Full Name: Shaquil Akeem Barrett
Date of Birth: November 17, 1992
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
High School: Boys Town High School
Class: Senior
Major: Sociology
Twitter: @MOOCHIE056
via CSURams.com
Background
Barrett was born on November 17, 1992 to his parents Donyetta Hawkins and Steven Barrett in Baltimore, Maryland. Shaquil was the second-youngest child in his family with three older brothers and one older sister, his brother Kevin wrestled for Nebraska-Omaha and DeShawn wrestled as well before playing semi-pro football in Baltimore.
The Barrett's lived in Baltimore for years, as Shaquil grew up in a rough neighborhood where he saw everything and his parents admit on his way to school at least once. His parents ultimately made the decision to have Shaquil move away from the rough streets in Baltimore and transfer to Boys Town High School, a private, co-ed school where his brother Levin already was enrolled. He was far away from his family at a young age, but he was safe and had a great opportunity to play football.
Barrett took over as the Cowboys' starting linebacker late in his junior year and took off from there. During his senior season Barrett dominated, with 70 tackles, 12 sacks and five blocked kicks, he was the leader of the defense and earned Athlete of the Year Honors from his school. Barrett's season also helped him earn all-state honors including a trip to the state's Shrine Game where he was the defensive MVP award after recording three sacks in the all-star game.
After finishing off his football career with the Cowboys' Barrett took his talents to the wrestling mats where he used his size and strength to dominate his competition and earning Class-B championship honors for his weight class. Something that has certainly helped him in his career, using his hands and knowing how to use leverage.
Barrett didn't receive much recruiting interest coming out of high school. He played for a boarding school for at-risk teens and wasn't a giant football program. But he received one offer to play for division II Nebraska-Omaha, it was a scholarship and a chance to stay with his brother, Kevin, who also went to Nebraska-Omahaa for wrestling.
Statistics
2010 (Freshman w/ Nebraska-Omaha): 11 games, 82 tackles, 50 solo tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and four blocked kicks
2011 (Sophomore w/ Colorado State): 12 games, 99 tackles, 45 solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery
2012 (Junior w/ Colorado State): 12 games, 66 tackles, 32 solo tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception and one defensive touchdown
2013 (Senior w/ Colorado State): 14 games, 74 tackles, 34 solo tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception
Everything was going very well for Shaquil and Kevin Barrett in their first year at Nebraska-Omaha. Shaquil saw immediate playing time for the Mavericks defense, playing in eleven games and racking up 8.5 sacks in his first season. Meanwhile his brother was a part of a wrestling team that won its third straight Division II wrestling title. Then Nebraska-Omaha announced they would be moving up to Division I, but they were dropping their wrestling and football programs. "I couldn't believe it, I was in denial for a while" Shaquil Barrett told Rivals.com
His brother transferred to Nebraska-Kearney, while multiple schools fought over Shaquil Barrett before he ultimately enrolled at Colorado State. Because Nebraska-Omaha shutdown, he could immediately start for the Rams and started 11 of the 12 games that season. It didn't take long for Barrett's impact to be felt at defensive en and linebacker, coaches fell in love with his potential and made sure he could get as many reps as possible. He finished the year with 99 tackles, which led the team and helped him earn second-team all-conference honors by Phil Steele. Barrett also became the first player to score two defensive touchdowns in a season since Luke Adkins, with pick-six and returning a fumble for a touchdown.
Entering his junior season, Barrett was named preseason first-team All-Mountain-West by Athlon and Phil Steele. But after back-to-back seasons with 80+ tackles and creating turnovers in 2010 and 2011, Barrett's numbers took a step back in 2012. The junior started 12 games and saw a lot more action at defensive end, racking up 66 tackles and being named to Steele's All-Mountain-West third-team. Barrett saw a slight increase in sacks and a jump in tackles for loss as part of the move, but offensive coordinators did a better job scheming against him and running plays away from him.
After a disappointing season in 2012, Barrett bounced back in a monster way this past season and shown off how much his raw ability has turned into developed talent. Barrett showed off this year at outside linebacker and coming off the edge, while also putting his hand in the dirt and lining up at defensive end. The new adjustment clearly helped as Barrett set career-highs in sacks with 12 and 20.5 tackles for loss. He set the MWC record for tackles for loss in a season and ranked fifth in the country in sacks. He also did an excellent job creating turnovers, finishing third in the country with four forces fumble, one interception and three blocked kicks. Barrett's dominant senior season were more than enough to help him earn Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors and being named to the MWC first-team. He became the first Ram since Rick Crowell to win conference defensive player of the year honors. His best game of the year came in a win against UTEP when he compiled 13 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
Extra Facts
While Barrett has a future in the NFL, he still has made sure to plan ahead and put a focus on education. He was a member of the National Honor Society in high school and is majoring in sociology at Colorado State. Barrett originally was studying nursing at Nebraska-Omaha, with plans to get into medicine. Barrett looks forward to an opportunity in the NFL but plans to attend medical school after his playing career.
Barrett has been tested throughout his life and it has helped get him to where he is today. From living in a bad neighborhood and then being moved away from his parents to continue high school, going to a college that eliminated its sports program a year later and of course being a father. Barrett has two sons with his wife Jordanna, Shaquil Barrett Jr. was born in 2012 and the family had their second son, Braylon, earlier this year. Barrett has spoken often about balancing football, school and family. At 21, Shaquil and Jordanna are raising their children all while their own parents are far away, but fortunately have the help of Barrett's teammates.
The balance between football and parenthood isn't easy but "I really think having a family helps Shaquil in football," Jordanna said. "He knows he's not just playing for himself and for the team. He's also playing for us". Junior cornerback Bernard Blake has also praised Barrett "When you think about all the responsibilities Shaquil has at such a young age. It's amazing. Shaquil does such a tremendous job handling all of that".
Barrett's final game with the Rams came in the New Mexico Bowl and it couldn't have ended in a better way. With the Rams trailing late and Washington State controlling the ball late, Colorado State needed a big play. Barrett provided exactly that, forcing a fumble that the Rams recovered, but a replay review determined the ball carrier was down. So Barrett went back out on the field, forced another fumble and recovering it, and this time no replay could change it back. Colorado State got the ball back and tied the game with a late score, then on the kickoff recovered a fumble and won the game. Barrett stepped up when his team needed him the most, and it was a fitting way to go out.
Draft Outlook
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 250
40-time: 4.72
Barrett won't wow you on tape with blazing speed or highlight plays. At 6'2" and 250 pounds he is one of the heavier outside linebacker prospects in the 2014 class and it's evident when watching him play. While he lacks the athleticism of the top players at his position he makes up for it with instincts, strength and a non-stop motor.
Barrett's numbers didn't pop out in his first two years with Colorado State, but he is still developing as a prospect. Barrett does a very good job against the run but is still developing as a pass rusher and we've seen the hard work pay off this season. Barrett finished his senior season with 12 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss, doubling his total in his first two seasons combined. His technique has taken large strides since his first year with the Rams as we are seeing an arsenal of pass rush moves to get past the tackle to pair with his strength. Barrett is still developing as a player but made tremendous strides this year and showed what he can be at the next level.
He has dropped into coverage this year but it's an area where he struggles and will run into more issues at the next level. But coaches will still love his ability to stop the run and rush the passer, and just the fact that he has production to back up the potential. Barrett certainly helped his draft stock with a big performance in the New Mexico Bowl game and earning defensive MVP honors. He may not wind up an early-draft pick but should hear his name called on day two.