Barker brings presence to defensive line
By Matthew Welsh
MDJ Sports Writer
As a defensive lineman, K ell’s
Josh Barker is not the typical image
of a dominant interior defender.
At 5-foot-9 1/ 2, 255-pounds, he
said he’s often been overlooked
as an influential player. But after
registering eight sacks last season,
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tied for fourth-most in the
county, and 81 total tackles, any
perceived physical limitations are
absent for the senior.
“I’ve always been shorter, so I’ve
seen it as motivation because a
lot of people have gotten opportunities
based off of measurables,
and that’s usually how football
is,” Barker said. “A lot of camps
I go to and in a lot of games, I’m
kind of left out, and I’m not put
in the group of the best. So when
I do get to showcase my skills, a
lot of people are shocked.”
He said that since he began
playing in second grade, he has
always been a lineman, often on
both sides of the ball. After three
high school seasons of dueling line
play, his senior season will showcase
him solely on the defensive side.
Barker said that is his preference.
“I’ve always loved the trenches,
I’ve never shied away from contact,”
Barker said. “When I first got out
there, it was just being able to hit
someone with no consequences
and run through somebody’s face,
that’s what made it that way.”
Barker acknowledged that to
compete against offensive lines
with significant height and weight
advantages, he had to systematically
develop an arsenal of rushing
maneuvers. With the help of
his coaches, Barker said his rush
package includes several strong
moves, including a spin move,
swim move, club rip and his personal
favorite, the bull rush.
To implement these moves at
a successful clip takes a heightened
level of athletic ability, which
Barker says he hones in the weight
room and in supplemental workouts
at V elocity Football in Canton.
The lineman carries more than
a 6 00-pound squat, 400-pound
bench and 300-pound power clean.
“He’s probably the strongest
high schooler I’ve coached, but
he’s not only strong,” coach Bobby
May said. “He can really move,
and he’s athletic. He’s pretty much
unblockable once he’s locked in.”
According to Barker, K ell’s defense
will feature a four-down
front this fall, transitioning from
past seasons, where he slotted as
both a tackle and guard in several
different techniques. With pass
rushing as a strength, Barker
thinks he can rise as a clear leader
on the defensive front.
“Honestly, it’s just about setting
an example because I am at the base
of the defense,” Barker said. “I can’t
slouch or be discouraged. If I’m
discouraged, the guy next to me or
the guys behind me might be, too.”
During games, Barker said he
implements his abilities in phases.
Specifically, he uses a quick first step,
and looks for first movements from
the offense. His coach described him
as agile and shifty, words not often
associated with typical linemen.
“In the first quarter, during
the first drive, that’s like my trial
drive, where I kind of feel everything
out and find my opponents
tendencies,” Barker said. “O n the
second drive I’m heating up and
making the man across from me
realize that no matter what he
does, he’s not going to stop me.”
It’s no secret Barker’s performances
are garnering him increased attention
from both opposing coaches
and college recruiters. With a 3.9
G PA, his physical and intellectual
stature place him as a proven college
prospect with Ivy League potential.
He said that this fall should
field a rounded player set to lead
K ell back to the playoffs.
“I’ve taken more of a mental
standpoint with my skill,” Barker
said. “Playing D-line, it’s not
what people think, it’s not always
j ust physicality. Whether it’s a
zone play, pass set or a stretch,
you have to understand a lot of
moving parts. It’s really about
capitalizing on that.”
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