Austin Barber Scouting Report

Austin Barber has the overall length, size, and athleticism to develop into a reliable starting OT for an NFL team.

Draft Grade: Round 3 - Adequate Starter

Strengths:

Length: Barber has good overall arm length, which helps him in pass protection and in the run game.

Overall Athleticism: Barber is a good athlete at the OT position. This really shows in the run game and makes him an ideal candidate to be effective in zone run schemes.

Hand Usage: Barber does a good job with his punch timing and his overall hand placement to slow pass rushers in pass protection.

Concerns:

High Pad Level: Barber plays with high pad level, which affects his power in the run game to move defenders off the line of scrimmage. 

Strength to Anchor: When Barber has to deal with power pushers, they are often able to collapse him into the pocket. Barber struggles at times to anchor down and prevent penetration.

Austin Barber Summary/Projection:

Austin Barber is a fifth-year, experienced offensive lineman for the Florida Gators who has seen game action since his freshman year. Barber has been a reliable starter at the left tackle position, using his natural athleticism and length as key components of his ability to win as a tackle in both pass protection and as a run blocker.

From the snap in pass protection, Barber shows his above-average athleticism in how quickly he can gain depth in his pass set. Against speed rushers, he can reach the proper depth to prevent them from quickly winning around the edge. Barber also has the reactionary athleticism to respond to counter moves when defenders cross his face and take inside paths to the quarterback. He can quickly close the distance and get hands on defenders to slow their rush. Barber appears to have above-average arm length, which allows him to initiate contact and start the hand-combat sequence with edge rushers. He can throw effective punches and stay balanced. Because of his good lateral movement and ability to maintain balance, Barber is able to stay engaged with edge rushers while mirroring them laterally.

Barber’s best reps as a run blocker come in zone-blocking schemes. On zone runs, he showcases a quick first step that allows him to seal off the backside of plays or out-leverage defenders on the front side. His first-step quickness makes him reliable in reaching landmarks in zone-style runs. When working combo (duo) blocks up to second-level defenders, Barber does a good job climbing and making effective contact.

Barber’s biggest area for improvement is his overall strength, which would elevate his effectiveness in both the run game and pass protection. In the run game, he can be knocked backward off the line of scrimmage and struggle to generate movement against stronger defensive linemen. In pass protection, Barber has trouble anchoring against defenders who rely on power. Power rushers who initiate contact early can quickly compress the pocket and get pressure on the quarterback.

Overall, Barber has an ideal combination of athletic tools and length that, with the right development, could help him become a starting tackle in the NFL.