size, Fano moved to the trenches in the eighth grade.

Spencer Fano enrolled at Timpview High School, which was a half-hour drive from the family’s house but provided the best available
opportunities. He initially wanted to play on the defensive line, but the coaches convinced him to make offensive line his primary
position. As he made the transition, he strived to emulate Penei Sewell. Despite weighing just 215 pounds as a sophomore, Fano worked
himself into the starting rotation at right tackle and earned second- team all-region honors in 2020. As a junior, he earned
all-conference and all-state honors at right tackle and helped Timpview to a 9-3 record and the 2021 regional championship. Fano again
earned all-state honors at right tackle as a senior and blocked for an offense that averaged more than 40 points per game. He helped
lead Timpview to a 10-win season in 2022 and earned an invitation to the All-American Bowl.

A four-star recruit, Fano was the ninth-ranked offensive tackle in the 2023 class and the No. 1 recruit in Utah. Before he’d become a
full-time varsity starter, he received his first scholarship offer (Utah) in June 2020. Fano collected a few dozen more offers over the next
two years, including from heavy-hitters such as BYU, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, Stanford, Tennessee, USC and Washington.
During his senior season, Fano announced a final four of Clemson, Michigan, Oregon and Utah. He initially thought he wanted to leave
his home state for college (his family expected him to pick Michigan), but Fano felt most comfortable at Utah. When his brother, Logan,
decided to transfer from BYU to Utah, it made the decision even easier.

Spencer Fano was the top-ranked recruit in former head coach Kyle Whittingham’s 2023 class. He has a close relationship with Isaac
Asiata, a 2017 NFL Draft pick out of Utah and former assistant coach for the Utes (2023-25). After starting each of his first three years
with the Utes, Fano elected to opt out of the team’s bowl game and declare for the NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS
● Lean, fluid athlete with an evenly-distributed frame
● Above-average foot quickness and movement ability in everything he does
● Easily gains ground in pass protection with proper depth to cut off rush angles
● Uses quick, independent hands for commanding strikes in pass sets
● Latch-and-drive bully in run game and has affection for finishing
● Rangy on pulls — does some of his best work away from the line of scrimmage
● Fits up and erases linebackers at second level
● Enjoys hitting people and shows outstanding play demeanor for all four quarters
● Voted one of four team captains (and the only underclassman) in 2025 (Fano: “I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love
football.”)
● Fun, gregarious personality; always has a smile on his face (NFL scout: “Has some class clown to him, but in a likeable way. … He’s
all business when it’s time to work but always keeps things light.”)
● Enrolled at Utah at 265 pounds and added almost 50 pounds during first year on campus
● Smart and self-aware to understand strengths and where he must get better
● Durable — played in 37 straight games over three years in college

WEAKNESSES
● Narrow-shouldered and narrow-hipped, with average body length
● Needs to continue developing core and anchor strength
● Gets in trouble when he sets flat and allows longer defenders into his frame
● Inconsistent hand placement mid-slide, leaving him susceptible to spins and inside counters (see 2025 Texas Tech tape)
● Needs to cut down on youthful mistakes (blocking downfield wiped out touchdown on 2025 Texas Tech tape; costly holding on
Wyoming tape)
● Played left tackle in 2023 but is more natural at right tackle (played exclusively right tackle in high school)

SUMMARY
A three-year starter at Utah, Fano played right tackle in former offensive coordinator Jason Beck’s RPO-based spread scheme (also
lined up as a jumbo tight end in unbalanced sets). After becoming an immediate starter at left tackle as a true freshman, he moved to his
more natural right tackle spot the past two seasons and became just the fifth unanimous All-American in school history (and the first on
offense). He also became the first Utah player to win the Outland Trophy and was the second of Polynesian descent to win the honor
(Sewell was the first).
An impressive athlete for the position, Fano is quick out of his stance in pass protection and has the bend, balance and sudden hands to
neutralize different types of rushers. When Utah needed a yard, it ran behind No. 55 and his efficient footwork and hips — particularly
on power-play skip-pulls, where he could fit up defenders and take them for a ride. Though he plays like someone just pissed in his
Cheerios[a], he doesn’t have overwhelming power to manhandle NFL size, and his undeveloped anchor could be an issue early in his
career. Overall, Fano has the feet, demeanor and recovery balance of a starting NFL tackle. He also has a knack for
losing slowly, despite possessing average length and core strength. He has the talent to be an immediate NFL starter
at right tackle or guard.

Has a legendary mentor for the asking I’m sure…

Mine, too.

Refs can close the duplicate I made on the topic....

Dane Brugler's write-up....

BACKGROUND
Spencer Fano (fawn-oh), one of six children in his family (five boys, one girl), was born and raised in Spanish Fork, Utah, by his parents
(Bingham and Lori). His father, who grew up in American Samoa, attended Harvard Business School and is now a marketing vice
president. Spencer has a close bond with his older brother (Logan), who was a defensive end at BYU and Utah and is also a 2026 NFL
Draft prospect. His sister (Shalyn) played college basketball at Southern Utah (2019-20), Utah Valley (2020-23) and Grand Canyon
(2023-24). His younger brother (Mataio) is a four-star offensive tackle recruit in the 2028 class and holds offers from BYU and Utah.
He has four uncles (Gabe Reid, Spencer Reid, Tenny Palepoi and Anton Palepoi) who played in the NFL. Anton Palepoi played defensive
end at UNLV and was a second-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2002 NFL Draft. Fano’s cousin (Karene Reid) was a
linebacker at Utah (2021-24) and played for the Denver Broncos in 2025 as an undrafted free agent.

Fano started playing football in kindergarten, competing against third graders because he was so much bigger than kids his age. He was
primarily a running back throughout little league (he loved watching Marshawn Lynch and the Seattle Seahawks growing up). Fano also
wrestled and played basketball, and his father helped train both Logan and Spencer Fano throughout their childhoods. Because of his
size, Fano moved to the trenches in the eighth grade.

Spencer Fano enrolled at Timpview High School, which was a half-hour drive from the family’s house but provided the best available
opportunities. He initially wanted to play on the defensive line, but the coaches convinced him to make offensive line his primary
position. As he made the transition, he strived to emulate Penei Sewell. Despite weighing just 215 pounds as a sophomore, Fano worked
himself into the starting rotation at right tackle and earned second- team all-region honors in 2020. As a junior, he earned
all-conference and all-state honors at right tackle and helped Timpview to a 9-3 record and the 2021 regional championship. Fano again
earned all-state honors at right tackle as a senior and blocked for an offense that averaged more than 40 points per game. He helped
lead Timpview to a 10-win season in 2022 and earned an invitation to the All-American Bowl.

A four-star recruit, Fano was the ninth-ranked offensive tackle in the 2023 class and the No. 1 recruit in Utah. Before he’d become a
full-time varsity starter, he received his first scholarship offer (Utah) in June 2020. Fano collected a few dozen more offers over the next
two years, including from heavy-hitters such as BYU, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, Stanford, Tennessee, USC and Washington.
During his senior season, Fano announced a final four of Clemson, Michigan, Oregon and Utah. He initially thought he wanted to leave
his home state for college (his family expected him to pick Michigan), but Fano felt most comfortable at Utah. When his brother, Logan,
decided to transfer from BYU to Utah, it made the decision even easier.

Spencer Fano was the top-ranked recruit in former head coach Kyle Whittingham’s 2023 class. He has a close relationship with Isaac
Asiata, a 2017 NFL Draft pick out of Utah and former assistant coach for the Utes (2023-25). After starting each of his first three years
with the Utes, Fano elected to opt out of the team’s bowl game and declare for the NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS
● Lean, fluid athlete with an evenly-distributed frame
● Above-average foot quickness and movement ability in everything he does
● Easily gains ground in pass protection with proper depth to cut off rush angles
● Uses quick, independent hands for commanding strikes in pass sets
● Latch-and-drive bully in run game and has affection for finishing
● Rangy on pulls — does some of his best work away from the line of scrimmage
● Fits up and erases linebackers at second level
● Enjoys hitting people and shows outstanding play demeanor for all four quarters
● Voted one of four team captains (and the only underclassman) in 2025 (Fano: “I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love
football.”)
● Fun, gregarious personality; always has a smile on his face (NFL scout: “Has some class clown to him, but in a likeable way. … He’s
all business when it’s time to work but always keeps things light.”)
● Enrolled at Utah at 265 pounds and added almost 50 pounds during first year on campus
● Smart and self-aware to understand strengths and where he must get better
● Durable — played in 37 straight games over three years in college

WEAKNESSES
● Narrow-shouldered and narrow-hipped, with average body length
● Needs to continue developing core and anchor strength
● Gets in trouble when he sets flat and allows longer defenders into his frame
● Inconsistent hand placement mid-slide, leaving him susceptible to spins and inside counters (see 2025 Texas Tech tape)
● Needs to cut down on youthful mistakes (blocking downfield wiped out touchdown on 2025 Texas Tech tape; costly holding on
Wyoming tape)
● Played left tackle in 2023 but is more natural at right tackle (played exclusively right tackle in high school)

SUMMARY
A three-year starter at Utah, Fano played right tackle in former offensive coordinator Jason Beck’s RPO-based spread scheme (also
lined up as a jumbo tight end in unbalanced sets). After becoming an immediate starter at left tackle as a true freshman, he moved to his
more natural right tackle spot the past two seasons and became just the fifth unanimous All-American in school history (and the first on
offense). He also became the first Utah player to win the Outland Trophy and was the second of Polynesian descent to win the honor
(Sewell was the first).
An impressive athlete for the position, Fano is quick out of his stance in pass protection and has the bend, balance and sudden hands to
neutralize different types of rushers. When Utah needed a yard, it ran behind No. 55 and his efficient footwork and hips — particularly
on power-play skip-pulls, where he could fit up defenders and take them for a ride. Though he plays like someone just pissed in his
Cheerios[a], he doesn’t have overwhelming power to manhandle NFL size, and his undeveloped anchor could be an issue early in his
career. Overall, Fano has the feet, demeanor and recovery balance of a starting NFL tackle. He also has a knack for
losing slowly, despite possessing average length and core strength. He has the talent to be an immediate NFL starter
at right tackle or guard.

j/c:

Someone do a safety check on IrishDawg.

Rebuilding that OL good Job Berry

He is a RIGHT tackle , right ?

He played LT his Jr. year and RT last year

So we draft the RT to play LT instead of the LT who outplayed him. Browns doing Browns things. So annoying.

Come on man

They had him working out at center at the Sr. Bowl. That turns be off a bit.

The video I watched of him this year very closely mirrored what was said in the video Memphis posted in the OL draft thread.

A few quick points:
- He was one of the very few that looked angry blocking. Finishing through the whistle.
- When the defender knocked him off balance, he was quick to regain his base.
- Really quick on stopping the outside rush with his outside step, would drive them into the ground if they couldn't bend around him. Would drive them past the QB if they had the step.
- Hands/Punch were solid, very few times DEs would knock the punch down and swim through.
- Quick feet to get to the second level and to get into in front of defenders horizontally

- Had times he was beat with inside spin move
- did a solid job with recognizing stunts, though was late a couple times through the year.

I am not excited about the pick
Ravens pick 5 picks later and get the better o-lineman (IMO)

Same ...Come on man

Great Pick, O line is Finished. Finally a guy that REALLY wants to be a LT. Nice trade down and good value. Good Job AB

We don't know where he's going to play yet, but Utah moved Fano from LT to RT to get their best players on the field and Fano at RT and Lomu at LT was a better combination than the other way around as Fano is the better run blocker and a more physical player than Lomu who is more of a finesse player.

Tackles are tackles.

Andrew Berry being Andrew Berry . The smartest guy in the room .
Hes such a great GM this is the 2nd " franchise LT " hes drafted .

That turns me off a lot! We could have had Procter (my pick for what it's worth). Fano/Conceptcion...very underwhelming IMO. I sure hope Day 2 goes better than this one.

You really need to watch his film. Fano is so athletic that he can play all 5 positions on the offensive line. That trait is extremely rare and valuable. He is also really strong with very violent hands at the point of attack. He grades well as both a pass and run blocker. He has not given up a sack this year. He measured 32 7/8 inches with his arms, which is plenty long enough to play left tackle in the NFL. He bench-pressed 30 reps, which shows his core strength. His best natural position may be Left Tackle, where he has experience in high School and at Utah. He is by far the better lineman between him and Lomu, who was also drafted in the first round. Proctor's play is undisciplined, despite the amazing natural talent and size. Fano is a better fit. He has already added weight, but He's going to add additional weight in his legs, which will increase his driving power. He deserved to be the first lineman taken in the draft. The Browns got a real one in this draft.

Some of yall are really upset that we got a guy giving up 0 sacks.

I’m fine with the selection of Fano but I wish we hadn’t drafted a WR with drop issues.
Hopefully KC will grind and work hard on fixing the problem.

Both picks come with some concern - but if Tackles are Tackles and we have a solid LT, this is a win. Going to be interesting to see who we get with the other picks. I think I would have been so so tempted to go with Downs at #9 - and I don't know how you then find your LT but I would have loved to see Downs on the this Browns defense.

I prefer a LT that is good enough to be a starting LT in college. A good LT ONLY plays LT. They learn other positions when they aren't. If he isn't good enough to start at LT in college then why should he be drafted as a LT for the pros. It doesn't make any sense. He is a good kid though. I will be rooting for him to prove me wrong but I am usually not when it comes to LTs.

KC is a dice roll. He will have a series of fantastic plays and then he will have a series where he can't catch the ball. This means he has trouble staying focused and disciplined. He is going to have a game where he looks like a stud followed by a game where we want him GONE. Boston would have been a far better choice. We don't have a single receiver with reliable hands on the entire team except Fannon.

Looks like we are still in the sweepstakes for Arch. Looks like Myles gets traded away next season. This is a terrible draft so far.

Very safe pick. Same as last year when the Browns selected Mason Graham. Fano is a very solid OLineman better in the run game than pass protection. While he is not seen as a Joe Thomas LT he should be a solid Olineman for a decade barring injury. Getting the extra 3rd and 5th and then selecting the players targeted at #6 was a very good deal. There are a lot of things that Berry could be criticized for but not what he did here.

Tackles are tackles.

Having the first shot at an OT Fano certainly wouldn't have been my selection. But then I'm just a guy posting on a message board. I don't have the vast resources that an NFL team does. I don't have an extensive scouting department like they do. I don't have an extensive analytics department to break this all down. With all that in mind, since they have all of those things at their disposal which we don't, the millions invested in all of that means they should be right and I should be wrong. But with their track record that's a huge question mark at this point.

I sure hope it turns out they were right and I am wrong on Fano.

I'm not sure the guy you're describing was in this draft. It sounds like Fano would have been the LT if it hadn't created an issue on the other side.

So now we have 2 guys (or 1.5 with Dawand's injury issues) that have played at both tackle spots. OL is "complete" in that we have bodies slotted into all 5 spots... it was always going to be a work in progress into the season regardless of how we executed the rebuild.

Their other OT was Lomu who was drafted in the first round.

I'm just curious. When have you ever seen a team use their best OT on the right side unless they have a left handed QB? I can't recall seeing that. If Lomu was somehow the cause for problems on the right side of their OL and that's the reason they moved Fano to RT, wouldn't that simply create more problems at the LT position? For some reason the math doesn't quite add up on that.

We saw how the "tackles are tackles" thing worked out before.