I know he is a pretty good basketball player, so his hands can't be that bad. I heard some rumor that he was playing TE in some of the drills during Army AA practices.
Some say it wasn't Mingo playing TE, but Wingo. Anyway, I think a redshirt year for Mingo is in order. He is tall and lanky with little experience. He needs to put on some muscle and learn the game. He certainly has the height of a DE, not a LB. Time will tell what position he plays.
Mingo definitely looks like a RS to me - he needs to learn the position. And lots of LBs are tall - in fact I remember reading Patrino say that his ideal LB is 6'6".
I'm not saying there aren't some tall LB's, but I don't think a 6'6" LB is the norm in college ball. How many starting LB's in the SEC are 6'6" or taller? My guess is zero, but maybe I'm wrong. I heard Tubberville on TV yesterday say that he thought the key on defense was speed, particularly at LB, even if they were a little smaller. He reasoned that it was also a positive in defending the numerous spread offenses that have arisen. I don't like Tubby, but think he is a good coach. I have expressed his exact sentiments previously on this forum. I have usually been impressed with Auburn's LB's too.
I spoke to someone who teaches at West Monroe who claimed Barkevious had a brother who played basketball at WM. He claims LSU tried to recruit him but had grade problems. Also said Barkevious was a great kid.
I'm guessing athleticism (quickness, agility, burst) and aggresiveness are the most important factors. Still - would be interesting to know how many good LBs in the NFL (or the BCS for that matter) are taller than 6'3 or so.
Hall-of-Fame LB Ted Hendricks was 6'7. Hall-of-Fame LBs Jack Lambert and Bobby Bell were 6'4. Hall-of-Fame LBs Lawrence Taylor, Dick Butkus, George Conner, Andre Tippett, Dave Wilcox, Ray Nitschke were only 6'3. Also, we might very well make a DE out of Mingo. Did you see that All-American, All-ACC DE Georgia Tech had, #93 Michael Johnson? He is 6'7!!! Scout.com projects him to be the #2 DE taken in the NFL Draft. NFLDraftScout.com also projects him as the #2 DE to be taken in the NFL Draft (1st Round).
