Freddie Barnes
Encyclopedia
Freddie Lee Barnes is an American football
wide receiver
currently a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders
of the Canadian Football League
. He was signed by the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
at Bowling Green
.
During 2009
, including the Humanitarian Bowl
, Barnes accumulated an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision record 155 receptions for 1,770 yards, 19 receiving touchdowns, as well as two rushing touchdowns. The 155-reception total not only surpassed the Division I record, but also an NCAA All-division record. He also broke Randy Moss
' single-season Mid-American Conference
yardage record. In addition, he established several Bowling Green Falcons football
records during the season. During his senior season, in established numerous receiving records, was named a 2009 College Football All-American
and was one of three 2009 Fred Biletnikoff Award
finalists. Previously, he had been a multisport athlete at Homewood-Flossmoor High School
.
in Flossmoor, Illinois
, where he earned three letters for the Vikings playing quarterback
. He served as team captain and was named team MVP, as well as All-Area and All-Conference in 2004. Barnes also lettered in basketball, where he was a teammate of Julian Wright
.
Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com
, Barnes was not ranked among the nation's elite quarterback prospects in 2005. He chose Bowling Green over Eastern Michigan
and Indiana.
third team honors. He caught 41 passes for 364 yards, but no touchdowns as a Junior in 2008.
During his senior year in 2009 he accumulated 16 touchdown catches and a league leading 138 receptions. He is third in reception yards with 1,551, and among his season's highlights was a school-record 22-catch effort (one short of an NCAA single-game record) for 278 yards, including three touchdowns, in a 36-35 victory over Kent State
. Barnes was four receptions away from matching the NCAA single-season record as Bowling Green awaited its bowl game against the Idaho Vandals
. In his final game at Bowling Green against the Idaho Vandals in the Humanitarian Bowl, Barnes had 17 receptions for 219 yards and 3 touchdowns including a go-ahead score with 32 seconds left in the game. It turned out to be enough time for the Vandals to answer on their final drive, and they converted a two point conversion for the win. Barnes established both new Football Bowl Subdivision and All Division single-season reception records by surpassing Manny Hazard
and Nick Smart, respectively. On the season, Barnes' 1770 yards surpassed Randy Moss
MAC single-season total. Barnes also surpassed several school records such as single-season touchdown
receptions and career receptions. Barnes' yardage total and yards per game were second to Danario Alexander
among FBS receivers for 2009.
Barnes was chosen as one of three finalists for the Fred Biletnikoff Award
. Notre Dame's
Golden Tate
won the award. Barnes was also discussed as a dark horse
candidate for the 2009 Heisman Trophy
, despite being on a non-BCS team and not being a quarterback, based on thirty more catches than any other receiver and being close to the top in touchdowns. Barnes was named to the All-Mid-American Conference first team on December 2, 2009, and on December 12, he was named a 2009 All-American
by the Football Writers Association of America
.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
record
Mid-American Conference
record
Bowling Green
record
's Tony Pauline.
on April 24, 2010. He was waived on September 3, and was re-signed to the team's practice squad on November 2.
, having signed a contract on October 8, 2010. He was on a league exemption during his stint with the Chicago Bears
after being signed to the practice squad on November 2, 2010. He then returned to the Rush on December 15, 2010 after being released by the Bears.
on August 9, 2011.
. His mother, Clarissa Charles, who had him at age 14, dropped out of high school, but later earned her high school equivalency degree, then her college degree.
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...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
currently a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He was signed by the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Bowling Green
Bowling Green Falcons football
The Bowling Green Falcons football team is the interscholastic football team at Bowling Green State University. Bowling Green competes as a member of the Mid-American Conference in the East Division. The Falcons have won ten conference championships....
.
During 2009
2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
, including the Humanitarian Bowl
2009 Humanitarian Bowl
The 2009 Humanitarian Bowl was the thirteenth edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho, on the campus of Boise State University. The game started at 2:30 pm MST on Wednesday, December 30, 2009, and was telecast on ESPN...
, Barnes accumulated an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision record 155 receptions for 1,770 yards, 19 receiving touchdowns, as well as two rushing touchdowns. The 155-reception total not only surpassed the Division I record, but also an NCAA All-division record. He also broke Randy Moss
Randy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
' single-season Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
yardage record. In addition, he established several Bowling Green Falcons football
Bowling Green Falcons football
The Bowling Green Falcons football team is the interscholastic football team at Bowling Green State University. Bowling Green competes as a member of the Mid-American Conference in the East Division. The Falcons have won ten conference championships....
records during the season. During his senior season, in established numerous receiving records, was named a 2009 College Football All-American
2009 College Football All-America Team
An All-American team is an honorary sports team for a specific season composed of the best amateur players at each position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". Although the honorees generally do not...
and was one of three 2009 Fred Biletnikoff Award
Fred Biletnikoff Award
The Fred Biletnikoff Award has been presented since 1994 to America's top college football receiver by the TQC Foundation, Inc. , an independent not-for-profit organization which created the award in 1994 and has sponsored it since...
finalists. Previously, he had been a multisport athlete at Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School is a public high school in Flossmoor, Illinois, in the Chicago metropolitan area. The majority of HF students live in Flossmoor and nearby Homewood, but the school also serves areas of Olympia Fields, Chicago Heights, Glenwood, and Hazel Crest serving school...
.
Early years
Barnes attended Homewood-Flossmoor High SchoolHomewood-Flossmoor High School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School is a public high school in Flossmoor, Illinois, in the Chicago metropolitan area. The majority of HF students live in Flossmoor and nearby Homewood, but the school also serves areas of Olympia Fields, Chicago Heights, Glenwood, and Hazel Crest serving school...
in Flossmoor, Illinois
Flossmoor, Illinois
Flossmoor is a village in south suburban Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,464 at the 2010 census.The village is renowned for the quality and architectural variety of its housing stock, as well as its proximity to numerous country clubs. It prides itself on being a...
, where he earned three letters for the Vikings playing quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. He served as team captain and was named team MVP, as well as All-Area and All-Conference in 2004. Barnes also lettered in basketball, where he was a teammate of Julian Wright
Julian Wright
Julian Emil-Jamaal Wright is an American professional basketball player who last played for the NBA's Toronto Raptors. He played collegiately for the University of Kansas.-High school career:...
.
Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, Barnes was not ranked among the nation's elite quarterback prospects in 2005. He chose Bowling Green over Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
and Indiana.
College career
Barnes' freshman season he caught 20 passes for 203 yards, two touchdowns, and rushed for 405 yards and 9 touchdowns. As a sophomore, he caught 82 passes for 962 yards and 9 touchdowns, and was selected for All-Mid-American ConferenceMid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
third team honors. He caught 41 passes for 364 yards, but no touchdowns as a Junior in 2008.
During his senior year in 2009 he accumulated 16 touchdown catches and a league leading 138 receptions. He is third in reception yards with 1,551, and among his season's highlights was a school-record 22-catch effort (one short of an NCAA single-game record) for 278 yards, including three touchdowns, in a 36-35 victory over Kent State
2009 Kent State Golden Flashes football team
The 2009 Kent State Golden Flashes football team represented Kent State University in the 2009 college football season. They competed in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the football season. Kent State competed as a member of...
. Barnes was four receptions away from matching the NCAA single-season record as Bowling Green awaited its bowl game against the Idaho Vandals
2009 Idaho Vandals football team
The 2009 Idaho Vandals American football team represented the University of Idaho in the 2009 college football season. The Vandals, led by third-year head coach Robb Akey, were members of the Western Athletic Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus...
. In his final game at Bowling Green against the Idaho Vandals in the Humanitarian Bowl, Barnes had 17 receptions for 219 yards and 3 touchdowns including a go-ahead score with 32 seconds left in the game. It turned out to be enough time for the Vandals to answer on their final drive, and they converted a two point conversion for the win. Barnes established both new Football Bowl Subdivision and All Division single-season reception records by surpassing Manny Hazard
Manny Hazard
Manny Hazard is a former professional American football wide receiver who played collegiately at the University of Houston and in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts....
and Nick Smart, respectively. On the season, Barnes' 1770 yards surpassed Randy Moss
Randy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
MAC single-season total. Barnes also surpassed several school records such as single-season touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
receptions and career receptions. Barnes' yardage total and yards per game were second to Danario Alexander
Danario Alexander
Danario Alexander is an American football wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. While considered by some to be a prime wide receiver prospect for the 2010 NFL Draft, Alexander was not drafted. On August 22, 2010, St...
among FBS receivers for 2009.
Barnes was chosen as one of three finalists for the Fred Biletnikoff Award
Fred Biletnikoff Award
The Fred Biletnikoff Award has been presented since 1994 to America's top college football receiver by the TQC Foundation, Inc. , an independent not-for-profit organization which created the award in 1994 and has sponsored it since...
. Notre Dame's
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
Golden Tate
Golden Tate
Golden H. Tate III is an American football wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football and college baseball at Notre Dame.-Early years:Tate was born in...
won the award. Barnes was also discussed as a dark horse
Dark horse
Dark horse is a term used to describe a little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence, especially in a competition of some sort.-Origin:The term began as horse racing parlance...
candidate for the 2009 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, despite being on a non-BCS team and not being a quarterback, based on thirty more catches than any other receiver and being close to the top in touchdowns. Barnes was named to the All-Mid-American Conference first team on December 2, 2009, and on December 12, he was named a 2009 All-American
2009 College Football All-America Team
An All-American team is an honorary sports team for a specific season composed of the best amateur players at each position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". Although the honorees generally do not...
by the Football Writers Association of America
Football Writers Association of America
The Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA...
.
College awards and honors
- 2009 All-American2009 College Football All-America TeamAn All-American team is an honorary sports team for a specific season composed of the best amateur players at each position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". Although the honorees generally do not...
(FWAA) - 2009 Biletnikoff AwardFred Biletnikoff AwardThe Fred Biletnikoff Award has been presented since 1994 to America's top college football receiver by the TQC Foundation, Inc. , an independent not-for-profit organization which created the award in 1994 and has sponsored it since...
finalist
National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
record
- Single-season receptionsReception (American football)In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
(155, 20092009 NCAA Division I FBS football seasonThe 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
–) (both Division I and All Divisions)
Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
record
- Single-season receiving yards (1770, 20092009 Mid-American Conference football seasonThe 2009 Mid-American Conference football season is an NCAA football season that was played from September 3, 2009, to January 7, 2010. The Mid-American Conference consists of twelve full-time members, with Temple University holding an affiliate membership for football.- Previous season :Ball...
–)
Bowling Green
Bowling Green Falcons football
The Bowling Green Falcons football team is the interscholastic football team at Bowling Green State University. Bowling Green competes as a member of the Mid-American Conference in the East Division. The Falcons have won ten conference championships....
record
- Career receptions (298, 20092009 Bowling Green Falcons football teamThe 2009 Bowling Green Falcons football team represented Bowling Green State University in its 57th season in the Mid-American Conference. The Falcons played in the East Division of the conference, and compete each season against five to six divisional opponents, two to three West Division...
–) - Single-season touchdown receptions (19, 20092009 Bowling Green Falcons football teamThe 2009 Bowling Green Falcons football team represented Bowling Green State University in its 57th season in the Mid-American Conference. The Falcons played in the East Division of the conference, and compete each season against five to six divisional opponents, two to three West Division...
–) - Single-game receptions (22, 20092009 Bowling Green Falcons football teamThe 2009 Bowling Green Falcons football team represented Bowling Green State University in its 57th season in the Mid-American Conference. The Falcons played in the East Division of the conference, and compete each season against five to six divisional opponents, two to three West Division...
–) - Single-game receiving yards (278, 20092009 Bowling Green Falcons football teamThe 2009 Bowling Green Falcons football team represented Bowling Green State University in its 57th season in the Mid-American Conference. The Falcons played in the East Division of the conference, and compete each season against five to six divisional opponents, two to three West Division...
–)
2010 NFL Draft
Wes Bunting of National Football Post opined that Barnes may lack the speed to be an elite NFL receiver, but stated that "he certainly has the talent to fill out an NFL receiving corps." At the 2010 East-West Shrine Game practice, Barnes "impressed scouts with the ability to consistently separate from defensive backs and find the openings in the coverage," according to Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
's Tony Pauline.
Chicago Bears
Barnes signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on April 24, 2010. He was waived on September 3, and was re-signed to the team's practice squad on November 2.
Chicago Rush
Barnes was also a member of the Arena Football Team Chicago RushChicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
, having signed a contract on October 8, 2010. He was on a league exemption during his stint with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
after being signed to the practice squad on November 2, 2010. He then returned to the Rush on December 15, 2010 after being released by the Bears.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Barnes was signed to the practice roster of the Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
on August 9, 2011.
Personal
His hometown is Chicago Heights, IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. His mother, Clarissa Charles, who had him at age 14, dropped out of high school, but later earned her high school equivalency degree, then her college degree.
External links
- Official biography at Bowling Green
- Barnes at ESPN.comESPN.comESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
- Barnes at NCAA.org