Brooks Barnard
Encyclopedia
Brooks Alexander Barnard is an American football punter. He played professional football for the New England Patriots
in the National Football League
(NFL) and for the Rhein Fire
in the NFL Europe
. He played college football
for the Maryland Terrapins
at the University of Maryland
.
. Former Baltimore Orioles
third baseman Brooks Robinson
was his namesake. Barnard attended Broadneck High School
where he was a four-year letterwinner on the football
team and set every school record for both kicking
and punting. He recorded 18 field goals
during his high school career. As a senior in 1997, he averaged 42.4 yards per punt and made 96 of 99 extra point
attempts. Barnard received all-state honors during his junior and senior seasons. He was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
.
for the fall semester of 1998, but then transferred to the University of Maryland, College Park
, where he majored in kinesiology
. He walked onto the football team and entered the 1999 season as the back-up punter and as a holder
. He saw action in eight games including seven starts. Barnard recorded 39 punts for 1,687 yards including ten inside the opponents' 20-yard line and 11 of 50 yards or longer. He averaged 43.3 yards per punt, which was a school best since 1993, all-time third-best, and all-time best for a freshman player. After his first game action against , he won the starting position
for the Wake Forest game. The Sporting News
named him a third-team freshman All-American.
In , he started in all 11 games. He set a school record of 44.7 yards per punt, which surpassed Scott Milanovich
's 43.8-yard average in 1993. He compiled 13 punts of 50 yards or longer, including a career-long 85-yarder against , and 71-, 67-, 67-, 66-, 63-, and 61-yard punts, and eight inside the opponents' 20-yard line. In mid-October, he was the second-ranked punter in the nation, with an average of 46.0 yards per punt. He was included on the watch list for the Ray Guy Award
for college football's most outstanding punter. Barnard was named an honorable mention All-ACC
player and College Football News
honorable mention All-American.
He started all 12 games in 2001
. Barnard was the seventh-ranked punter in that nation with an average of 44.5 yards per punt. Against North Carolina
, he punted eight times for an average of 50.4 yards, with seven of eight going for more than 50 yards, and was named the ACC Specialist of the Week. Against Georgia Tech
, he correctly brought down a high snap for the game-tying field goal that allowed a Maryland overtime victory. He was named a College Football News second-team All-American, a first-team All-ACC, and Academic All-ACC player. Barnard was also a Ray Guy Award
semifinalist.
In 2002
, he recorded 55 punts for 2,373 yards, five touchbacks, 13 inside the opponents' 20-yard line, and a long of 60 yards. Barnard finished his time at Maryland as the school career-leader in punting average. He was named to a first-team All-ACC, Academic All-ACC team, an honorable mention ECAC All-Star player. He participated in the 2003 Senior Bowl
as both a punter and kicker.
, Barnard was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears
on April 29 and then released on August 25. He was then signed as a free agent by the New England Patriots
, and during the 2003 season
, played in one game and kicked ten punts for 365 yards, including one touchback and four inside the opponents' 20-yard line. He was released by the Patriots in December. On December 16, 2003, the Bears claimed Barnard from the Patriots' waiver and extended his contract on December 30. The Bears released him on September 2004. In 2004, Chicago allocated him to the Rhein Fire
of the NFL Europe
. In 2005, he was signed by the Green Bay Packers
on January 19, and waived on July 19, 2005.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) and for the Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
in the NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Maryland Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
Early life
Brooks Barnard was born to parents John and Karen Barnard on November 4, 1979 in Arnold, MarylandArnold, Maryland
Arnold is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 23,422 at the 2000 census. Neighborhoods straddle College Parkway and Ritchie Highway. Arnold is located on the scenic Broadneck peninsula...
. Former Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
third baseman Brooks Robinson
Brooks Robinson
Brooks Calbert Robinson, Jr. is a former American professional baseball player. He played his entire 23-year major league career for the Baltimore Orioles . Nicknamed "The Human Vacuum Cleaner", he is generally acclaimed as the greatest defensive third-basemen in major league history...
was his namesake. Barnard attended Broadneck High School
Broadneck High School
Broadneck High School is a school in the United States, located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland on Green Holly Drive, in the city of Annapolis and next to the town of Arnold. The Bruin is the school's mascot...
where he was a four-year letterwinner on the football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
team and set every school record for both kicking
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
and punting. He recorded 18 field goals
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
during his high school career. As a senior in 1997, he averaged 42.4 yards per punt and made 96 of 99 extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
attempts. Barnard received all-state honors during his junior and senior seasons. He was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
.
College career
Barnard attended the University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
for the fall semester of 1998, but then transferred to the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, where he majored in kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
. He walked onto the football team and entered the 1999 season as the back-up punter and as a holder
Holder (American football)
In American football the holder is the player who receives the snap during field goal and extra point attempts made by place kick. The holder is usually positioned between seven and eight yards behind the line of scrimmage. The holder kneels down and places the hand farthest from the line of...
. He saw action in eight games including seven starts. Barnard recorded 39 punts for 1,687 yards including ten inside the opponents' 20-yard line and 11 of 50 yards or longer. He averaged 43.3 yards per punt, which was a school best since 1993, all-time third-best, and all-time best for a freshman player. After his first game action against , he won the starting position
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
for the Wake Forest game. The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
named him a third-team freshman All-American.
In , he started in all 11 games. He set a school record of 44.7 yards per punt, which surpassed Scott Milanovich
Scott Milanovich
Scott Milanovich is a Canadian football coach and former professional quarterback. He is currently the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.-Early years:...
's 43.8-yard average in 1993. He compiled 13 punts of 50 yards or longer, including a career-long 85-yarder against , and 71-, 67-, 67-, 66-, 63-, and 61-yard punts, and eight inside the opponents' 20-yard line. In mid-October, he was the second-ranked punter in the nation, with an average of 46.0 yards per punt. He was included on the watch list for the Ray Guy Award
Ray Guy Award
The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to college football's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The award is named after punter Ray Guy, a former All-American at Southern Mississippi and an all-pro player for the Oakland Raiders.-Criteria:...
for college football's most outstanding punter. Barnard was named an honorable mention All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
player and College Football News
College Football News
College Football News is a magazine and website published by College Football News, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. News coverage includes scores, statistics, rankings, and reports on college football games. Analysis includes comparisons between teams, predictions of game outcomes and...
honorable mention All-American.
He started all 12 games in 2001
2001 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2001 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in its 49th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Terps closed the regular season with a record of 10–1, with its only loss coming to Florida State. The Terps won the ACC Championship and were granted a Bowl...
. Barnard was the seventh-ranked punter in that nation with an average of 44.5 yards per punt. Against North Carolina
2001 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
-Coaching staff:-Schedule:-Team Players drafted in the NFL:The following players were selected in the 2002 NFL Draft.-References:...
, he punted eight times for an average of 50.4 yards, with seven of eight going for more than 50 yards, and was named the ACC Specialist of the Week. Against Georgia Tech
2001 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
The 2001 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the college football season of 2001-2002. The team's coach was George O'Leary, who would leave the school before the bowl game to accept the head coaching job at the University of Notre Dame...
, he correctly brought down a high snap for the game-tying field goal that allowed a Maryland overtime victory. He was named a College Football News second-team All-American, a first-team All-ACC, and Academic All-ACC player. Barnard was also a Ray Guy Award
Ray Guy Award
The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to college football's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The award is named after punter Ray Guy, a former All-American at Southern Mississippi and an all-pro player for the Oakland Raiders.-Criteria:...
semifinalist.
In 2002
2002 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2002 Maryland Terrapins football team represented University of Maryland in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A college football season. Led by head coach Ralph Friedgen, the Terrapins appeared in the 2002 Peach Bowl.-Regular season:...
, he recorded 55 punts for 2,373 yards, five touchbacks, 13 inside the opponents' 20-yard line, and a long of 60 yards. Barnard finished his time at Maryland as the school career-leader in punting average. He was named to a first-team All-ACC, Academic All-ACC team, an honorable mention ECAC All-Star player. He participated in the 2003 Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
as both a punter and kicker.
Professional career
In 20032003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
, Barnard was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on April 29 and then released on August 25. He was then signed as a free agent by the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, and during the 2003 season
2003 New England Patriots season
The 2003 New England Patriots season was the 34th season for the team in the National Football League and 44th season overall. They finished with a league-best 14–2 record before advancing to and winning Super Bowl XXXVIII....
, played in one game and kicked ten punts for 365 yards, including one touchback and four inside the opponents' 20-yard line. He was released by the Patriots in December. On December 16, 2003, the Bears claimed Barnard from the Patriots' waiver and extended his contract on December 30. The Bears released him on September 2004. In 2004, Chicago allocated him to the Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
of the NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
. In 2005, he was signed by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
on January 19, and waived on July 19, 2005.
External links
- Punter Barnard weather the storm, The Boston GlobeThe Boston GlobeThe Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
, December 8, 2003. - It's Difficult for Kickers to Get a Look, The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, October 28, 2004. - Maryland's Barnard takes punting to an art form, Tribune News Service, January 1, 2002.