Senior Spotlight: Injured Barnes Trades in Cleats for Clipboard
12/15/2008 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 15, 2008
This is the second in a six-part series celebrating Maryland football seniors. This segment features defensive back Kevin Barnes.
By Matt Bixenstine, Athletics Media Relations Staff
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - No one within the Maryland football family would fault Kevin Barnes for distancing himself in an effort to ease his disappointment after an injury mercilessly halted his stellar senior season prematurely. The Terps cornerback, however, has other plans in mind.
Barnes suffered a season-ending shoulder blade fracture during Maryland's shutout win over Wake Forest on Oct. 18, yet he remains an essential part of the team as it prepares to play in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho, on Dec. 30. No longer able to serve as on-field leader of the Terps defensive backfield, Barnes has developed an alternative role in recent weeks.
"He's another coach out there right now," secondary coach Kevin Lempa said. "He's been such an important player for our defense for a long time, and he still wants to help as much as he can. All throughout the game in the pouring rain against NC State (Oct. 25), he was talking to the guys on the sideline, so he's like another coach.
"We all miss having him on the field, but we're glad he's still with us in some capacity," Lempa added.
The transition to honorary coach has been an adjustment for Barnes - a quieter player who previously opted to lead by example with his stout play on the field. But his wealth of experience has proven invaluable for his secondary teammates, especially starting cornerbacks Nolan Carroll and Anthony Wiseman.
A student of the game who devotes hours upon hours to studying film of opposing wide receivers, Barnes has become a fountain of knowledge for his teammates leading up to games and a source of inspiration for them on game-day.
After missing a week of coaching duties to recover from surgery on Oct.30 to repair his shoulder, Barnes returned to the practice field prior to the win over North Carolina (Nov. 15).
"Even though he's injured, he still comes out and helps the group out because he's a team player like that," Wiseman said. "Kevin's been a mentor for us. He still comes out to practice each day, and he's always there to encourage us. He'll know an offense or play that's about to happen, and he'll make sure everyone knows what's going on."
That exceptional football intelligence made Barnes a commodity on the field for the Terps throughout his memorable Maryland career. After developing as a reserve cornerback in 2006, the Glen Burnie, Md., native started all 13 games last season, setting career highs by recording team-best marks of four interceptions and nine pass-breakups.
Not to be outdone, Barnes was enjoying another standout campaign this season. Prior to sustaining his injury, Barnes ranked fourth in the ACC in passes defended, while also accounting for two interceptions, two forced fumbles and his first career blocked field goal during a game at Virginia on Oct. 4.
But perhaps his biggest contribution to the Terps' success occurred prior to conference play, when Barnes garnered national attention for a jarring hit on California running back Jahvid Best during the Sept. 13 contest at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. That first-quarter take-down set the tone for the Terps, as they proceeded to win five of their next six games, including three victories against ranked opponents.
Barnes' accolade-worthy season continued to progress until being derailed when his shoulder struck an opponent awkwardly as he made a tackle during the second quarter of the game against the Demon Deacons.
"Initially I was pretty down, which I guess you would expect," Barnes said of his injury. "But my surgery went really well, and I'm only supposed to be out for 10 to 12 [weeks]. Now that I know I'll be back a lot sooner than expected, it's been a lot easier for me to keep my spirits up."
Barnes' optimism stems in part from his lifelong aspirations to continue his football career on Sundays. Although he has not ruled out playing in the 2009 Senior Bowl, a game showcasing top NFL prospects for which he has been invited, Barnes has his sights set on recovering in time to participate in the NFL Combine at full strength. The 6-foot-1 cornerback ran a career-best 40-yard dash time of 4.29 seconds in 2006, but he believes he can go even faster.
"I think he definitely has a chance to make it at the next level," Lempa said of prized pupil. "Kevin has all the tools - he's tall, he's smart, he's tough. He's got the mental toughness, which I think is the most important thing to be able to play at that level. I don't know what will happen as far as being drafted, but I think he will play."
In the meantime, though, Barnes intends to contribute to the Terps' bowl preparation however he can from the sidelines. Having benefitted from tutelage by standout teammates Domonique Foxworth and Isaiah Gardener earlier in his career, Barnes hopes to continue that mentorship by imparting his wisdom on the likes of true freshmen defensive backs Cameron Chism and Kenny Tate, among other members of the Terps secondary.
"I want my teammates to know that I wish them the best, and that I'll be there for them as much as they need me to be," Barnes. "Whatever they need out of me, I'll try to provide it."
