Liuget sees a bit of himself in Chargers rookie D-lineman

He sees the similarities on film, and again in the weight room.

Then, Corey Liuget turns on the Chargers' practice film. And when he does, he swears he's watching a younger version of himself in sixth-round rookie Darius Philon.

"The kid reminds me of myself when I first got here," Liuget told the team's official website. "He’s athletic, and has a (big) lower body like myself.  He’s built like me down low. He looks pretty good."

The Bolts just handed a big extension to Liuget because they view him as a cornerstone of their defense. Having another such player would be a coup for general manager Tom Telesco -- especially at the low price of a sixth-rounder.

Physically speaking, Luiget and Philon are similar. The rookie plays at about 6-foot-1 and 300 pounds. That's the same weight as Liuget, but the veteran is an inch taller.

Philon could push for playing time if he keeps impressing defensive coordinator John Pagano. Hearing a teammate praise his efforts only fuels the Arkansas product to crack the lineup earlier.

"To hear him say that just shows that I have the ability to play at this level,” Philon said.  “Now I’ve got to go work harder."

(h/t San Diego Chargers)