Freddie Barnes is one of the most productive collegiate receivers that few have heard of. But Barnes was not always just a wide receiver. During his redshirt freshman campaign at Bowling Green, Barnes also spent some time as a rusher and a passer. On the season he ran for 405 yards, caught 20 passes for 203 yards and threw for 210 yards and was responsible for 12 total touchdowns. By his sophomore season Barnes was purely a receiver and it took little time for quarterback Tyler Sheehan to realize that Barnes was his favorite target. Barnes easily led the team with 82 receptions for 962 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Sheehan to Barnes connection continued in 2008, but Barnes was only available for nine contests and his numbers were down for that reason. Yet, he still ranked second on the team with 40 receptions and managed to throw two touchdown passes on trick plays. It was in 2009 when Barnes was fully healthy that he emerged as a legitimate NFL slot receiver. Through 12 games he caught an incredible 138 passes for 1,551 yards and 16 scores. As if he did not already do enough, Barnes also emerged as a pretty good punt returner.
Barnes' size will make him a slot receiver in the NFL and that means his stock can only go so high. With some good workouts he could be a third round selection, but wherever he goes, he certainly has the ability to make a big impact in a variety of ways.
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