Countdown to 2020 IUFB Kickoff: 39 Days (Ryan Barnes)

Written by Nathan Comp

The Hoosier Huddle countdown to kickoff is almost two-thirds complete! A little over five weeks remain until the Hoosiers kickoff the 2020 season at Camp Randall Stadium against the Wisconsin Badgers. Today, we’ll highlight redshirt sophomore tight end, Ryan Barnes.

Ryan Barnes (Redshirt Sophomore)

Hometown: Noblesville, Indiana

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 250 Pounds

Position: Tight End

After a couple years spent mostly developing, former Noblesville quarterback turned tight end Ryan Barnes could see more field action in 2020. As the positional change from high school to college suggests, Barnes has made himself valuable by proving he is adaptable to any spot on the field. Since stepping foot on campus in 2018, Barnes has added over 25 pounds of muscle to his frame and collected five scout team player of the week honors. He first saw action in the Eastern Illinois win last year and finished the season with five games of experience under his belt.

Though this offseason was cut short, Barnes was extra productive in the four practices that were held. While Peyton Hendershot was away from the team due to suspension, Barnes was able to move up the depth chart and get quality reps. New tight ends coach Kevin Wright was impressed with Barnes’ ability to step up while Hendershot was away.

“You didn't have Peyton out there so it gave everybody the opportunity really to get equal reps,” said Wright this May via teleconference. “We had some guys in the room, Ryan Barnes being one that was a walk-on kid from Noblesville, Indiana, who I also thought had a good practice spring.”

Barnes is likely to still see his primary time spent on special teams, but with a relatively thin and unproven tight ends room past Hendershot, Barnes should be ready for anything in 2020.