Halton’s path to becoming an NFL defensive tackle required an adjustment both physically and mentally. Arriving at Oklahoma as a defensive end around 250 pounds, Halton eventually transitioned inside to defensive tackle to see more snaps, and doing so added 45 pounds while learning a new skill set.
“Knowing where you’ve got to get your hands to… standing your gap, playing those double teams,” Halton said at the SAP Practice Facilities during rookie minicamp. “For me, just being consistent.”
Halton credited Oklahoma’s nutrition and strength programs for helping him gradually transform his body while maintaining his athleticism.
“Coming in, I was 250 and leaving I was about 292, 295,” Halton said. “I just got bigger, got faster, got stronger every day.”
That athleticism showed up at the NFL Combine, where the 6-foot-2, 293-pound defensive lineman ran a 4.82 40-yard dash and posted a 36.5-inch vertical jump, the top mark among defensive tackles at the event.