On Day 2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie minicamp, West Virginia University LB Jared Barber joined 15 other participants on a tryout basis.
Barbers’ career has been filled with obstacles. In 2013, the redshirt senior linebacker tore his ACL on the final play of WVU overtime loss to Texas. Three weeks post-surgery, Barber faced another hurdle – a MRSA infection. After battling through rehab and fighting the infection, Barbers’ outlook changed.
“There was definitely a concern of is football even an option anymore,” Barber said in an interview with West Virginia Illustrated. “Is playing even in my cards anymore? That was scary. I was really focused on life, just walking around. Hopefully one day when I have kids, playing with them. Stuff like that. Football wasn’t even talked about, really. It was just getting through it.”
Two years after tearing his ACL, Barber returned to the field. In an effort to get back to his roots,he sported his high school football #33 instead of the #42 he wore prior to his injury.
In 2015 he accounted for 57 tackles and 2.5 sacks for the Mountaineers.
While rehabbing, Barber remained close with his teammates and coaches during his downtime. On the sidelines, he wore a headset and joined the defensive huddles all throughout the 2014 season. This was big for many players, including his freshman roommate and teammate Nick Kwiatkoski.
“It feels great,” Nick Kwiatkoski said of having Barber back in an interview with West Virginia Illustrated. “We played next to each other since we got here. It’s good to have someone back like him. He’s a very smart player. He’s like a coach on the field, so I feel more comfortable with him out there.”
Trying out for an NFL team is no guarantee. Only 2 of the players granted tryouts with the Steelers last year were signed, though neither made the 53-man roster.
On what the Steelers are looking for during tryouts “We can evaluate their overall pedigree,” Tomlin stated. “And by that I mean how they move, the manner in which they move, the manner in which they control their body. Those are some things you can’t coach and those are obviously things we value. That shows up in drill work, it shows up even in this setting, in the controlled setting that we’re in right now.”
Barber may have his work cut out for him, but there is always hope – and there’s been no indication from rookie minicamp reports he should pack up and go home yet. If Barber makes the team, Lawrence Timmons, the Steelers longtime starting linebacker, would be the perfect player for him to study under. There are slight differences in stature and physical abilities, but Barber is a beast between the tackles; and a binger in the film room.
Steelers Organized Team Activities (OTAs) begin May 24th.
Follow Phil on Twitter @BrothermanPhil
More stories you might like
