Dragons defender stands out at Nike event
When you’re invited to a national recruiting event like Carroll’s Robert Barnes was, it signals that you are considered one of the top recruits in the country. It also gives you a glimpse of what life is going is going be like at the Power 5 Conference Division I level.
The Dragons’ 2017 safety took part in Nike’s The Opening July 7-10 in Beaverton, Ore., and matched his talents in a variety of tests and the 7-on-7 tournament. His squad Vapor Speed, claimed the championship.
“It really exceeded my expectations,” Barnes said. “Nike did a great job of taking care of us. It’s an experience that I’ll remember for the rest of my life because of all of the bonds I made.”
For the record, Barnes ran a 4.6 in the 40 and completed the shuttle in 4.3. But the Oklahoma commit, who is not showing any signs of reconsidering, is now turning his attention toward the fall. The Dragons know that a Class 6A Division II area playoff loss to Denton Guyer is not acceptable. Carroll finished 2015 at 9-3, hardly what one would call a typical Carroll season.
The Dragons defense returns nine starters, led by Barnes. In the 3-4 alignment, Barnes could be used in a variety of ways. If he’s not in his normal safety spot, he has the size (6-3, 200) to play linebacker in certain situations. He can also line up at defensive back and handle the tallest wide receiver.
Flexibility wins in this era of football. Barnes demonstrated that in 2015 with five total created turnovers (three interceptions and two fumble recoveries) and at least five sacks.
“I think a lot of us looked back on 2015 and realized that we couldn’t take anything for granted,” Barnes said. “This year, we have to play every game like there’s something on the line. Our defense is really capable of doing a lot of things, like stopping the run. Our front (led by Luke Jeter and Ryan Miller) should be great. And whatever I can contribute on the back end will help us grind out every play. We feel really good about that.”
Barnes’ reputation as a playmaker went beyond reputation. It went viral. He made a name for himself during the 2015 season when he made the 2-point try attempt stop against Coppell that preserved the Dragons’ 38-37 victory over the Cowboys on Oct. 2.
He led all Carroll defensive players with 105 tackles. In this case, that’s not a bad thing for a secondary player to lead in that category. If Barnes does that again this fall, the better it probably is.
“Robert brings a wealth of experience and talent to our team,” Carroll head coach Hal Wasson said. “Our expectation is for him to be one of the hardest workers on our squad.”
The District 5-6A race should be rugged between the Dragons, Euless Trinity and Flower Mound Marcus. Those three combined to win 29 games in 2015. There will not be any down time.
This is a time for Barnes to lead in all aspects. The time spent in Oregon served as a learning tool to apply those lessons in how he continues to work with his teammates, his coaches and even when arrives in Norman, Okla., next summer.
“When I was a sophomore, I just embraced everything,” Barnes said. “But now I want to keep an open mind to everything. I want to embrace being a leader.”
This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 9:56 AM with the headline "Dragons defender stands out at Nike event."