Cleveland Browns rookie Barkevious Mingo's production tailed off to just 4.5 sacks for LSU last season, but a couple of fellow first-round picks from the Southeastern Conference showered him with praise at the NFL Rookie Symposium this week.
San Diego Chargers rookie D.J. Fluker, whose Alabama team faced Mingo three times during his college career, described the No. 6 overall pick as "the best speed rusher in college football" last season.
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"Mingo's a great player. He has a good work ethic and he's a guy with a high motor," Fluker added, via The Plain Dealer. "He works hard, he's strong and he's fast off the edge. ... He's so quick, I'm surprised he's not playing safety."
Luke Joeckel, No. 2 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, squared off against Mingo twice in college.
"He's a freak athlete. He's long, he's fast, he's got a good jump on the ball," Joeckel said. "His speed immediately jumps out at you on tape."
Both players see similarities to Denver Broncos All-Pro Von Miller, who Joeckel said "used to wear me out" in Texas A&M's practices. Mingo will have to add quite a bit of strength and learn how to get off the blocks if he's going to approach Miller's status as the NFL's most dominant linebacker. For now, though, the additions of Mingo, Paul Kruger and Desmond Bryant give the Browns' pass rushers one of the most improved position groups in the league.
Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.
