Given the chance at an additional season of eligibility, Robert Barnes was intent on benefiting from it.
Now that he’s getting into his remaining month with the Colorado Buffaloes, he’s soaking it in much more.
Barnes and the Buffs (1-7, 1-4 Pac-12) received’t be going to a bowl sport this yr, however they’re nonetheless having fun with the sport as they head into the ultimate stretch. CU will host No. 8 Oregon (7-1, 5-0) on Saturday at Folsom Subject (1:30 p.m., ESPN).
“That was my purpose for this whole season was simply to take every sport one sport at a time,” stated Barnes, a senior linebacker, who obtained a sixth season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. “For about three or 4 video games, it wasn’t what I had deliberate it to be, however I believe that’s simply typically … life occurs, and also you’ve simply obtained to take your punches and roll with them.”
For Barnes, that has included a mid-season place change that has reinvigorated him.
A yr in the past, Barnes transferred to CU after taking part in 4 seasons at Oklahoma. With the Sooners, he primarily performed security, however was transitioning to linebacker. He has been at linebacker since coming to CU, however has struggled with some consistency.
“I believe that the transition to linebacker was a protracted transition and it was one thing that I might do, nevertheless it wasn’t essentially feeling snug,” he stated. “I might even say that I felt extra snug at security, however I really feel extra snug being out the field, having the ability to do issues I do properly.”
This yr, Barnes began the primary two video games and performed 91 snaps. Then, he was moved to the bench, taking part in a complete of 42 snaps within the subsequent three video games.
After a 43-20 loss at Arizona on Oct. 1, CU fired head coach Karl Dorrell and defensive coordinator Chris Wilson. Interim head coach Mike Sanford and new defensive coordinator Gerald Chatman rapidly went to work revamping the protection.
One of many key adjustments they made was with Barnes. They created a brand new place, the “star” backer, with Barnes in thoughts, because it combines his abilities at linebacker and security and will get him extra into house.
“It’s positively a hybrid-type place that takes a particular physique kind to have the ability to execute it, however I’ve been having fun with studying the place, and it’s been actually enjoyable,” he stated.
Barnes performed a season-high 55 snaps within the first sport beneath the brand new protection, on Oct. 15, racking up seven tackles and a sort out for loss within the 20-13 additional time win towards California. The following week, he performed 53 snaps and had 4 tackles, together with a sack.
In Saturday’s 42-34 loss to Arizona State, Barnes performed solely 25 snaps, however Sanford stated that was extra in regards to the opponent than Barnes. Nickel Simeon Harris performed a season-high 61 snaps towards the Solar Devils, who didn’t use as many two-tight finish units as earlier opponents.
“Robert didn’t have as many at-bats on this specific sport however he made his snaps depend,” Sanford stated. “He graded out at a victory membership degree, graded out at 87%. He was stable. His one missed sort out, he did an superior job of ball looking out and actually trying to strip the soccer, however general, we’ve gotta get our pad degree down on the strike level. That may assist us have the ability to gang sort out in a simpler method.”
Barnes continues to work on bettering his craft, however even because the Buffs take their lumps on protection, he’s having fun with the place he’s in as he closes his profession.
“I positively go into every sport with extra confidence, understanding that there’s extra freedom and leeway in sort of doing what I wish to do,” he stated.
“It’s a variety of enjoyable. I believe it was an ideal change for me, the right place for me on the sphere. I’m grateful that coach Chatman discovered a method to get me on the market and have the ability to be able to make these performs that I’m able to making.”
Within the remaining month, Barnes hopes to make extra performs and end his faculty profession on a excessive observe.
“This protection, we’re having enjoyable once more,” he stated. “(At follow) you simply see and listen to the enjoyment that coach Sanford preaches. You’ll be able to see us on the market flying round, having enjoyable and simply savoring every sport for precisely what it’s. It’s having the ability to play a soccer sport in Folsom or wherever we go, simply having the ability to play the sport that we’ve beloved — and I’ve beloved since I used to be 5 years previous.”