Montgomery, Alabama —One play decided it all. It all came down to one play and a few torn yards of grass at Bryant-Denny Stadium after years of toil, sweat, blood, and tears. That was the only thing separating Saraland and Clay-Chalkville from winning the 6A state championship.
Auburn’s commitment to play linebacker DJ Barber was prepared to stop at nothing to protect his goal line.
With five seconds remaining, Clay-Chalkville was leading Saraland 31-28 and had to play defense one last time against playmakers Ryan Williams and KJ Lacey as well as the formidable Saraland. On fourth and five from the 10-yard line, Saraland passed up the field goal and went for the touchdown. As she dropped back, Lacey found a way to break through the middle and reach the goal line, but Barber had.
Barber told Auburnundercover, “I was telling myself to please throw it my way the entire drive.” Run it my way, please. I am aware of our defense mechanism, and we merely have daily faith in one another. We put a lot of effort into our workouts. We work hard at our practice. Because we know our brothers on either side will do the same, we always make sure to give it our all.
“It was an amazing play, but without the defense behind me, I couldn’t have pulled it off.” To make sure I was covered on the pass, I wore my safety pins over my top. Carlos Ivy, my co-conspirator, is at my side. In the event that the quarterback scrambles, as he did, he has the tunnel.
With his future coaches watching, Barber played excellent football, finishing with seven tackles in the game. Josh Aldridge, the linebackers coach, attended the game for the second time in a row, and Hugh Freeze went to watch Barber play. According to the linebacker, that made the evening even more memorable.
For me, it made it amazing, Barber remarked. “I consider it a blessing that they could come see me perform, and that they gave me the chance to play at such a prestigious university as Auburn. I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure that the university is in better hands after I leave.
Barber declared, “I’m bringing a winning mindset and a winning attitude.” “I’m bringing a level of diligence and commitment that is difficult to develop over time. All you have to do is bring it. All I have on my mind is finishing up my exams and heading straight down to work.
Barber and a few other Auburn current commitments will begin that work in less than a week when they come to campus to participate in bowl practices with the Tigers. Barber is eager to get started on his career and get a head start on the spring.
“I’m really excited about it,” Barber remarked. “Just joking around with the guys and getting coach Aldridge’s playbook.” I want to go over the defensive scheme and become an expert at it so that all I have to do in the spring is go execute.
