Purdue Football: Top 3 prospects for 2021 NFL Draft

Derrick Barnes has what it takes to excel at two positions, but at the collegiate level, he’s more of a defensive end. There’s no doubt that some NFL teams will look at him more as an outside linebacker or edge rusher, but the soon-to-be senior has plenty of talent.

Although Purdue didn’t have the best defense in 2019, Barnes still managed to have a big year. He finished second on the team with 63 tackles and 11 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with 7.5 sacks. His tackle numbers dipped from his sophomore season when he finished with 92, but he surpassed his tackles for loss (8) and sacks (3) numbers as a junior.

Standing 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, he may not have the height that some teams look for in an end or even a linebacker, but he makes up for that with his aggressiveness and knack for finding the ball.

The Covington, Ky., native will be one of the leaders on defense this season and he’ll be in charge of a talented defensive line for the Boilermakers. If he can continue to improve his pass-rushing ability, he’ll be a valuable mid-to-late round prospect. He could be an asset for an NFL team looking to add end depth and versatility.