Austin Barber

NFL Draft Profile: Austin Barber

Position: Offensive Tackle | School: Florida | Class: Redshirt Senior

Height: 6'6" | Weight: 314 lbs | Archetype: Balanced (Power / Zone Hybrid)

College Career Summary

Austin Barber enters the draft as a battle-tested veteran of the SEC, possessing over 30 career starts. After redshirting in 2021, he broke out in 2022 as a Freshman All-American at Right Tackle. He spent the subsequent three seasons (2023–2025) as the primary Left Tackle for the Gators.

His 2025 season was a tale of two halves. While he struggled early against elite speed (notably Miami and Texas A&M), he settled into a dominant groove down the stretch, allowing zero sacks over his final seven games. Known for his massive frame and "bouncer-at-the-door" aggression, Barber finished his senior campaign as a Third-Team All-SEC selection, proving his durability by logging over 700 snaps in one of the nation's toughest schedules.

Career Stats & Highlights

• Career Starts: 36 (28 at Left Tackle, 8 at Right Tackle)

• 2025 Sacks Allowed: 2

• 2025 Pressures Allowed: 17

• Pancakes: ~42 (2025 Season)

• Holding Penalties: 2 (2025) / 29 (Career Total)

• Honors: 2025 Third-Team All-SEC; 2022 Freshman All-American (College Football News).

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs Miami	C-	Worst Game. Struggled with elite bend; allowed 1 sack and 3 pressures.
3	vs Texas A&M	D+	Difficult outing; lunged at contact and was exploited by speed-to-power.
4	@ Mississippi St	B+	Bounce-back game; 90+ snap count with 0 sacks allowed.
6	@ Tennessee	B	Solid in the run game; handled the crowd noise well.
8	vs Kentucky	A-	Clinical pass sets; helped the run game eclipse 200 yards.
10	vs Georgia	B+	Gritty performance against a top-tier front; zero sacks surrendered.
11	@ Texas	A-	High-stakes performance; held his own against elite SEC length.
12	vs LSU	A	The Apex. Locked down the blindside; multiple key pancakes.
13	vs Ole Miss	B+	Strong anchor; neutralized interior stunts and twists.
14	@ Florida St	A	Perfect pass protection to cap the regular season.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 92/100

• Leadership: High. Multi-year starter and vocal leader of the Gators' front.

• Mental Toughness: High; recovered from a rough September to dominate the second half of 2025.

• Competitor: Elite; plays with a "mean streak" and looks to finish defenders.

• Team Player: Credits his interior help; highly respected by Florida’s young QBs.

• Star: Solid; an SEC staple who dictated the tone of the offensive line.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 91/100

• Height/Weight: 6'6", 314 lbs. (Exceeds both benchmarks).

• Stamina: High; one of the few OTs to play nearly every meaningful snap in 2025.

• Durability: Elite. Started 25 consecutive games to end his career.

• Injury History: Medically clean; minor dings in 2023 but no major surgeries.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 88/100

• Run Block: Plus; uses natural size to wall off lanes and generate torque.

• Pass Block: Solid; technically sound but can be exposed by elite speed.

• Strength: Plus; "heavy hands" that can jolt defenders on initial contact.

• Technique: Good; wide base and low stance, though tends to "waist-bend" when tired.

• High Motor: Consistent; a relentless "finisher" who blocks through the whistle.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 84/100

• Speed: Adequate; capable on pulls and climbs, but not a burner.

• Agility: Solid; shows "short-area" quickness to mirror, but range is capped.

• Flexibility: High; natural knee-bend that helps him win the leverage battle.

• Acceleration: Good; explosive first step when firing out for run blocks.

• Footwork: Consistent; improved significantly in his kick-slide during 2025.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 94/100

• Awareness: Elite. Diagnoses defensive games and twists with veteran ease.

Scouting Report

• Strengths: Prototypical SEC size and experience; elite competitive temperament; violent, active hands that reset well; massive anchor that makes him nearly impossible to bull-rush; versatile experience at both LT and RT.

• Weaknesses: Struggles against elite "speed-to-power" transitions; tendency to lunge or "waist-bend" against twitchier rushers; penalty prone (29 career flags); average grip strength can lead to falling off blocks late.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for a Gap-Heavy or Power-Zone system (e.g., Raiders, Browns, Giants).

• NFL Comparison: Dion Dawkins / Spencer Brown.

Scout's Final Word

"Austin Barber is a 'throwback' offensive tackle who wins with size, violence, and a high football IQ. While he doesn't have the elite lateral twitch of a top-10 pick, his tape over the final seven games of 2025 shows a player who has learned how to neutralize speed with technical discipline. His ability to anchor against the NFL's strongest pass-rushers is already pro-level. Some teams may view him as a high-end Swing Tackle early, but he has the tools to be a long-term starter at Right Tackle or a physical Left Guard. Draft Projection: 3rd - 4th Round."