Edison's Barber to Grayshirt Upcoming Season
Just recently announced was the decision by the Virginia Tech coaching staff to grayshirt all-Gameday quarterback Ben Barber. The move comes right before the August enrollment deadline, as the future Hokie will now be enrolling in January and will be eligible for the 2009 football season instead.
Barber, despite the decision, stated he's not too disappointed and is still happy about attending Virginia Tech.
"I'm not going to let this whole situation get me down," said Barber. "I keep my spirit, workout everyday and just hope for the best."
The term grayshirt isn't an official term or specified by the NCAA, but it is a strategic move made by college programs to allow student-athletes to keep their eligibility. Due to the fact Tech inked over 30 players in the 2008 class, there is simply not enough room for all of them to be permitted on this year's roster. NCAA rules dictate that each team can only hold a limited amount of scholarship athletes, and Tech at this point has too many. Even with many of Virginia Tech's 2008 recruiting class doing a year of prep school, the Hokies still needed to make room, and Barber was one of the casualties.
Despite Barber being academically eligible, if he enrolled now, his scholarship would still not kick in until January. With NCAA rules stating that a player's eligibility start once enrolled as a full-time student, Barber will still have five years of eligibility (if redshirted) even after the 2008 season. So by grayshirting, Barber saves a semester's worth of tuition bills, and will get an extra half year of practice with the team before enrolling as a full-time student next year.
So for right now, that means Barber will have nearly half a year to himself, but he reassured us he won't be sitting on the couch eating Cheetoes all day.
"Right now I'm just focused on preparing myself," said Barber. "I wake up and run two miles on the treadmill everyday, then go out with my younger brother and catch at least 100 balls a day."
Barber's younger brother, Levi, is projected to start at quarterback this year for Edison and take over the gaping hole Ben left behind. While Levi will have to replace over 3600 total career yards, he's at least getting a thorough lesson from the all-Gameday performer.
"We'll do anything from fades, to comebacks, to stops and deep posts," said Barber. "When I'm done with my receiver stuff, I go and work with him and his footwork and his throwing mechanics."
It may seem odd that Barber, a wide receiver, is giving tips to his younger sibling about being a quarterback, but he emerged as one of the best quarterbacks in the area last year after previously playing wide receiver.
Accumulating over 2300 yards and 32 touchdowns while at quarterback, it's safe to say Barber knows what he's talking about. Yet the football knowledge didn't just start out with Ben, it started, rather, with his half-brother Willie Pile who also played for Virginia Tech. Two years ago, Pile was a member of the Dallas Cowboys and now is a member of the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League.
"I've been part of the Virginia Tech family for a long time, since my brother was there," said Barber.
Being a part of the Virginia Tech family is a big reason why he committed to play for the Hokies and holds no regrets about being grayshirted.
"It was the best situation for me to go to... I'm excited," said Barber.
One other reason Barber is so excited is that when he does finally enroll as a full-time student, the opportunity for playing time will be available. Virginia Tech graduated four of their top wide receivers, one of whom was former Westfield standout Eddie Royal, who was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Denver Broncos.
"As a player, you have to have the mentality that you want to play," said Barber. "As a freshman coming in, I know I'll be young and inexperienced, but I'll have that drive and will to play hard to impress my coaches and help the team."
Barber couldn't specify at this point whether Virginia Tech would bother redshirting him next year, but did tell us this:
"I'm ready to play."
For specific questions or comments on Northern Virginia recruiting, please contact me, Derek LeComte, at GamedayRecruits@aol.com
