Bainbridge graduate Tarow Barney is receiving highbrow attention from colleges across the southeast and as far north as Penn State. Even the Alabama Crimson Tide has their eye on the defensive tackle.
Just finishing his second season at Northwest Mississippi community college, Barney never dreamed of receiving offers from such big universities. Four weeks ago, he and former defensive coordinator Ricky Coon emailed film to every Division 1A school in the country. Two hours later, Coon’s phone was ringing off the hook.
Last week, the two were sitting in Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s office discussing the possibility of Barney playing for the Crimson Tide.
“He’s just a high-character player,” said Coon. “He works hard and does exactly what you want him to do exactly the way you want it.”
Barney graduated from Bainbridge High School in 2012. He wasn’t able to play football his first three years as a Bearcat due to asthma, but finally joined the team his senior year. Loving the sport, and proving he had a talent for it, he continued playing at Northwest Mississippi.
“I’m really excited,” Barney said about receiving scholarship offers from school like Illinois, Iowa State, Middle Tennessee State, Miami (Ohio) and Penn State. “Bainbridge taught me how to be a better player. Coming to Northwest Mississippi, I learned even more.”
According to Coon, once he started getting coached, Barney took all the advice he could on how to improve his game.
Barney graduates community college in December.
Though he’s leaning toward playing for Alabama or Penn State, the offers continue to roll in. But Barney just wants to transfer to a place that will help him earn his degree.
“I want to go to a good program,” he said, “and I want to get a good computer science degree. Maybe one day I can play in the NFL.”
That hope looks bright for Barney. According to Coon, 100 percent of Alabama linemen are drafted into the NFL.