Commitment Breakdown: What Auburn is getting in 4-star LB D’Angelo ‘DJ’ Barber
Auburn has landed one of its top targets at the linebacker position. D’Angelo “DJ” Barber from Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville, will be a Tiger.
Barber was a top option and did not have a ranking when offered. He now holds a 4-star ranking from On3. He is a thumper in the box, but has the ability to run and make plays outside of the box.
Here’s everything you need to know about Barber.
The Barber File
Barber is physical in the box. Auburn has not had a player with Barber’s physicality since Zakoby McClain. Physicality is becoming more of a lost art with linebackers in today’s game, but without a backer who can take on blocks and play down hill in the box, the run defense will surely suffer.
Barber is the ideal box linebacker. Think McClain, KJ Britt, Tre Williams, Deshaun Davis, etc. Also like those players, Barber plays with a great deal of passion.
He arrives to the ball carrier with bad intentions. He plays linebacker with somewhat of an old school style, but has enough ability to do what is asked of linebackers in today’s world of college football.
Auburn fit
Barber plays well in the box, but he’s got great game speed. He can play from the middle of the field to either sideline and pursue ball carriers with impressive speed.
Barber plays with the passion and the physicality that is needed at linebacker in the SEC. More specifically, he plays like the linebackers that have been traditionally good at Auburn (see above).
Football IQ
During 7-on-7 camp at Auburn, Barber was one of the few linebackers that participated in the camp. The camp is more for defensive backs and receivers, but Barber held his own in coverage because he understood how to clean up any routes in his area. He owned his part of the field.
When he is not in coverage, he is excellent at sniffing out the offensive play call and being in the right place. He always finds himself around the ball which is key for a backer.
One area for improvement
Barber lacks the elite length that is more common in today’s linebackers. He’s not built to play in coverage, or to man up a slot receiver, but can certainly improve and be serviceable in that area. Barber is more than likely limited to playing in the box. In the SEC, even though he is somewhat limited, he is still a high priority.
SEC readiness
Barber may not have the NFL measurements, but he’s ready to play and compete in the SEC. Auburn’s linebacker room has some young talent, so it isn’t a guarantee that Barber will be a plug-and-play kind of player. The Tigers’ coaching staff is high on Barber’s ability as an inside linebacker and will be ready to get him rolling soon after he arrives.
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