Barkevious Mingo, Junior, Defensive End, LSU
Overview:
With a name this sweet, it’s a surprise Barkevious Mingo did not attend the University of Nebraska. Instead, he goes to LSU where he was a driving force on the 2011 squad that was one of the most disruptive and forceful defenses in recent college football memory. Mingo tallied eight sacks his sophomore season along side Sam Montgomery and Michael Brockers. Although Brockers moved on to the NFL, Mingo will look to team with Montgomery once again to form one of the scariest rush end duos in the SEC. Another successful LSU season led by their defensive front would propel Mingo (and company) up draft boards.
Final Projection:
With amazing speed off the edge for a man of his size, Mingo projects as a top end defensive line talent. He has all the “normal” superlatives for a man of his stature: long arms, high motor, freakish athleticism, etc. Barkevious may need to add some strength/weight during the year to better defend the run and fight off double teams as he is currently strictly a speed rusher. However, an impressive junior year should propel him into the front end of the first round come April’s draft.
4/11/2013 Update by Joel Welser:
Mingo did have a solid 2012 campaign for LSU, tallying 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks and a dozen quarterback hurries. His ability as an edge rusher has some NFL teams eyeing him in the first half of the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Mingo is not a great all-around player. With limited run stopping skills, he is pretty much just a pass rusher. That may be enough to creep Mingo into the top ten, but more likely he will stay in the 11 to 16 range.
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