EARLY SIGNING DAY '20: Barnes ready for challenges at Bama

Lee lineman Anquin Barnes (middle) signs with the University of Alabama during a special ceremony on Wednesday. He was joined by his parents, Chequita Cosman (right) and Antwan Barnes. (Staff Photo)

By GRAHAM DUNN
Playing 130 plays per game may sound like a lot for a Class 6A football player.

But Robert E. Lee lineman Anquin Barnes didn’t have a problem with it.

“Once you get used to it, you get used to it. So it really wasn’t a problem,” Barnes said soon after he had officially signed with Alabama during a special ceremony at Lee High School on Wednesday.

“It feels great. This is a life-long dream. I wanted to go to Alabama since I was 5.”

At 6-foot-5, 320 pounds, Barnes was an immediate prospect for every team across the country. But it took a couple of trips to Tuscaloosa to convince Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide staff that he would be a good fit.

He was officially offered after “camping” following his junior year. Barnes didn’t hesitate in accepting the offer.

“He showed a lot of discipline and character all season,” stated Lee head coach Eric Hudson. “His mom and dad taught him a lot about that.”

As the 2020 season progressed Barnes stayed on the field, usually playing every snap on offense as either a center or guard and on defense as a defensive tackle.

He finished with almost 20 pancake blocks but his numbers on defense seemed to slip somewhat as the season progressed.

“I think we might have seen a little fatigue,” Hudson said. “Against (second-round opponent) Saraland we didn’t play him quite as much on defense because we knew we would need him on offense more.

“He didn’t want to come out of the game. He worked hard at practice, worked those half-gasers and the work ethic showed everybody he could do it.”

Last weekend, Barnes gave a pretty good indication of what his future might look like. He finished the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game with two tackles and a sack.

“He was hard to block all week with such a great first move,” stated Alabama All-Star coach Steve Mask. “He is so big but he has a lot of quickness and it surprises you.”

“It was fun,” Barnes said. “I felt like I dominated.”

If he has his way, Barnes will be used on defense at Alabama but his high school coach believes his future is at offensive guard.

“My honest opinion – I think he will be used on the offensive line but I know he wants a chance to play on defense,” Hudson said. “I think he can be an early second round pick (in the NFL).”