John Yarbrough Top Lineman FCS Bowl
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Very impressive by John. I always thought he might be a little small for the next level but he really has unrivaled versatility and that's very valuable.
Mo, agree, but John is so bright that he will be successful at anything he sets his mind to. He could also be a long snapper besides just a utility lineman.
JOC RTD 12/13/18
Spiders' offensive lineman John Yarbrough following lead of ex-teammate Alex Light, of Packers
On NFL opening day rosters this season, there were 157 players from FCS schools. That’s one reason University of Richmond offensive lineman John Yarbrough says he believes he’s got a shot to make an NFL team in 2019.
Closer to home, Alex Light gives Yarbrough intensified hope. Light, a Salem resident who was a four-year regular on the Spiders’ offensive line, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers in May, made the roster and was activated for the Packers’ win over Atlanta Sunday.
“I think he laid the blueprint for how to work and prepare to be in the NFL,” Yarbrough said Tuesday.
Yarbrough and another Richmond offensive lineman, Seyoum Settepani, will travel to Chicago to see Light and the Packers play the Bears on Sunday. Yarbrough, who has family in Chicago, plans to visit with Light on Saturday and gather more information about the process of becoming an NFL offensive lineman.
Yarbrough, a 6-foot-5 301-pounder from Homewood, Ala., improved his NFL chances last week in Daytona Beach, Fla., during practices heading into Saturday’s FCS Bowl, an all-star game for FCS players. Yarbrough capped off that opportunity by being named the game’s top offensive lineman.
Wednesday night, Yarbrough was honored by the Touchdown Club of Richmond as the finest Division I offensive lineman in Virginia. As Light was last year, Yarbrough is likely to be a priority free agent signing immediately after the completion of the NFL draft.
When former Richmond quarterback Kyle Lauletta prepped for the 2018 draft, in which he was selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round, his value was increased by the fact that he played under four different offensive coordinators as a Spider. Lauletta adapted, and excelled.
Yarbrough, named second team All-CAA, has a similar narrative that figures to work in his favor. He was exclusively a center as a junior. Yarbrough played center, guard and tackle as a senior, primarily because of UR injuries.
“It’s a great asset for me,” Yarbrough said. “Fifty-three man [NFL] rosters are pretty small, and then when they have to cut down the inactives for game day, you usually travel with six to eight offensive linemen. So those back-up two-to-three linemen have to be able to ... kind of plug in and play wherever.
“I took a snap at all five positions this season. And I think that’s kind of invaluable moving forward, especially because it was so late in my career.”
Yarbrough started all 11 games this season, and didn’t miss a game among Richmond’s past 29. Light made 38 consecutive starts as a Spider, an indication of fitness, durability and toughness.
Yarbrough did not redshirt, and will graduate in May. He expects to hire an agent in the next few weeks, and his training routine between now and the spring will be supervised by Scott Brincks, UR’s director of strength and conditioning for football.
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I'm not trying to knock with my comment but i do think size will be the drawback with scouts.
Sure wish we had been willing to redshirt these guys. Would love to have had Light this year and Yarborough next year.
In terms of NFL, flexibility is key. If you can play all positions it really helps you make a roster.
In terms of NFL, flexibility is key. If you can play all positions it really helps you make a roster.
Known John since Kindergarten... He is a great kid and has always been very smart. I wish him all the best!
Jacob Ruby is still playing up north too...believe he plays for BC...Go Spiders!
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