Devin Barclay
Encyclopedia
Devin Barclay is an amateur American football
placekicker
for The Ohio State Buckeyes
. He was formerly a professional soccer player, who last played for the Columbus Crew
of Major League Soccer
.
Barclay initially skipped college, opting instead to sign a Project-40
contract with MLS in 2001, at the age of 18, which allocated him to the Tampa Bay Mutiny
. Barclay made a significant impact on a very bad Mutiny team as a rookie, appearing in 23 games, 12 starts, and scoring three goals and two assists. The Mutiny was contracted after the 2001 season; Barclay was selected 8th overall in the 2002 MLS Allocation Draft
by the San Jose Earthquakes
. Barclay did not make much of an impact on the side that had just won MLS Cup
, disappointingly only appearing in 12 games, and registering no goals or assists. He was traded to D.C. United
in exchange for a draft pick, but disappointed in D.C. as well; he only appeared in three games for United, as coach Ray Hudson
preferred not to play young players. He was again traded after the 2003 season, joining the Columbus Crew, his fourth team in four seasons. He made little impact on the Crew, however, again appearing in only three games in 2004. After appearing only once in the 2005 season, Barclay was released by Columbus on November 15, 2005.
Barclay represented the U.S. national team
at the Under-18, Under-20, and Under-23 levels, but his playing time with those teams dwindled as he was unable to break into an MLS side.
Stifled by the lack of playing time and hampered by injuries, Barclay retired from soccer. He began learning how to kick field goals
and was able to walk on at The Ohio State University. As a junior, Barclay was second on the placekicking depth chart
at Ohio State until Aaron Pettrey
was injured on October 31, 2009 in a game against New Mexico State. Barclay became the starting kicker going forward.
He scored the game winning kick against the Iowa Hawkeyes
on November 14, 2009. The win meant that Ohio State would play in the Rose Bowl
, as well as ensuring Ohio State at least a share of the 2009 Big Ten Championship.
Barclay started off the 2010 season well, tying the Ohio State record with 5 field goals on 6 attempts in week 2 against Miami (FL)
. He was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts. He would finish the season 20-for-24 on field goals. Barclay never missed a point after touchdown in his career as a Buckeye.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
for The Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
. He was formerly a professional soccer player, who last played for the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Barclay initially skipped college, opting instead to sign a Project-40
Generation adidas
Generation adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young soccer talent in the United States. The program, sponsored by adidas, encourages early entry of American players into MLS...
contract with MLS in 2001, at the age of 18, which allocated him to the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
. Barclay made a significant impact on a very bad Mutiny team as a rookie, appearing in 23 games, 12 starts, and scoring three goals and two assists. The Mutiny was contracted after the 2001 season; Barclay was selected 8th overall in the 2002 MLS Allocation Draft
2002 MLS Allocation Draft
After the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion were contracted, Major League Soccer distributed their players to the rest of the league by means of an Allocation Draft, in which teams with excess allocations were allowed to select from their players. Players not selected in the Allocation Draft went...
by the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
. Barclay did not make much of an impact on the side that had just won MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
, disappointingly only appearing in 12 games, and registering no goals or assists. He was traded to D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
in exchange for a draft pick, but disappointed in D.C. as well; he only appeared in three games for United, as coach Ray Hudson
Ray Hudson
Ray Hudson , is a retired professional football player and former coach who currently works as an English-language football commentator on Gol TV.-Career:...
preferred not to play young players. He was again traded after the 2003 season, joining the Columbus Crew, his fourth team in four seasons. He made little impact on the Crew, however, again appearing in only three games in 2004. After appearing only once in the 2005 season, Barclay was released by Columbus on November 15, 2005.
Barclay represented the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
at the Under-18, Under-20, and Under-23 levels, but his playing time with those teams dwindled as he was unable to break into an MLS side.
Stifled by the lack of playing time and hampered by injuries, Barclay retired from soccer. He began learning how to kick field goals
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
and was able to walk on at The Ohio State University. As a junior, Barclay was second on the placekicking depth chart
Depth chart
In sports, a depth chart is used to show the placements of the starting players and the secondary players. Generally a starting player will be listed first or on top while a back-up will be listed below...
at Ohio State until Aaron Pettrey
Aaron Pettrey
Aaron Pettrey is an American football placekicker for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was formerly a kicker for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Pettrey was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals' roster on November 16, 2010 after a season-ending injury to Mike Nugent, another former...
was injured on October 31, 2009 in a game against New Mexico State. Barclay became the starting kicker going forward.
He scored the game winning kick against the Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa Hawkeyes
The Iowa Hawkeyes are the athletics teams that represent the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. The Hawkeyes have varsity teams in 24 sports, 11 for men and 13 for women. The teams participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and are members of the...
on November 14, 2009. The win meant that Ohio State would play in the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
, as well as ensuring Ohio State at least a share of the 2009 Big Ten Championship.
Barclay started off the 2010 season well, tying the Ohio State record with 5 field goals on 6 attempts in week 2 against Miami (FL)
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
. He was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts. He would finish the season 20-for-24 on field goals. Barclay never missed a point after touchdown in his career as a Buckeye.