PROSPECT SUMMARY

Christian Barmore originally committed to Temple, but bigger schools came in on him during his final two seasons at Neumann Goretti High School (PA). After redshirting during his first season in Tuscaloosa, he went on to play a key reserve role. Starting down the backstretch as a redshirt freshman (2019), he displayed plenty of flashes that many thought would lead to him becoming an eventual starter. Still serving as a backup in 2020, he managed to still build off of the intriguing flashes shown the previous season. Despite nursing a knee injury that forced him to miss the season opener against Missouri (knee), he continued to improve each game after that.

As a 3-technique, Barmore has yet to become a full-time starter. Despite that, he already has a rock-solid and mature upper body that makes it hard for blockers to engage and stick against his frame. The Alabama interior defender possesses outstanding raw power combined with active, busy, and powerful hands that enable his frame to remain clean and disengage when desired. Even though he’s had limited reps, Barmore has proven to be excellent with executing swim/arm over moves that allow him to make plays behind the line or in his gap as a run defender. As a redshirt freshman, he was treated mostly as a third-down specialist prior to the final four games of the season. He has the versatility to play 1- or 3-technique in an even front, but he’s also spent a lot of his reps as a base 4i/4-technique in Alabama’s odd front. Barmore doesn’t understand the leverage of how to withstand against double teams and he can be pushed back because of his high pad level. The redshirt sophomore interior defender is more of a power than actual moves type of pass rusher. Swim moves are his only effective move to date, but as he gains more experience with in-game reps, he has the potential to become more comfortable with adding more to his arsenal.

Ideal Role: Starting 3-technique.

Scheme Fit: Used mostly as a penetrating 3-technique that’s able to create vertical push and disruption.

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Jordan Reid

Games watched: Auburn (2019), Michigan (2019), Texas A&M (2020), Kentucky (2020), Ole Miss (2020), Auburn (2020), Georgia (2020), LSU (2020), Mississippi State (2020), Florida (2020), Arkansas (2020)

Best Game Studied: Auburn (2019), Florida (2020), LSU (2020), Mississippi State (2020), Auburn (2020), Arkansas (2020)

Worst Game Studied: Texas A&M (2020), Kentucky (2020)

First-Step Explosiveness: Barmore is a light-footed and easy mover. Out of the starting blocks, he accelerates with plenty of force to create penetration. He forces blockers to speed up their initial process as his athleticism and quickness are both on display out of his stance. His first movements out of his stance are sudden and contain lots of twitch, which help him create advantages at the point of attack.

Flexibility: His athleticism matches his ability to bend and alter his body to fit through small areas when pushing the pocket. Barmore also has the nimbleness necessary to beat blockers to desired angles on seal or zone block attempts. Playing with average leverage, he’s consistent with manning his areas.

Hand Counters: Right now, Barmore’s only consistent move that’s able to win with is a quick arm over swim move. Selective with when and how quickly he uses it, the unpredictable timing element of it has helped him win against slower interior blockers. He’s in need of creating another counter move as his lone attacking tactic has left him with his chest open and unable to adjust as a result.

Hand Power: Possessing above average jolt in his hands, Barmore has the ability to lock out and extend in order to keep his frame clear of hands from blockers. The extension allows him to peak over either shoulder of the blocker while also being able to dislodge from them when ball carriers enter into his area. The strength within his hands also shows up when rushing the passer, as he’s able to quickly win with his comfortable quick swim move.

Run Defending: Having a well put together lower half, he uses it to his advantage against double teams. Consistent with being able to withstand the momentum from interior blockers by losing little ground, he’s shown flashes of being able to eat up blockers to shield and slow down climbing offensive linemen. Because of his brute strength in his lower half, he’s able to cause delays with blockers being able to secure the first level.

Effort/Motor: The former Crimson Tide interior defender plays with lots of suddenness off of the snap. A quick starter off of the snap, he plays with adequate pad level combined with the force necessary to reset the line of scrimmage. With plays out of his sight, he isn’t a defender that will aim to chase plays from the backside often. He tries to make the most of plays that are in his direct sights, but there are inconsistencies with his hustle to make plays outside of the tackle boxes.

Football IQ: With an above-average feel for blocking schemes, he’s able to attack blocking techniques with the wherewithal of knowing where and how run schemes are designed to attack him. As a 3-technique, he’s aware of incoming double teams and uses different tactics during battles, but when faced with back blocks, he’s displayed proper knowledge of detaching from them.

Lateral Mobility: Faced with lots of teams that have attempted to get to the perimeter as quickly as possible, Barmore has excelled with exhibiting how well he moves down the line. Cut off attempts or ones where teams try to out leverage him with certain angles have largely been unsuccessful because of his flow awareness and acceleration down the line to keep ball carriers on his radar. Barmore has lots of tackles where he’s able to keep his outside shoulder free and reach out to tackle the opposition after sticking his free arm out into holes that ball carriers are attempting to squeeze through.

Core/Functional Strength: His mature lower half matches his upper extremities as he has a compact build that serves as an asset to the scheme. His ability to serve as a versatile threat as both a pass rusher and run defender is accredited to his strength at the point of attack. As a redshirt sophomore, Barmore turned into a turnover creator after seeing more action despite still not being a full-time starter. As he continues to earn more playing time and reps as a three-down threat, he’s continued to make more flash plays.

Versatility: Used solely as a 3-technique, Barmore has been highly effective as both the looper and crasher on stunts and twists. On third down and obvious passing down situations, he has experienced success in both spots. As the crasher, his body and force occupies multiple blockers, creating easy access and paths to create pressure. As the looper, he has the athleticism to get around or through the opposition to generate disruption.