2022 NFL Draft recruiting rewind: Iowa's Tyler Linderbaum to Baltimore Ravens

Tyler Linderbaum was an All-American Bowl selection - on defense
2022 NFL Draft recruiting rewind: Iowa's Tyler Linderbaum to Baltimore Ravens
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:

247Sports

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. 

Rivals

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. 

ESPN

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


Published
Andrew Nemec, SBLive Sports
ANDREW NEMEC, SBLIVE SPORTS

Andrew Nemec covers national high school recruiting and brings more than a decade of experience. Andrew hosts "Recruiting with Andrew Nemec" on ESPN-affiliate 1080 The FAN in Portland, Oregon. He holds a journalism degree from the University of Oregon.