Austin Barber
Experience
Position-Specific Grades
COMBINE RESULTS
The Takeaway
The Player
Barber is an experienced SEC left tackle with a good blend of quickness, agility and nastiness. He’s at his best reaching defenders as a zone blocker. His 10-yard split is outstanding, and he gets off the ball well on tape. He gets vertical and gets some push once he’s in position. He works his hips around and latches in scooping backside defensive tackles. He works his track, plays with good body control and quickly reaches linebackers working up to the second level. He washes defensive tackles down the line on inside zone runs. He tracks linebackers well on combination blocks and shows good range when he pulls.
His broad jump is borderline outstanding for an offensive tackle, and he flashes explosive finishing power. He plays with an edge, and he can bury defenders in space.
He works his hands inside, and he mirrors well once he’s latched on as a pass blocker. He can power down when defenders try to beat him to the inside at the snap. He knocks defenders’ hands down and quickly reads and reacts to line stunts and blitzes.
His pass blocking tape against Miami and Texas A&M is concerning, as Rueben Bain Jr., Akheem Mesidor, and Cashius Howell gave him all kinds of problems. His arm length is a red flag for an offensive tackle, and speed rushers can turn the corner working against him. He’s tall and his pads rise at times, and he can give too much ground to power rushers. He ducks his head, and lunges at defenders on occasion in the run game.
He started 33 games at left tackle over the past three seasons. He started five games at right tackle in 2022.
The Draft
Barber’s arm length and struggles versus talented edge rushers in college can’t be ignored. But his run-blocking ability is good enough to warrant consideration as a top-100 player and a day two pick. Florida hasn’t had an offensive lineman drafted since 2023.
The Projection
Barber may start his career as a no. 3 swing tackle who provides depth at both tackle spots. Rob Havenstein, a 2015 second-round pick, is an interesting comparison. There were concerns about Havenstein’s ability to hold up on the outside and he has a similar frame as Barber. Havenstein started 148 games over the course of his 11-year career, and Barber is the superior athlete. Barber is on the taller side for a guard, but he could move inside if he doesn’t work out at tackle. Sam Cosmi, a 2021 second-round pick, has a similar frame with similar length. He started his career at right tackle before moving to guard and he’s played well when he’s been healthy.