As the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine gets underway, we’ll take a look at the former Utes in action over the four day event. The first Utah football alum to see on-field work will be offensive tackle Jackson Barton.
Barton, a legacy Ute, appeared in 53 games during his time on The Hill. A four-year letterman and two-year starter, he exemplified “The Process”. Jackson’s improvement was visible from year to year, culminating in a first-team All-Pac-12 selection as a fifth-year senior.
Jackson has spent the last couple of months in Phoenix, where his trainers have been getting him prepped for his on-field workouts in Indianapolis. For a fairly under-the-radar prospect like Barton, combine results are of utmost importance.
As a prospect, Barton is actually fairly easy to read. His strengths stand out and his weaknesses are glaring. Scouts will be paying special attention to his workouts to see if those downfalls are correctable.
STRENGTHS
- Reach: His 34” arms are a good length for an NFL tackle, making it tough for defenders to get into his body.
- Positioning: A cerebral, fundamental player who gets to his assignments.
- Size: At 6’7”, 310lbs, he has decent size for the next level.
WEAKNESSES
- Explosion: Often struggles getting to the second level in a timely manner
- Power: Narrow frame and thin upper body(by NFL standards) prevent him from getting much “pop”.
- Posture: At 6’7’’, he struggles to get low and can often get caught with a too-high pad-level, something NFL pass rushers will salivate over.
- Balance: Can have issues with pass rushers who use speed and inside moves.
Barton is by no means a perfect pro prospect, but his deficiencies are things can be improved upon. He’ll have a chance to show scouts that he has made those improvements on Friday.
As of now, I have Barton signing on with a team as an undrafted free-agent. That being said, a few NFL scouts believe he can sneak into the later rounds with an impressive showing in Indy.
Along with the other combine invitees, Barton has spent the last week undergoing registration, interview, medical, physiological processes. On Thursday, he put up 25 reps on the 225lb. bench press. On Friday, you’ll be able to watch his on field workouts live on the NFL Network.
