Derrick Barnes (American football)

Derrick Danta Barnes Jr. (born May 29, 1999) is an American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Purdue and was drafted by the Lions in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Derrick Barnes
No. 55 – Detroit Lions
Position:Inside linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1999-05-29) May 29, 1999
Covington, Kentucky
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:238 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school:Holy Cross
(Covington, Kentucky)
College:Purdue
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 4 / Pick: 113
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2021
Total tackles:61
Sacks:2.0
Pass deflections:2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and high school

Barnes grew up in Covington, Kentucky and attended Holy Cross High School, where he played basketball and ran track in addition to playing linebacker and running back on the football team.[1] As a senior, he was named first team All-State and the Class 2-A, District Six Player of the Year after leading the team with 126 tackles on defense and rushing for 1,567 yards and 22 touchdowns on 150 carries on offense.[2] Barnes originally committed to play college football at Toledo going into his senior year, but changed his commitment to Purdue after receiving an offer from new head coach Jeff Brohm.[3]

College career

Barnes played in 12 games with two starts during his freshman season.[4] He became a starter as a sophomore and finished the season with 92 tackles with 8 tackles for loss and 3 sacks.[5] After the regular season, he was moved to the defensive end position going into 2018 Music City Bowl.[6] He stayed as a pass rusher during his junior season and finished the year tied for the second most sacks on the team with 7.5 along with 11.0 tackles for loss.[7] As a senior, Barnes returned to the middle linebacker position and led the Boilermakers with 54 total tackles and was second on the team in tackles for loss with 5.5 and was named second team All-Big Ten.[8]

Professional career

Barnes was drafted in the fourth round, 113th overall, by the Detroit Lions in the 2021 NFL Draft.[9] He signed his four-year rookie contract with Detroit on June 17, 2021.[10]

Personal life

During the 11th Annual NFL Honors on February 10, 2022, NFL veteran and 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award winner Andrew Whitworth told a story about himself and Barnes reuniting after a 2021 Week 7 game between the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions; Barnes approached Whitworth after the game to thank him for his earlier mentorship through Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati.[11]

References
  1. "Catching up: Holy Cross grad Barnes plays big for Purdue in upset of Ohio State". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 25, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  2. Frakes, Jason (December 23, 2016). "All-State: Derrick Barnes, Covington Holy Cross". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  3. "Holy Cross' Derrick Barnes flips from Toledo to Purdue". The Cincinnati Enquirer. February 1, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  4. "A look at Derrick Barnes' Purdue football career". Journal & Courier. November 17, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  5. Arland, JD (February 28, 2020). "Purdue's Derrick Barnes is Back at Linebacker". SI.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  6. "Purdue linebacker Derrick Barnes moving to pass rushing spot for bowl game". Journal & Courier. December 8, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  7. "Purdue's Derrick Barnes returns to familiar territory at linebacker". Journal & Courier. February 28, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  8. "Derrick Barnes, Purdue LB from Holy Cross HS, invited to Senior Bowl". The Cincinnati Enquirer. December 29, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  9. Monarrez, Carlos (May 1, 2021). "Detroit Lions trade up for Purdue LB Derrick Barnes, who has a special tattoo". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  10. "NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/17/21".
  11. "Rams OT Andrew Whitworth named 2021 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year". NFL. February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
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