Indiana lineman, Kirk Barron has visited the U three times, including Saturday’s Spring Game.
Kirk Barron, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound offensive lineman from Mishawaka (IN)
Marian, visited Minnesota for the three times in the past few months, including Saturday to watch the Gopher Spring Game and talk to the Golden Gopher coaching staff.
Marian, visited Minnesota for the three times in the past few months, including Saturday to watch the Gopher Spring Game and talk to the Golden Gopher coaching staff.
Gopher Hole caught up with Barron prior to the Spring Game to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: You’ve been to Minnesota a few times. How have the visits gone?
Kirk Barron: It went great. Coming back for the second time, I think that it really opened up my eyes of how special of a place Minnesota is. I think that the coaches understand what type of person I am and I was really comfortable walking into the place. When I sat down after the meeting, they answered a couple of the questions that I had in my head. I am starting to understand what is going on at the school. I think that the coaches are one of the best coaching staffs in the nation, along with the facilities.
Gopher Hole: You watched a practice and talked to the coaches. What did they say to you?
Kirk Barron: Coach Kill wants me back up for the Spring game (which Kirk came attended). They kind of want me to work out with them at a camp or something like that to see how I move and stuff like that.
Gopher Hole: What schools are you hearing from right now?
Kirk Barron: Two new schools have come into play were USF and Duke. I have two offers and I am visiting them this week, Ball State and Ohio. I’ll be visiting Northern Illinois on 6th. I have a visit scheduled with Wisconsin on the 17th, but I’m not positive that I will be going to that. I’ll be going to Kentucky for the Spring game on the 13th and I think that is what I have going on.
Gopher Hole: Do you have a favorite school yet or is it still too early for that?
Kirk Barron: It is still pretty early. I just want to get a feel for all the coaches. Minnesota has done a terrific job.
Gopher Hole: What do you see as your strengths as a football player?
Kirk Barron: Probably being that kind of traditional offensive lineman. Being big. Mean on the field, but nice off the field. I am pretty intelligent when it comes to football. Being athletic in open spaces. Being mean and nasty. Use your body and throw you on the ground.
Gopher Hole: What offensive line position are teams looking at you playing in college?
Kirk Barron: Most of them are looking at center, but since I have gotten up to 6-3, some are starting to look at me at guard, but I would prefer to be a center, because they have such a longevity at the position.
Gopher Hole: Do you expect to get a little bit taller or don’t you know yet?
Kirk Barron: I really don’t know. I hope to get a little bit taller. That wouldn’t be bad, but I really don’t know.
Gopher Hole: Have you thought about what football camps you might go to this summer?
Kirk Barron: Minnesota, Kentucky and North Carolina State.
Gopher Hole: Have you even thought about when you might try to decide on a school? Would you try to decide before your high school season or have you even thought that far yet?
Kirk Barron: I really want to commit early. Just finding a school that fits me and then become like for example like Shane Morris (a quarterback from Warren, Michigan) last year for Michigan and I want to be a big-time recruiter for the school.
Gopher Hole: You were with East Ridge center J.C. Hassenauer at a recent practice and you were up here with him in February. Did you get a chance to talk to him?
Kirk Barron: Oh, yes. Me and J.C., we are actually pretty good friends. We camped at the Alabama camp back in June, so we were with each other for three days and we both kind of bonded because we were both interior linemen. We came to be very close at the camp and I saw him for the first time on my first visit. We sat down and watched the Gopher hockey game and we just kept on talking more and more. We got a chance to see each other again and I think that he will be visiting for the spring game, too, so I’ll get to see him again there.
Gopher Hole: You have become friends, but aren’t you also playing the same position?
Kirk Barron: Yes, we are both those interior type guys, so I think that we are reversible as it goes. One can play center, one can play guard. If you ask me, I really don’t care. I could be your place kicker for all I care. As long as I am on the field.
Gopher Hole: So there is a chance that you could play together? It is not like one or the other type deal, right?
Kirk Barron: Yes. I feel like we are going to be tied together on the same line.
Gopher Hole: Is that kind of nice to have gotten to know somebody a little who is looking at the same school as you?
Kirk Barron: Oh, yes. You guys just offered a big tackle, Chase Gianacakos, (who committed to Michigan State), but I am pretty good friends with him, too and if all three of us decided to go to the Gophers and that is all that they would get, I think that would be a pretty good offensive line.
Gopher Hole: How about your high school team? How did you do last year?
Kirk Barron: We went to semi-state. I’m not going to lie, we got killed in the semi-state 13 to 40 (to Hamilton Heights). We are a young team this year. We have some pretty dynamic guys. We have got a young offensive line. I am the only returning starter. I think that we are going to be as good if not better than we were last year. We are explosive on the offensive line and the defensive line, especially.
Gopher Hole: Being the only returning starter on the offensive line, are you looking forward to be a little bit more of a leader this upcoming season?
Kirk Barron: Oh, yes, definitely. We were supposed to have another big kid coming back, but he is moving away. I am really looking forward to the challenge to lead the guys. It will be an exciting year.
Gopher Hole: Do you play any other sports or do you just play football only now?
Kirk Barron: I just started track this year, so that is going good, throwing the shot and discus.
Gopher Hole: There are a lot of offensive linemen who throw the shot and discus. Do you think that helps you in terms of strength training and footwork?
Kirk Barron: Yes. I really don’t know the whole technique of throwing, so I kind of just pass that and throw the ball. It seems to be working. I think that another sport definitely works, because the first two years I didn’t play a sport and just by the little bit of work that I have been doing with my footwork in practice, I can tell my moves are little bit smoother.
Gopher Hole: Do you come from an athletic family?
Kirk Barron: My uncle, John, went to Butler and went to the combine and worked out for scouts. He was a running back. He went to Marian High School, too. He ran a 4.3 40. He was pretty quick. A small little guy. My uncle played baseball at IU. My dad was an All-American at Maine. My grandfather was the only All-American to ever come from the state of Maine for football. We are a football family.
Gopher Hole: Has football always been in the blood since you had so many relatives play that sport?
Kirk Barron: They all played in high school. My dad was a baseball player in college. The whole footwork and football has been a part of it. When I was little, I used to play hockey, which helps with the quick feet that I have.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to get an offer from the Gophers?
Kirk Barron: It would be huge. It is one that I really want. They are a Big Ten school, obviously and with Coach Kill being in his third year, I think that they are going to compete in the Legends Division in the Big Ten this year. They have a really good schedule and I am excited for them. I’m really excited.