Stampeding Through The Roster: #36 LB Sam Barrington

Next up is one of the team's senior defensive leaders, going into his third season as a starter.

#36 LB Sam Barrington
Senior, 6'1" 230 lbs.

Stats in 2011: Sam started all 12 games and recorded 72 tackles (45 solo, 27 assisted), 6.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. He also forced a fumble, and scored a touchdown against UTEP after making his first interception in a Bulls uniform.

Current Spot on Depth Chart: Barrington is the starter at strong-side linebacker and will stay there barring injury.

How He Came To USF: Barrington came to USF from Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville. Considered one of the best linebackers in the state, he racked up 109 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and an interception his senior year. Barrington also played running back and ran for 1188 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Braves his senior year. Sam chose USF over Miami, Florida, Clemson, and Illinois.

Recruiting Rankings: Barrington was listed as a three-star recruit by both Scout and Rivals. Scout listed him as the 18th-best MLB and Rivals ranked Sam as the 37th-best ILB in the class of 2009.

Projected Playing Time In 2012: As one of the longest-tenured starters on the defense, Barrington will play as much as he can handle. Look for him to have another strong season as he tries to get the attention of the pro scouts.