01-25-2017, 12:29 AM
Since 3-4 OLBs are pass rushers, the players we recruit at that position have often been (possibly undersized) 4-3 DEs in high school. This includes guys like Gabe Reid, Loa Kaufusi, Lane Veach, Mike Tyler, Kevin Anderson, Trent Murphy, Chase Thomas. All but the last two were recruited as 3-4 OLBs for Stanford; Murphy and Thomas were recruited as 4-3 DEs as we ran a 4-3 back then.
On the other hand, I can't think of any player who was a 3-4 DE in high school but an OLB at college. 3-4 DEs don't need to be particularly fast; in the NFL, it's not unusual for them to be well north of 300 pounds, but they are usually tall and/or have long arms. A guy like Henry Anderson is your prototypical 3-4 DE.
Barton was recruited as an ILB, though you're right that he played SS (and RB) in high school. That's pretty unusual, because most high school safeties don't have the frame to bulk up to linebacker (though it's not unheard of, by any means).
On the other hand, I can't think of any player who was a 3-4 DE in high school but an OLB at college. 3-4 DEs don't need to be particularly fast; in the NFL, it's not unusual for them to be well north of 300 pounds, but they are usually tall and/or have long arms. A guy like Henry Anderson is your prototypical 3-4 DE.
Barton was recruited as an ILB, though you're right that he played SS (and RB) in high school. That's pretty unusual, because most high school safeties don't have the frame to bulk up to linebacker (though it's not unheard of, by any means).