2022 NFL Draft recruiting rewind: Iowa's Tyler Linderbaum to Baltimore Ravens
If you went back in time and told recruiting evaluators that class of 2018 Iowa signee Tyler Linderbaum ended up being an NFL first-round draft pick it probably wouldn't have surprised many.
Linderbaum was an All-American Bowl selection and considered the top prospect in the state of Iowa.
But he was a defensive tackle.
After switching to the offensive line full time, the Solon High School graduate blossomed.
The Baltimore Ravens selected him No. 25 overall to be their franchise center, adding to their earlier selection of Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton.
Here's what Linderbaum was rated as a prospect coming out of high school:
Ranking: 4-star prospect; Nation's No. 174 overall prospect, No. 18 defensive tackle, No. 1 prospect in Iowa
Notable: Linderbaum was a higher rated defensive tackle than New England Patriots second-year defensive tackle Christian Barmore (No. 20) and Jordan Davis (No. 44) in the defensive tackle rankings.
Ranking: 3-star prospect; No. 49 defensive tackle, No. 3 player in Iowa
Notable:Rivals was much lower on Linderbaum than 247Sports.
Both ranked him as a defensive tackle.
Ranking: 3-star prospect; No. 47 defensive tackle, No. 2 player in Iowa
Notable: It seems no one was particularly sold on Linderbaum as a star on defense.
Perhaps that's why Iowa gave him a shot in the interior offensive line.
Senior season highlights