11-04-2007, 01:06 PM
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K Devin Barclay (official thread)
Quote:
Barclay kicks aside pro soccer career for Buckeye football
By BILL WAGNER
Published November 04, 2007
Devin Barclay had planned on a long, productive career in professional soccer. The Annapolis resident signed with Major League Soccer as a 17-year-old at McDonogh High and was projected as a future star.
Unfortunately, Barclay's MLS career was cut short due to multiple injuries and lack of opportunity. No problem, the 24-year-old simply switched gears and joined the Ohio State University football team.
Yes, you read that right. Barclay, one of the finest soccer players to ever come out of Anne Arundel County, is playing football for the first time in his life and is No. 3 on the depth chart at kicker for the top-ranked team in the country.
"It's amazing to be part of a program with such tradition and history. This is big-time college football and I've been amazed by everything about it," Barclay said. "These people out here live and breathe Ohio State football. It's a culture unto itself."
How Barclay came to be a member of the Ohio State football team is an amazing story. His last two seasons in MLS were spent with the Columbus Crew and he purchased a condominium in the city.
Barclay routinely eats at a deli owned by Vlade Janakievski, one of the greatest kickers in Ohio State history. Over time, he got to know two other former Ohio State kickers in Mike Nugent and Dan Stultz.
Upon learning of Barclay's background as a pro soccer player, all three ex-kickers encouraged the youngster to attempt booting a football. Janakievski took Barclay out to a field and watched the virtual novice nail a 50-yard field goal.
"You've got it!" Janakievski declared.
Properly intrigued, Barclay began practicing with Stultz to master the proper technique and tricks of the trade. He attended a junior college that serves as a branch of Ohio State to become Division I eligible and put together a placekicking video.
Ohio State coaches were impressed enough by what they saw on the video to invite Barclay to a tryout last March. The Annapolis resident made 6 of 7 field goals from a variety of distances and was asked to join the team in time for spring practice.
"I did well considering I'd never put on pads and faced a rush," Barclay said of the tryout.
Ohio State only reserves two scholarships for kickers and those belong to starter Ryan Pretorius and backup Aaron Pettrey. Barclay is listed third on the depth chart - ahead of two other kickers - and seems to have caught the attention of head coach JimTressel.
"Some of the coaches have watched me kick and I think I've proven I'm capable of doing the job," Barclay said. "I've been told I'll get a chance to fight for the starting spot next season, but either way I've still got a few years to improve."
Pretorius, a 28-year-old former rugby player from South Africa, is a junior. Pettrey, the other kicker currently on scholarship, is a sophomore. Barclay is listed as a junior and should have two seasons of eligibility remaining after sitting out 2007 as a redshirt.
Barclay signed with MLS through the Project 40 program as a 17-year-old following his sophomore season at McDonogh High. He had an outstanding rookie campaign with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, appearing in 23 games with 12 starts and scoring three goals with two assists.
When Tampa Bay was disbanded, San Jose selected Barclay with the 18th pick of the dispersal draft. He switched to outside halfback and appeared in just 12 games. The former Indian Creek School student was traded to D.C. United and missed most of the 2003 season with an injury. He signed with Columbus and played in just three games in 2004 then was released in November, 2005.
"I had a lot of setbacks with injuries," said Barclay, who was particularly hampered by a stress fracture in his foot. "At the same time, I don't feel like I ever got a legitimate chance to make an impact after that first season with Tampa Bay. You've got to feel like people believe in you and I never got that impression from the Columbus coaching staff."
Barclay said the technique involved in kicking a football is different from that required to properly kick a soccer ball. Soccer players try to hit low liners on free or direct kicks while it's crucial to get the ball up in the air quickly on extra points for field goals.
"I know how to kick a ball so it was just a matter of adjusting my mentality and the way I connect with the ball," he said. "I've figured out a method that works for me and I've become fairly consistent."
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College Notebook:Barclay kicks aside pro soccer career for Buckeye football - Sports - (HometownAnnapolis.com)
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