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Linebacker has a 'nose' for game

Zephyrhills coaches say Beau Barnes, who will likely play on both sides of the ball next season, is almost the total package.

By MIKE TOMPKINS
Published May 23, 2006

ZEPHYRHILLS - The cliche is as big as John Madden's paycheck.

"He's got a nose for the football."

When it comes to cliche football phrases, it's arguably one of the biggest in sports, residing in the same Madden cruiser as "Defense wins championships" and "That guy is a football player."

But it's also a trait. And a skill. It's the description of a defensive player who has ability to continuously find themselves around the football.

It's that swarming, head-hunter mentality. It's something that not all football players have. Take a guy like Derrick Brooks. He has it. So does John Lynch. Ray Lewis. Hardy Nickerson. Ronnie Lott.

Add Beau Barnes to that list. He has it, too. Or at least his coaches think so.

The Zephyrhills senior-to-be is entering his second season for the Bulldogs, and is hoping that his "nose" and ability as a "football player" helps his defense and team win a championship.

"He's sitting in the middle of all my defenses, no matter what we run," said defensive coordinator Matt McDermott. "He's my captain out there, and he's got a nose for the football. He studies the game better than most kids I've seen on defense. He knows what I expect out of him, as well as what I expect out of everybody on the field. He's a pretty decent-sized kid, and if he increased his speed a bit, he'd be the total package. But as far as his vision of the field, and getting to the ball, he's one of the best I've ever seen."

Last season, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound middle linebacker had to earn that opportunity.

A Marble Falls, Texas native, Barnes transferred to Zephyrhills midway through the school year before transferring to Chamberlain as a sophomore. He returned to Zephyrhills last season but, according to McDermott, "it took him a while to adapt."

But once he found his niche, he excelled, leading the Bulldogs with 152 tackles (88 solo), three forced fumbles and three recovered fumbles. Healso was second on the team with 7- sacks and was tied for second with three interceptions.

But unlike last season, when Barnes was strictly a defensive player for the 7-4 Bulldogs, this season may find him on the offensive side of the ball, too. That possibility became more likely after Thursday's spring game, when Barnes, who lined up at tight end for most of the game, caught a pass from Sedderik Cunningham and scored from 40 yards out on the final play of the first half.

His only catch of the game, the score was the orange team's lone offensive bright spot in a 6-6 tie. He also had 10 stops, a sack and a fumble recovery on defense.

"We don't want him (on the offensive side)," Zephyrhills coach Tom Fisher said. "But he might have to be. He's a competitor, and to use an old term, "He's got a nose for the ball.' That's a quality that a linebacker has to have. He's very valuable to us on defense, and we like to just keep him there. But if it's necessary, he will play on both sides of the ball."

Which is fine with Barnes.

"I'm happy doing whatever helps the team," said Barnes, who attended a Nike camp last weekend in Gainesville. "Guard, tight end, wherever.

"I'm more concerned with being a leader and getting deep into the playoffs."

[Last modified May 23, 2006, 01:29:11]