As we learned this season, you can never have enough decent quarterbacks in your arsenal. And even though all of the QBs on this season's roster are returning, they'll be joined in the off-season competition by a newbie. A two-time All-American JUCO newbie, nonetheless
Garrett Barnas remained positive about Syracuse football despite negatives that would have sent recruits looking elsewhere.
Late Monday afternoon, the Harper College sophomore quarterback committed to a once-proud program where head coach Greg Robinson was fired after winning just 10 of 47 games the last four years.
But Barnas, a high school standout at downstate Bureau Valley, looked at the total package in choosing the Orangemen over Iowa and South Florida.
"I was told how good the school is and the tradition they have there is unbelievable," Barnas said of a school that has produced Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Donovan McNabb. "I didn't want to jump on anything too quickly, but I kind of knew right then and there (this summer) it was where I wanted to be and I could see myself playing there."
I'm glad someone at least told him how good the school is. I'm sure the fact that the quarterback position is seemingly wide-open going into next season, especially given a new head coach's arrival, factored in as well.
Barnas set a bunch of records at Harper in the past two years, passing for 5,418 yards, 47 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He's also a bit of a scrambler, running for 1,333 yards and 17 touchdowns. Not too shabby.
"I was looking at the education and Syracuse in general," Barnas said. "I have faith in them they'll make the right choice."
Oh, Garrett, you still have much to learn...
I'd be fascinated to learn more about this guy and what compelled him to step into a situation where the coaching staff, the offensive style and the team structure around him is a complete unknown. It's a leap of faith on his part, hopefully he won't come to regret it.
Bud Poliquin delves deeper into the psyche of young Garrett and sees sprinkles of the hope that Colt Brennan almost brought to SU.
A few years ago, remember, there was Chad Elliott, George DeLeone's great discovery who drove cross-country with his girlfriend and U-Haul, and was going to set our Orange world on fire . . . and never qualified, academically. And then there was Greg Robinson's celebrated romancing of Colt Brennan, who'd been bounced out of Colorado for behaving badly, moved onto Saddleback College . . . and ended up in Hawaii (where he completed 70% of his passes for 14,193 yards and 131 touchdowns in three years) and is now with the Washington Redskins.
Oh and in case you're wondering (I know I was), Harper College is located in Palatine, Illinois...wherever that is.
Peep some footage of Barnas, courtest of ryanwk628 and YouTube.