'09 IA OL David Barrent (Michigan State Verbal)

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West Des Moines (IA) Valley

Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 285 lbs

IowaPreps.com - 15 Iowans to watch in 2009

David Barrent - West Des Moines Valley - Lineman
At 6-foot-7, 275 pounds, Barrent has the size that college coaches will be looking for at the next level. He stepped into the starting lineup this past fall for the Tigers and ended up making an impact. As he gets older and his body develops, expect big things out of Barrent at the next level. College coaches will be keeping a close eye on him.

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2/13

From the Iowa site...Iowa and Illinois have offered. Went to Iowa's junior day and will visit Kansas and Northwestern in the coming weeks. MSU, Minnesota and ISU are also showing interest.

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3/13

From O&B News...has offers from Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Northwestern and Minnesota. Visiting Champaign this weekend and talks about his connection with Coach Mallory.

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3/24

By Crabtree...talks about what makes him such a great OL prospect. Has offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Northwestern, Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan State. Talks about his interest in the two home state schools and also talks about his visits to Illinois and Northwestern.

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4/1

From the Iowa site...talks about his visits to Illinois and Iowa this past weekend. Has offers from Iowa, Illinois, Iowa State, Northwestern, Minnesota, Michigan State and Nebraska and hopes to decide before his senior season.

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4/5

From the Nebraska site...has offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska, Minnesota, Northwestern, Illinois and Michigan State. Talks about his strengths and what he is improving on this off-season. Has been invited to several spring games and is trying to decide which ones he will attend.

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4/23

From the Minnesota site...talks about his visit last weekend to see a scrimmage at Minnesota. Talks about his impressions of the Minnesota staff and about meeting some other Minnesota recruits.

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hawk central | Hawkeye Football

There were some built-in advantages for the Iowa football program when the Hawkeyes started their recruitment of David Barrent.

His grandparents graduated from Iowa. His father is a Hawkeye fan. He's been attending games in Kinnick Stadium and picturing himself wearing the black and gold uniform for years.

"That's something I really like visualizing," Barrent said Saturday. "It's really exciting for me to think I'll be one of the guys running out of that tunnel."

The 6-foot-8, 290-pound junior from West Des Moines Valley verbally committed to the Hawkeyes, putting an end to his thorough three-month study of several programs that were seeking the services of the highly regarded offensive lineman.

Barrent -- rated a four-star prospect on a five-star scale by Rivals.com and Scout.com -- selected Iowa over scholarship offers from Illinois, Michigan State, Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa State and Nebraska.

"I really like coach (Kirk) Ferentz, I really like (offensive line) coach (Reese) Morgan and I really like what they do with the offensive linemen and their history with linemen going further in their careers," Barrent said. "I just like what Iowa has to offer for me."

Barrent said he entered the recruiting process with an open mind about other schools. He did his homework on all of the programs pursuing him, too.

"I went to probably three or four different junior days," Barrent said. "I went to Illinois twice on unofficial visits and talked to all of the coaching staff on those. I went to Michigan State for a day, I went over to Northwestern a couple times and I went up to Minnesota, so I've been around, and I've been in contact with all of the coaches.

"I've been around and I've been talking to everybody, and I've been evaluating things with my parents, and we talk about it and we've been thinking about it. We decided Iowa is the best fit for me, and that's why I'm going there."

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Top Hawk recruit backs out | press-citizen.com | Iowa City Press Citizen

David Barrent verbally committed to Iowa in May, selecting the college football program he grew up rooting for and visualizing a day soon to come when he would run out of the Kinnick Stadium tunnel wearing a black jersey and play in front of a sellout crowd.

Barrent will likely still get that opportunity to play in Kinnick Stadium, but it looks as if he'll be wearing a different uniform and coming out of the visiting locker room.

The highly regarded offensive lineman from West Des Moines Valley backed out of his commitment to the Hawkeyes and announced Monday that he's headed to Michigan State.

"He called me Sunday night and told me he was going to de-commit (and commit) to Michigan State," Valley coach Gary Swenson said. "We didn't talk for a long time on the phone. I said, 'Are you sure? What's behind this?' He said he's been having second thoughts, and Michigan State was his second choice all along and he wanted to make the switch."

Barrent, a 6-foot-8, 290-pound offensive tackle prospect, is ranked by Rivals.com as the top player in the state and the No. 7 player in the country at his position. His change of plans leaves Ohio running back Brad Rogers as the only known commitment in Iowa's class of 2009.

"After I committed, about a month or so ago, I started to have some reservations," Barrent told Rivals.com. "Then I opened up to my parents that I was thinking about changing my mind. After lots of talking and thinking, I just decided Michigan State was the better fit for me in the long run."

"I was surprised," Swenson said of Barrent's reversal. "I told him when he made his first decision that you have to go with your heart when you make a decision like this. He's really a thoughtful kid, he weighs out everything. Academics were really important to him in who he talked to and who he was looking at. I know he ranked Michigan State and their engineering program right up there."

The Spartans may have had another advantage. Michigan State offensive line coach Dan Roushar and Barrent's father, Rich, were college teammates at Northern Illinois.

Barrent originally picked the Hawkeyes over Michigan State, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa State and Nebraska. He informed the Iowa coaches of his decision Monday.

"They weren't happy, obviously," Barrent told Rivals.com. "They just said that I had to do what's best for me. They left the door open for me to change my mind again, but I don't think that's going to happen. I have great respect for those guys and the program, but I felt this was the best for me."

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ESPN - Breaking down the 2009 offensive tackles - Football Recruiting

Two Big Ten-bound tackles also broke into the top 10. David Barrent (Clive, Iowa/Valley), who is headed to Michigan State, and Eric Shrive (West Scranton, Pa.), who is committed to Penn State, will fit in well with the physical nature of the conference. Barrent has a jarring first punch that stalemates opponents. His jolting initial blow along with his leg drive make him an impressive run-blocker.

Shrive takes pride in being a real workhorse on the line of scrimmage. He stays after the defender even though he plays a little high. Once he plays with more consistency in space, he'll be able to play either tackle position.

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Rivals.com Football Recruiting - From the Road: On the offensive (free)

OT DAVID BARRENT (6-8/290), West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley
EVERY'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK
COMMITTED TO: Michigan State
PERFORMANCE: Played every snap on offense in 22-0 win over West Des Moines (Iowa) Dowling Catholic.
STRENGTHS: Has long arms, which he uses to excel in pass protection. He also has a frame that easily can hold 320 pounds, and he runs on the balls of his feet.
WEAKNESSES: Needs to increase his flexibility, which should help his lateral movement. Also must work on getting a lower pad level, which would help him at the point of attack while run blocking. – BARRY EVERY

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10/29

Talks about being named to the US Army All-American game.

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ESPN - Walters, Kelley lead the 2009 blockers - Football Recruiting

Best pass-blockers

What Scouts Inc. looks for: These players generally have long arms and big wing spans, which give them advantage as pass protectors. It's easier for them to keep pass-rushers away from their body and pads. Quick feet and lateral movement help in keeping positioning on the rusher. The best pass-blockers set back off the line and anchor down before the defender can beat him outside with speed or underneath with quickness. Pass-protectors must be careful not to get their weight too far forward when delivering a blow or a loss of balance will occur. Good pass-blockers use their hands to jolt the rusher in order to stop his momentum. Pass-protectors must also possess enough strength in their lower body to not be power rushed.

3. David Barrent (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley)

Pass-rushers have little hope in trying to get past this big man to pressure the quarterback. Barrnet kick steps off the line with exceptional quickness and sets down like a seasoned veteran. Pass-rushers get easily frustrated as Barrent not only keeps them at bay but also refuses to give up the edges. It's indeed a rare occasion to see a pass-rusher beat him underneath or over the top. Barrent has a very powerful first punch then recoils his hands and arms instantly; reloading and ready to deliver again. He moves well lateral movement and does a masterful job of mirroring the pass-rusher. Barrent doesn't get off balance or overextend when pass blocking. His technical skills along with his huge frame make him one of the best pass-protectors in the Class of 2009.