SI All-American Candidate Gavin Barthiel Highlights and Evaluation
Prospect: Gavin Barthiel
Status: SI All-American candidate
Vitals: 6-foot-2, 205 pounds
Projected Position: Linebacker
School: Lakeland (Fla.) Lake Gibson
Committed to: Georgia Tech
Frame: Lean and chiseled. Broad shoulders with notably long arms. Relatively thick, tightly-wound lower half. Should have no trouble adding considerable mass.
Athleticism: Acceleration pops off the tape. Good open-field speed. Runs through ball-carriers with ferocity. Impressive agility in man coverage. He starts and stops with ease, especially getting out of backpedaling.
Instincts: Quick to read and react at LOS and in the defensive backfield. Makes concerted effort to set the edge in the run game. Confident, forceful tackler; frequently lays out to bring down ball-carriers in space. Plays ball well in the air in coverage.
Polish: Pass-rush toolbox is largely unknown. Needs to continue increasing understanding of zone-coverage concepts. Physical player, unafraid to fill gaps and take on blocks. Comfortable matching up with receivers in coverage.
Bottom Line: Barthiel is probably due a redshirt year at Georgia Tech, but is athletic enough to make a difference on special teams as a true freshman. Either way, expect him to eventually start at WILL for the Yellow Jackets, playing a multi-faceted role that allows him to wreak havoc in space.