Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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26 MARCH 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2021 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY TODD D. BURLAGE As a late-bloomer physically and a late- arrival to the college f o o t b a l l re c ru i t i n g s c e n e , g i f t e d 2 0 2 1 defensive back Ryan Barnes had no idea what was coming after Tennessee extended his first scholarship of- fer in November 2019. Thirty-two more of- fers later — along with the thousands of text messages and endless phone and Internet inquiries from college coaches around the country — what started out as a great experience for Barnes evolved into a daily grind. And Ryan's father, Dennis, admit- ted to watching his son grow increas- ingly overwhelmed as the attention and interest snowballed. "One day, he'd get one offer, then he would get two, then the next day he'd get three, then he'd get four," Dennis recalled of Ryan's recruitment out of Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Md. "While you're in that moment, it became a blur." Dennis still extends gratitude to each of the interested schools and col- lege coaches for remaining respectful during his son's grueling recruitment. But with at least three different coaches from 33 different schools all "respectfully" pitch- ing their product at all hours every day, the time and atten- tion demands be- came dizzying. " I t h i n k w h e n it became kind of overwhelming was when Ryan would wake up to 100 text messages," Dennis said. "Because you go from not on the recruiting radar for anyone to really a national recruit be- cause that's what he was being called." And that's when Notre Dame came calling, adding its offer to an impres- sive list that included Clemson, LSU, Florida, Georgia, and the other two schools Ryan listed among his three finalists, Oregon and Michigan. About two months after receiving the Irish offer, Barnes became the 11th commitment and the third de- fensive back in the Notre Dame 2021 recruiting class, capping a six-month whirlwind that started with no offers and ended during a Zoom call with Irish head coach Brian Kelly. "Ryan knew what that Notre Dame offer meant," Dennis said. "And what we all appreciated was how the Notre Dame coaches included our entire family in the recruiting process." Coronavirus constraints kept Barnes from making recruiting visits to any of his final three schools, so virtual engagement meant everything dur- ing the process and pushed Notre Dame over the top. "We just wanted to make sure that we prepared Ryan during the process of being able to make the right deci- sion for himself as a young adult and a young man," Dennis said, "to take the time to communicate, take the time to do his due diligence, take the time to have real conversations." At 6-2 and a sturdy 188 pounds, Barnes insists that his combination of size, speed and versatility leave him equipped to handle any position in the defensive backfield at the next level, a luxury at a position of need for Kelly and his rebuilt defensive coaching staff. After a visit to family in nearby Warsaw, Ind., Barnes made the hour trip northwest to South Bend Jan. 28, and proudly checked Ryan into his Notre Dame dormitory as one of 14 Irish early enrollees, even after Ryan became one of five Irish 2021 recruits who had their senior high school football season canceled because of the pandemic. "Football is something you do, not who you are," Dennis said. "I think what I'm most proud of is just the kind of young man Ryan is becoming. Everything else is icing on the cake. "He knows he has work to do, but I'm excited as his dad to see the next step of his journey." ✦ Journey To Notre Dame A Dizzying One For Ryan Barnes Barnes was recruited as a cornerback, but his size (6-2, 188), speed and versatility could also put him in the mix at safety. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM RYAN BARNES CORNERBACK 6-2 · 188 QUINCE ORCHARD H.S. GAITHERSBURG, MD. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 60 19 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 30 19 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 37 15 STATISTICS • Did not have a senior season because the state of Maryland canceled fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Totaled 27 tackles, one stop for loss, two inter- ceptions (both returned for touchdowns), seven passes defended and one forced fumble as a junior in 2019. NOTABLE • Born on Aug. 3, 2002. • 2019 All-Montgomery County second-team defense. • Selected to the Student Athletic Leadership Council for Montgomery County (2020-21). • 2018-19 Scholar Athlete Award for football and track. • Helped lead Quince Orchard to a Maryland 4A state championship in 2018. • Also ran track at Quince Orchard (100 and 200 meters, relays). • Has lived in Florida, Maryland and Virginia because his father, Dennis, works remotely as an academic recruiter for the University of Florida. • His younger brother Bryce has several offers as a class of 2022 defensive back. • Intends to major in biology. RECRUITMENT • Earned an offer from Notre Dame last spring and announced his commitment on June 6, 2020. • Held 33 offers in total, including Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon and USC. • Recruited by several Notre Dame coaches, including defensive line coach Mike Elston, corner- backs coach Mike Mickens, and former assistants Clark Lea and Terry Joseph. 2021 PROJECTION • Barnes may be the sleeper of the 2021 class, and could surprise as a true freshman at corner- back or safety, just like Clarence Lewis did in 2020. THEY SAID IT Blue & Gold Illustrated football analyst Mike Goolsby: "He has what folks are looking for — length, he's long. If you had a crystal ball, I'd prob- ably project him as a safety. He seems to have a similar body type as [Notre Dame safety] Kyle Hamilton — covers a lot of ground." National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming: "Barnes is solid in transition, very effective in press- cover man and can get in his opponent's hip pocket and stay there. He reacts well to the ball, is excellent in run support and takes good angles to the ball. "He's very consistent in getting off blocks and is just a good, all-around cornerback prospect who is aggressive with excellent footwork and ball skills."