Linebacker D’Angelo Barber took a trip to Tennessee last weekend, and he came away impressed.
Barber got to sit down with linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary. Jean-Mary talked to Barber about “how much they want” him as well as how Tennessee can help Barber off the field.
“When you have a real relationship with the coach, not just on the field, you know you can trust him with your life,” Barber told Off The Hook Sports. “Whatever he’s telling you, he’s not going to tell you wrong.”
Tennessee and Barber have been talking for a while. Although recently being extended a scholarship offer in February, the 6-foot and 221-pounder feels that he has built a great relationship with the coaching staff.
“I’ve been talking to them for a minute,” he said. “I’ve been starting to build a relationship with them even before I went up there.”
The Vols have been talking to the Clay-Chalkville (Al.) prospect for a while. Barber ranks as the No. 32 linebacker nationally, and the No. 24 prospect from Alabama.
Tennessee “checked all the boxes” for Barber during his visit. He looks for aspects on and off the field when he looks at a school.
“I look for a family connection,” Barber said. “I just want to make sure the school can support me both athletically and educationally. So, I can make sure after football is all over I have an education to fall back on because football doesn’t last forever.”
Barber has been eyeing engineering as what he wants to pursue. Tennessee boasts a great engineering program that caught Barber’s attention.
“(Jean-Mary) got right on it, looking into it to see what the engineering program was like at Tennessee,” Barber said. “That made a big difference for me. It makes a difference for you in the school if they have the major you want to pursue.”
Barber has a busy spring planned. He will be visiting Clemson on March 15, Ole Miss on March 23, Louisville on March 25, Cincinnati on March 27, UCF on March 30, Texas A&M on April 1, UCF on April 14, Georgia Tech on April 15, Arkansas on April 20 and Oklahoma on April 21-22.
Barber is going to take his time in his recruitment, holding off any decisions until the fall. Regardless, it’s safe to say the Vols made a great impression on the prospect.
“Tennessee stands pretty high in my recruitment,” Barber said. “I like everything they showed me up there and I can definitely see myself playing in the future.”
