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#22 Dante Barnett |
Position: Defensive Back Previous College: None Projection: Second-String Status: On Scholarship |
Dante Barnett (b. June 14, 1993) recorded a ridiculous 100 tackles and nine interceptions on his way to earning second-team all-state honors as a senior in 2010 at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Okla.
He also hauled in 10 touchdowns as a wide receiver. Barnett recorded 101 tackles and collected nine interceptions as a junior, and also caught 32 passes for 775 yards and six touchdowns.
He led Booker T. Washington to a 13-1 record and a state championship in 2010-11, and was a high school teammate of current Wildcats Tyler Lockett and Keenan Taylor. He originally was recruited as an athlete.
Barnett might have been able to contribute last season as a true freshman, but the coaches elected to have him grayshirt instead. Now that he has, don't be surprised if he sees the field immediately. He's that talented.
Besides, defensive backs have a history of this sort of thing under Bill Snyder.
When they grayshirt, they've already had two offseasons under their belts by the time their freshman years roll around.
Then they are thrown into the fire. Hey, it worked for Thomas Ferguson, Marcus Watts and Ty Zimmerman, didn't it?
Barnett, in his own words, follows after the jump.
Tyler worked on me pretty hard. If I came there, I knew I would have someone I knew. We've been playing football together since fifth grade. It will help make going to school a little easier.
I felt I had a great opportunity at K-State. I had to come home and talk to my mother about it even though I really knew when I was there. I didn't want to make that decision without talking it over with her. Coach Snyder was out of town and I will get a chance to talk to him later this week. I'm excited about getting up there.