To whom much is given, much is required—any student-athlete would agree. Lowndes Vikings offensive tackle Tucker Barnes truly embodies what it means to be a student-athlete.
The 6-foot-4, 285-pound Barnes is a three-time All-Academic award winner in addition to anchoring the Vikings’ offensive line. Taking AP classes can be daunting, but being a student has always come first for Barnes. Knowing his grades must be maintained to do his job on the field, Barnes believes time management is the key to success in the classroom.
“I really get most of my studying done on the weekends,” Barnes said. “When I’ve had all my hard AP classes, I study more on the weekends than I do during the football season. I still try to cram a little bit during the week after practice, but it’s a lot easier to get it done on the weekends.”
Barnes prides himself on being a starter at every level of football he has played in. Having major responsibilities does not phase the 17-year-old. After spending most of his time with the Vikings playing the center position, Barnes has moved to left tackle as a senior.
“Center is a much more mental position than tackle is because you have to look at the defense a whole lot more,” Barnes said of the switch. “Playing tackle, you have one guy to block on every play. At center, you’re looking at everybody’s guy to block, and you want to make sure nobody is going to blitz and come through certain gaps. It’s a lot more difficult than any of the other positions. That’s something you have to work at a while to get to where you can call all of the defenses out.”
In addition to his 4.325 GPA, Barnes’ football acumen has garnered him scholarship offers from Division II West Georgia, Division I schools such as Davidson and Campbell, and Brown University from the Ivy League. Barnes also has reportedly received interest from Dartmouth and Yale.
Moving on to college is a thrilling and even scary step for a high school student. Playing for a traditional powerhouse like Lowndes allows Barnes to focus on the season ahead before choosing his next landing spot.
“The rest of the season, the goal is to try to win a state championship,” Barnes said. “Heading into college, I just really want to pick a really good academic institution where I can better myself academically and through football. That’s really what my main goal is.”
Barnes’ parents have raised him in a successful environment and taught him the value of hard work. His mother, Bridgette, grew up in a small farming community before working her way up to becoming a doctor. Barnes’s father, Richard, got his start in Atlanta before becoming a successful lawyer.
“My mom and dad are pretty big role models in my life,” Barnes said. “They’ve worked very hard to get to the level they’re on and to provide for me, and that means a lot to me.”
Barnes enjoys duck hunting and fly fishing in his down time. When he gets a chance to watch football, Barnes loves to watch Houston Texans superstar defensive end J.J. Watt and Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Michael Oher.
With the Vikings, Barnes’ academic success and on-field exploits have earned him a role as a leader in the locker room. According to Barnes, he has more ears tuning in now than ever before.
“Obviously, it really makes more people listen to you,” Barnes said. “They’re going to want to listen to somebody who’s a little bit more accomplished, somebody who has stepped up. They’ve done their work, and they’re ready to move on and lead at the next level, but can also lead at the level they’re on now.”
The next level awaits Barnes and his 1780 SAT score next Fall. Barnes’ immense stature could one day lead to career in the NFL, though Barnes admits he has not given it much thought.
“If (making the NFL happens), I’d love to,” Barnes said. “I want to get a really good education, and then if I have the opportunity to play in the NFL, I would love to.”
In athletics, players gauge their improvement on a year-to-year basis. Barnes reflects positively on how much he has grown from his freshman year to now.
“Since my freshman year, I’ve learned how to work a lot harder—to study more and work harder in the weight room in the off-season,” Barnes said. “This year and last year, I was working out three times a week in the off-season after all the workouts and the morning workouts we were doing.”
Barnes’ dogged work ethic off the field has yielded considerable results on the field manning the Vikings’ offensive front.
“Last year, my playing weight was 255,” Barnes revealed. “I’ve gotten up to 285 this year. I’ve seen a big difference with that. I can move people a whole lot better, and it’s a lot harder to knock me down or get around me.”
As his senior season unfolds, Barnes’ status as big man on campus reminds him constantly what it means to wear the maroon and silver as a Viking on Friday nights.
“Being a Viking is all I wanted to do since I was a little kid,” Barnes said. “There’s something special about being a part of something bigger than yourself. It’s really just the greatest feeling ever to walk out into Martin Stadium and run through the tunnel. It’s just amazing.”
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Written by Shane Thomas
Photo by Micki Krzynski
