Anyone who watched Ehret football a year ago saw a linebacker who stood out as much for the look as for speed.

And while college recruiters were paying attention, recruiting services hardly noticed.

They have now.

Lamin Barrow shot up the charts this summer.

But talk with Patriots head coach Billy North and you’ll find someone who always has seen the potential in Barrow.

“He can play. He can run. He’s a running linebacker,” North said. “I know it. College coaches know it. I don’t care what star he is – he’s an SEC player and that’s what counts.”

Barrow also is HSGametime.com’s No. 7 player in Louisiana for 2008.

At 6-foot-2, nearly 210 pounds, Barrow is an imposing presence behind the defensive line. He’s also fast, getting clocked at a 4.5 in the 40.

North thinks Barrow hasn’t even reached his peak physical form.

“He’s probably got a body where he can put 20 more pounds on him,” North said. “And he can run. This day in age, you better get a linebacker who can run.”

Still, though coaches have seen Barrow for awhile, he’s just now picking up steam in the offer camp. Louisiana Tech offered him first. Then came the first big one, an offer from Ole Miss.

“Just having an offer period was special for me,” Barrow said. “Then to get the SEC offer from Ole Miss was even more exciting because it’s an SEC school.”

Yet, he’s humble, eschewing the me-first and I’m-better-than-everyone attitude of some top recruits.

“I never really felt like I was better,” Barrow said. “I just felt like I worked harder. But I always felt like when I’m at my best, I can’t be touched.

“When I really felt like I was better than the average linebacker would be never. I never put myself over anyone.”

He added, “I still don’t feel like I’m at my best. I feel like anybody out there can take your spot. I’m going to keep on my grind mode.”

It’s that “grind mode” that separates Barrow, though, from other linebackers in high school.

One play stands out in North’s mind.

“There was a quarterback sack against Slidell last year in the playoffs,” North said. “He came through the B gap as quickly as I’ve ever seen and just engulfed him.”

“I just always keep my motor running, sideline to sideline,” Barrow said. “I just always try to be around the ball. Something is bound to happen. I just don’t like to slack.”