04/28/13 - A closer look at the Browns' picks: Round 1/6 - Barkevious Mingo, LB, 6-4, 237, LSU...The Browns want Mingo to start on the right side with Paul Kruger on the left and pressure the quarterback relentlessly. Mingo had eight sacks in 2011 and 4.5 last year, but coach Rob Chudzinski isn't concerned about the decline. Mingo did very little pass coverage at LSU and will have to learn that with the Browns. - The Sports Xchange
04/28/13 - Browns opt for 3-4 pass rusher...The Browns, switching to a 3-4 defense under first-year coach Rob Chudzinski, decided getting a pass rusher with their first draft choice was more important than plugging a hole at right cornerback. To that end, Joe Banner used his first pick as CEO of the Browns to draft defensive end Barkevious Mingo from LSU with the sixth pick overall Thursday night. In choosing Mingo the Browns passed on Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, who was taken three picks later by the Jets. The Browns do not have a second-round pick, so the soonest they can draft a cornerback to replace 34-year-old free agent Sheldon Brown is the third round. "If that situation presents itself, that would be great. But if not, we're not going to force it," Banner said. "We're not going to fill all the needs of this team this year. It's just not going to happen." - The Sports Xchange
04/28/13 - The plan is to play Mingo at right outside linebacker. Paul Kruger, the Browns top free-agent acquisition, is the left outside linebacker. Chudzinski was impressed by what he saw of Mingo on tape and even more impressed by Mingo's pre-draft visit to Browns headquarters. "He's somebody we strongly felt we want to put into our locker room," Chudzinski said. "His athleticism speaks for itself. He's an extremely gifted athlete. He's explosive - great speed off the edge. He's a developing player. He's been battle-tested in the SEC. He has plenty of room for growth, but we see him as an outstanding pass rusher and somebody who is going to be able to bring that to our team."
Three picks before the Browns took Mingo, the Dolphins traded up with the Raiders from 12 for the third pick to draft defensive end/linebacker Dion Jordan from Oregon. As it happens, the Dolphins and Browns open the 2013 regular season in Cleveland. "I think I'm the best pass rusher (in this draft)," Mingo said. "Week One and the preseason I'll get to show that." - The Sports Xchange
04/28/13 - Mingo had more production as a sophomore in 2011 than as a junior last fall. He had 46 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks two years ago. Last year he produced 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Chudzinski is not concerned about the drop-off. "You don't just look at sack totals, but disrupting and outing pressure on the quarterback," Chudzinski said. "As you watch games and study him, he had a lot of snaps where he did that. Just making the quarterback step up and slide and throw on the move. He was getting chipped and had people slide to him. Even so, he affected the quarterback." As an end at LSU, Mingo was rarely involved in covering tight ends or running backs. He admits that is something he has to work on, but Chudzinski is confident Mingo can learn. "There are a few snaps of him dropping but for the most part he did not," Chudzinski said. "He'll have to work on that. From a physical standpoint, it's just a matter of getting out and working. From a mental side of it it's knowing and understanding coverage." - The Sports Xchange
04/25/13 - DANE BRUGLER'S FINAL 2013 DRAFT BOARD: 9. OLB Barkevious Mingo, LSU (6-4, 241, 4JR)...Mingo's draft projection is based more on potential rather than production, but he displays the length, quickness and overall athleticism to be a special edge rusher. - Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com
04/25/13 - ROB RANG'S FINAL 2013 NFL DRAFT BIG BOARD: 22. *Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU: Mingo possesses the frame (6-4, 241) and athleticism to warrant top-10 consideration, but at this point, he remains a largely unpolished product who relies on his natural tools -- rather than technique -- to make plays. Given Mingo's upside, it is easy to imagine him terrorizing NFL quarterbacks off the edge as a multi-dimensional defender. Considering Mingo's relatively pedestrian numbers (38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks) this season, as well as the struggles of other former highly regarded LSU defensive linemen in the NFL, the general manager who selects him that high will be rolling the dice. - Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com
03/29/13 - 2013 LSU Pro Day: More than 20 players from LSU take part in pro day workouts...Representatives from all 32 NFL teams were present at LSU’s pro day on March 27. Workouts were held indoors on FieldTurf on a very warm day. Among the notable attendees were Jason Licht, the Arizona Cardinals director of player personnel; Hue Jackson and Mike Zimmer of the Cincinnati Bengals; and the head coaches and general managers from the New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. Twenty players from this year’s LSU team participated, as well as six players from the 2011-2012 team.
Barkevious Mingo, DL (6-4 3/4, 237) - Mingo refused to do the bench but was off the charts in the positional workout. He did drills with his hand in the ground as a defensive lineman and in space as an outside linebacker. He’s in magnificent shape. He worked out for more than an hour and never broke a sweat, but there are still concerns about his strength. - Gil Brandt, NFL.com
03/29/13 - 2013 LSU Pro Day: With a large contingent of NFL representatives on-hand, 20 draft-eligible Tigers worked out in Baton Rouge at LSU's on-campus pro day on Wednesday. Most of the top prospects like Barkevious Mingo and Tyrann Mathieu decided to stand on their times from the combine, but several other players were able to perform in front of several general managers and head coaches, including the Steelers' Mike Tomlin and the Saints' Sean Payton.
Mathieu and Mingo participated in positional drills and both impressed throughout the afternoon. Afterward, they were also popular in interviews as well, with the Honey Badger spending extensive time with Tomlin and several of the other NFL assistant coaches on campus. Mathieu is expected to be drafted sometime on the second day of the draft and Mingo is a likely first-round pick. Head coach Les Miles added that he wouldn't be surprised if Mingo is the “first defensive player off the board.” - Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com
02/23/13 - Montgomery sat in on Mingo's press conference Saturday and asked a few questions, the first of which raised Mingo's eyebrow: "What sets you apart from the other defensive ends in this class?" Mingo is 6-foot-5, 241 pounds, adding at least 12 pounds since the end of the season. He's being worked out as an outside linebacker because of his straight-line speed, explosiveness and natural pass-rushing traits. And he definitely doesn't fit the mold of a traditional 4-3 defensive end because of his weight. Mingo was asked a second question by Montgomery -- whether he'd continue to add weight or just focus on speed.
"My speed separates me from every other defensive end in this draft," Mingo said. He'll go through the full battery of tests and on-field workout in Indianapolis. NFLDraftScout.com assigns first-round grades to both players. Mingo is currently ranked ninth and Montgomery No. 32. The odds are with Mingo, who had a question for Montgomery to end his press session. "Why are you here? Go home. Go eat," he said. - Jeff Reynolds, The Sports Xchange
02/23/13 - It's pay-up time for LSU defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo. Well, it's still pay-up time. Teammates vying for draft position after competing for playing time and attention in Baton Rouge, they've made a few friendly wagers through the years. Mingo is still owed a car wash because he won their bet as to which player would first record a sack during the 2012 season. "We've had quite a few bets in our career," Mingo said. "I think our first one was the first sack for the season. He was supposed to wash my car because I won, and he hasn't done that. Then, we have most sacks in the season and on down the line."
The stakes have been raised for two possible first-round picks -- the powerful, muscular Montgomery and the explosive, athletic Mingo. They placed a $5,000 bet -- the second player of the two drafted must pay the first. "I'm pretty confident in myself. He's gonna have to come with that one, and I get a car wash," Mingo said. - Jeff Reynolds, The Sports Xchange
02/20/13 - 2013 NFL Combine, Workout warriors: With only four sacks last season, LSU's Barkevious Mingo is a polarizing prospect. Though he flashes special ability at times, his impact at the college level doesn't match the hype. However, Mingo should shine in shorts during the agility drills, showing off his natural quickness, burst and redirection skills. His athletic potential off the edge is the reason that he could be a top-10 pick. - Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com
02/20/13 - 2013 NFL Combine, 10 players to watch: 9. DE Barkevious Mingo, LSU...A candidate to be a “workout warrior” this week, Mingo had only four sacks as a junior, but he could be one of the top pass rushers drafted in April based on athletic upside. He still needs to develop in several areas and continue to fill out his frame, but if he shines during the agility and positional drills as expected, it wouldn't be surprising to see a team take a chance on him in the top 10. - Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com
01/13/13 - LSU coach Les Miles did not suddenly become a mean guy for whom no one wants to play. Instead, a perfect storm of talented third- and fourth-year juniors and the new collective bargaining agreement in the NFL led to a LSU-record 10 underclassmen on the 2012 team entering the 2013 NFL draft over the past two weeks. It may be a record for any school in a single season.
"I like the fact that we send guys to the NFL early and recruit guys with the potential to go to the NFL early," Miles said last week. "I want every guy that I recruit to have the opportunity to play a long, extended career in the NFL. I'd like to develop them."
Miles has been one of the nation's best recruiters since coming to LSU in 2005. He signed his highest-ranked classes ever in 2009 and 2010, and those players make up his 2012 junior class. Rivals.com ranked those two classes No. 2 and No. 6 nationally. They included a bevy of stars who helped lead LSU to a 34-6 record the past three seasons with a 13-1 record, a Southeastern Conference championship and a Bowl Championship Series title game appearance a year ago. - Glenn Guilbeau, USA TODAY Sports
01/05/13 - The most juniors in the history of the LSU football program have announced they will enter the 2013 NFL Draft this April. As of Friday night, six LSU juniors had announced they would leave a year early, and more are coming. The latest was defensive end Barkevious Mingo of West Monroe on Friday night. KNOE TV in Monroe reported Mingo had entered the NFL Draft. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound defensive end with defensive back speed is projected to go the earliest of the LSU players in the April draft. - Glenn Guilbeau, Shreveport Times
12/31/12 - PLAYERS TO WATCH: DE Barkevious Mingo has just five sacks this season even though he's projected to be a high first-round pick in the NFL draft if he chooses to bypass his senior season and turn pro. But he does have 15 quarterback hurries and he'll at least have to hurry and disrupt Boyd, even if he doesn't sack him, for the Tigers to slow down the Clemson offense. - The Sports Xchange
12/08/12 - 2012 ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM (COACHES): DL - Barkevious Mingo, LSU, has been selected Second Team All-Southeastern Conference (Coaches selection) for the 2012 college football season. Mingo leads the team with 12 quarterback hurries, and he has accumulated 33 tackles this season, including 5.5 tackles for a loss and 4.0 sacks. - LSU football
12/08/12 - 2012 ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM (MEDIA): LB - Barkevious Mingo, LSU, Jr., has been selected Second Team All-Southeastern Conference (Media selection) for the 2012 college football season. Mingo leads the team with 12 quarterback hurries, and he has accumulated 33 tackles this season, including 5.5 tackles for a loss and 4.0 sacks. - LSU football
11/06/12 - 11/05/12 NFL DRAFT SCOUT FALLER: 2. Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU: LSU's dynamic defensive end duo of Sam Montgomery and Mingo boast top athletic skills. But their production hasn't matched the talent, and that's especially true of Mingo. Through nine games, he ranks 25th in the SEC in sacks (3.0) and 55th in tackles for loss (4.5) -- not the statistics expected of a prospect being mentioned as a candidate for the No. 1 overall pick whenever he decides to declare for the NFL Draft. Mingo has rare athletic ability for his size (6-4, 240), showing explosive speed and change of direction skills to close in a hurry. He looks natural in reverse when asked to drop in space with the range to chase down plays at all levels. Mingo also does a nice job using his long arms to get his hands into blockers or knock down passes at the line of scrimmage. However, his lack of strength has shown up at times, especially on Saturday against Alabama right tackle DJ Fluker who engulfed Mingo and didn't give up much ground. Mingo plays aggressively and embraces the power aspect of the position, but as a speed rusher, he needs to develop his pass rush moves and focus more on avoiding blocks rather than taking them on. As stated before, Mingo has been disruptive and played well this season, but at some point, his productivity will need to catch up in order for him to reach his full NFL draft potential. - Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com
09/17/12 - Week 3 Rewind: The No. 1 overall selection in the past four NFL drafts and 11 times over the past 15 years has been used on a quarterback. For a variety of reasons, this run on quarterbacks as the top pick could be put on hold in 2013. Southern Cal senior Matt Barkley has been widely regarded as the top quarterback prospect. He proved in a disappointing loss to Stanford that he doesn't possess the elite skill-set of quarterbacks taken No. 1 overall in recent years. The likelihood that a quarterback will be the first pick of the 2013 draft is lessened too by the fact that the weakest teams in the NFL have recently invested highly in the position. It is the simplest -- least discussed -- reason a player at a position other than quarterback is likely to earn the No. 1 selection: there appear to be plenty of front seven defenders worthy of consideration. My fellow NFLDraftScout.com analyst Dane Brugler and I each currently project outside linebacker types to earn the top pick in our mock drafts. Georgia's Jarvis Jones and LSU's Barkevious Mingo possess the elite traits and success against quality competition to warrant consideration. Most talent evaluators, after all, agree that pass rushers rank second in priority only to passers, themselves, for a team's sustained success in today's NFL. - Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com
09/12/12 - The Southeastern Conference is dominating the defensive line in the NFL when it comes to rosters spots in the league. The SEC sends more defensive linemen to the NFL than any other conference - and it's not even close. A review of NFL opening day rosters by STATS LLC shows 50 defensive linemen from the SEC. The Atlantic Coast Conference is a distant second with 33. Overall, STATS says the SEC easily leads the nation with 257 NFL players. Alabama coach Nick Saban says the SEC's six straight national championships began with strong defensive fronts. More top talent is coming. LSU defensive ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery could be first-round picks in next year's NFL draft. Mingo could go No. 1 overall. - AP Sports
09/08/12 - SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The Tigers will come at Keith Price from all angles and try to disrupt the timing of the Huskies' passing game. Ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery can pressure the quarterback with their one-on-one skills, but defensive coordinator John Chavis will bring reinforcements from a variety of angles. LSU hopes to force Price to hurry, giving its young secondary some help. - The Sports Xchange
08/30/12 - Rob Rang's 08/30/12 Top 32 NFL Draft Big Board: 3. - The Sports XchangeBarkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU: An explosive edge rusher with the frame (6-4, 240) to intrigue scouts for NFL teams using 4-3 and 3-4 schemes alike, Mingo's speed, agility and surprising strength could result in a monster 2012 season. - Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com
08/23/12 - LSU BREAKOUT STAR: DE Barkevious Mingo - His snaps were limited as a sophomore last season because of the presence of senior Kendrick Adams in front of him, but Mingo proved to be a consistent pass rusher. One of the fastest defensive ends in the country, he will be starter and one of the marquee players on the defense this season. He's already being projected as a possible first-round draft choice if he heads to the NFL after this season. - The Sports Xchange
08/21/12 - Top-five LSU prospects for the 2013 NFL Draft: 1. DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo...Like most of LSU's top players, Mingo was a highly regarded prep prospect. Unlike the majority of the Tigers, however, he hadn't been highly touted for long as Mingo only began playing football as a junior in high school. Nevertheless, the speed Mingo had demonstrated as a track athlete that led the coaches at West Monroe High School (West Monroe, La.) to convince him to play quickly resulted in his catching the attention of college teams, as well. Mingo signed with LSU in 2009 but redshirted. Mingo proved himself to be a playmaker once he did get on the field, however, posting 35 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles despite only starting one game (saw action in all 13) in 2010. Though he'd demonstrated great speed off the edge and uncommon awareness to get those long arms into passing lanes (second on the team with six passes defensed), no one could have foreseen his breakout 2011 campaign. The LSU coaches certainly didn't. Mingo began the season behind veteran Ken Adams at left defensive end and actually only started four games last year. That didn't stop him from registering 46 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss (leading the team) and eight sacks (second on team). While Mingo might be a bit raw considering he's only started five collegiate games, he is perfectly built for today's frenzied pass rush. - Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com
08/21/12 - Top-five LSU prospects for the 2013 NFL Draft: 1. DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo...He is a long-armed, explosive athlete who plays with surprising power despite his lack of ideal weight. While a bit inconsistent at the snap, when he times it right Mingo can explode off the ball past the tackle, using a good shoulder dip and surprisingly powerful hands to rip through contact and take the corner. What is exciting about Mingo is that he's not just a physical freak but a surprisingly instinctive, technically refined football player. Mingo's use of his arms and hands belie his experience. He uses them well to keep distance between himself and the tackle and has a natural feel for pass rushing, showing good lateral agility, flexibility and creativity with his fakes to get the bigger man leaning. He has a very good spin move that he likes to use against interior offensive linemen when stunting back inside. He locates the ball quickly, shows good vision and balance to get to the action and closes with a pop. Mingo may lack the size of a traditional 4-3 defensive end but with teams becoming increasingly interested in hybrid defenders who can play multiple roles, his weight isn't likely to be a problem. The NFL loves pass rushers and therefore they'll love Mingo. He just might be the best pass rusher in the country and checks in at No. 3 on my Big Board. - Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com
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