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March 21, 2024

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Spring Housing Guide

Barnes deserves acceptance as top receiver

If you mentioned the name Freddie Barnes to someone across the country last season, you likely would have gotten some fairly strange looks.

Had you done the same thing at the beginning of this season, the same thing probably would have happened.

But now, his name is becoming more synonymous with stud receiver and Biletnikoff semifinalist than dull looks from college football fans.

Named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2009 Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to college football’s best wide receiver, Barnes is getting deserved credit for a stellar senior season, as his name is placed alongside Heisman Trophy candidate Jordan Shipley and other stars such as Notre Dame’s Golden Tate and Minnesota’s Eric Decker.

But if you ask the Barn Burner what he thinks of it all, he’ll tell you all the credit belongs to his teammates. When asked what he thought of possibly being named a finalist on Oct. 14, Barnes was very humbled.

‘That would mean a lot, because as a competitor, everybody wants to be the best and coming into the season you want to put your best foot forward,’ Barnes said. ‘That would just mean some guys appreciated some of the things I’ve done thus far.’

Those guys are a committee of more than 50 prominent journalists, commentators, announcers and former players put together by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, according to the official Biletnikoff Award Web site. Past winners of the award include Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Crabtree and most winners have had respectable NFL careers.

The three finalists will be announced on Nov. 19.

Barnes was also asked that day what he would think about being considered for a Heisman Trophy – something that obviously won’t happen – and again, he was very respectful of others.

‘I’ve been able to make some plays for the team and that’s only because the way my teammates and my coaching staff believe in me,’ he said. ‘I would never see myself saying such a thing because I watch football all the time ‘hellip; and there’s a lot a great players out there. I would see myself as disrespecting some of those guys.’

Because the level of competition is recommended to be factored into the voting for the award, it’s unlikely Barnes will win the award, since players like Tate and Shipley are putting up strong numbers against a more difficult schedule.

Nonetheless, the Barn Burner is handedly leading the nation in receptions (99) and receiving yards (1,054), while also leading in receiving touchdowns with nine.

He’s also set new school records for receptions in a game (22) and career (242 and counting) and receiving yards in a game (278). If he gets 84 more yards – which he should get next Tuesday at Buffalo – he will own the school record for receiving yards in a season, with three games remaining.

Just another veteran on the team before the season, Barnes quickly emerged as quarterback Tyler Sheehan’s go-to guy after nabbing a school-record 15 passes in the season opener against Troy. Since then, Barnes has broken that record twice, falling just short of an NCAA record with 22 catches against Kent State.

As a contender for the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year award was somewhat of an afterthought for the NFL Draft after an injury-plagued 2008 campaign, but times seem to be changing. And who knows, maybe next season Barnes will be coming to a city near you. At least you will know what his name is.’

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