Larry Birdine

Birdine's half-brother, Jason Gildon, was a standout linebacker at Oklahoma State before going on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars. His cousin, offensive tackle Jammal Brown, was Birdine's teammate at Oklahoma and presently stars for the New Orleans Saints. Birdine was a consensus All-State selection at Eisenhower High School. He was rated the 25th-best defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com and Super Prep. He recorded 81 tackles, 14 stops for loss (minus-57 yards) and four sacks as a senior. He also had three fumble recoveries, one he returned for a touchdown, and one blocked punt while leading the team to a 7-3 record and the state Class 6A playoffs. For his career, he made 147 tackles, eight sacks and 24 stops for loss (-124). In 2002, Birdine enrolled at Oklahoma, but spent the year on the scout team. He appeared in 14 games in 2003, starting the Colorado contest. The rush end posted 24 tackles (15 solos) with four sacks and seven stops for losses while also causing one fumble. Birdine appeared in 13 games in 2004, backing up both end positions. He totaled a career-high 40 tackles (29 solos) with 6.5 sacks and 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He caused two fumbles and recovered another, as he also deflected four passes. He was ready to claim a starting job in 2005, but missed all but the Holiday Bowl after tearing a left biceps muscle in fall camp. Birdine returned to start 13 games at strong-side defensive end in 2006. He earned All-Big 12 Conference first-team honors, as he collected 39 tackles (17 solos). He had three sacks and 7.5 stops for losses. He also picked off a pass, deflected seven others and recovered two fumbles. In 42 games at Oklahoma, Birdine started 14 times. He registered 103 tackles (61 solos) with 13.5 sacks for minus-73 yards, 24.5 stops for losses of 96 yards and 27 quarterback pressures. He caused and recovered three fumbles while also deflecting eleven passes.

positives

Has a compactly built frame with good lower body thickness...Shows good balance moving down the line and the short-area burst to shoot the gaps...Won't be fooled by a hard snap count and anticipates the snap well, timing his burst to disrupt the backfield...Smart player with the instincts to quickly avoid blocks...Effective using his hands to control the tight ends...Pursues hard to the backside, showing the short-area quickness to string plays wide...Swings his hips and drops back into pass coverage effectively...Has solid counter moves to the inside, displaying the body control and knee bend needed to consistently apply pass rush pressure...Has the loose hips to redirect and change direction without any wasted steps...Showed in 2006 that he has the leaping ability and timing, along with long arms, to deflect quite a few passes at the line of scrimmage... Effective on stunts, using his hands well to get arm under action on the tackle...Best when stunting, as he has the low center of gravity to slip through tight areas.

compares to

BRANDON GREEN-Seattle...A try-hard type during game action, Birdine needs to show better work ethic in his training. He has good initial quickness, but lacks sustained speed to give long pursuit. He gets off the snap with good urgency and has the ability to take good angles in attempts to close. He is efficient on line stunts, but must keep his pads down. When he gets tall in his stance, he is easily neutralized. In a sub package, Birdine's edge rushing will bring good value, but he lacks the bulk and must show better dedication and stamina if he plans on competing for more than just a bottom of the roster spot.

negatives

Has a strong inside gap charge, but when he gets too upright in his stance, blockers can lock on and drag him down...Needs to keep his feet better when wrap tackling (base tends to get narrow, letting some ball carriers slip off his hits)...Inconsistent in his lateral pursuit, preventing him from consistently splitting the tackles...Has had stamina issues and will disappear for stretches...Has good short-area quickness, but lacks the timed speed to generate long pursuit, making him a liability in a possible move to linebacker...Needs to show a better work ethic, as he is usually monitored in the weight room and gives less than full effort in practices.

2005: Sat out the regular season after tearing his left biceps muscle in August camp.

Campus: 4.88 in the 40-yard dash

2.81 10-yard dash

1.66 20-yard dash

4.56 20-yard shuttle

7.47 three-cone drill

33-inch vertical jump

9'6" broad jump

420-pound Bench press. Combine: 5.03 in the 40-yard dash

1.77 10-yard dash

2.92 20-yard dash

4.76 20-yard shuttle

7.47 three-cone drill

32-inch vertical jump

8'11" broad jump

Bench pressed 225 pounds 21 times.

Attended Eisenhower (Lawton, Okla.) High School, playing football for head coach Bill Whiteley

Consensus All-State selection

Rated the 25th-best defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com and Super Prep

Recorded 81 tackles, 14 stops for loss (minus-57 yards) and four sacks as a senior

Also had three fumble recoveries, one he returned for a touchdown, and one blocked punt while helping lead the team to a 7-3 record and the state Class 6A playoffs

For his career, he made 147 tackles, eight sacks and 24 stops for loss (-124).

Sociology major

Half-brother, Jason Gildon, was a standout linebacker at Oklahoma State before going on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars

His cousin, offensive tackle Jammal Brown, was Birdine's teammate at Oklahoma and presently stars for the New Orleans Saints

Son of Suerena Birdine

Born 10/0683

Resides in Lawton, Oklahoma.