Kirk Barton OL 6’4 310 Ohio St.

Barton took over at right tackle midway through his freshman season and has been a fixture at right tackle since then. He earned all Big 10 honors last year for his play on the field. Barton played so well as a senior, that he received some AA honors.

Barton is an intelligent lineman that could bring some versatility to the next level. He has very good technique, and is rarely out of position. He sets up quickly off the snap and has the lateral agility in a short area to mirror the defender in pass protection. In the running game, he gains leverage on the defender quickly and will not give up until the play is over. He has a lot of experience at right tackle, but could project to a guard position as well, giving his team some flexibility on the offensive line.

While Barton may bring some versatility, it may stem from the fact that he may not have a true position at the next level. He does not appear to be as big as his listed size, which should make him a little undersized at guard or tackle. As a tackle, he lacks ideal athleticism to match up in pass protection with edge rusher. As a guard, he may lack the power at the point of attack to move defenders off the ball.

Barton is smart and tough, and that should allow him to find a role in the NFL. He could fit at right tackle or potentially inside at guard. He may never be a dominating force, but he could develop into a consistent contributor for his team.