Antwan Barnes's Bio

TRANSACTIONS
Antwan Barnes was picked with the 134th-overall selection in the 4th round of the 2007 NFL Draft. “Antwan Barnes is an outside linebacker/pass-rusher that we picked up from FIU. Barnes was the last player I watched on tape,” said general manager Ozzie Newsome. “Eric [DeCosta, director of college scouting] came to me and said, ‘You’ve got to watch this guy. He can do some things that are attractive to our organization.’ So, [I watched him], and he is an explosive player.” Barnes was the 1st defensive player taken by the Ravens in 2006 and the 1st player from Florida International to be drafted by an NFL team…Has Gary Stills-like special teams abilities.

HIGHLIGHTS
Florida International’s career record holder with 23 sacks…Feared pass rusher, who is a capable run stuffer, an explosive pass rusher…Finished his career as only the 6th player in Golden Panthers history to amass more that 200 tackles (224)…Earned 1st-team Sun Belt Conference honors 2-years-straight as a junior and as a senior…Also holds the Golden Panthers all-time record with 57 TFL, shattering the previous mark of 29…Barnes’ 11 sacks in 2005 broke the season record of 6, 1st set in 2002, and matched in 2004…Returned his 1st career INT for a 51-yard TD in 2004…In 45 games at FIU, Barnes started 38 times (21 at DE, 17 at LB)…Posted 6 FFs and 2 FRs…Deflected 5 passes and intercepted 2 others, returning both for TDs, while gaining a total of 74 yards…Also blocked 3 kicks.

COLLEGE CAREER
2006 All-Sun Belt Conference 1st-team selection…Started every game at strong-side DE, helping the team rank 28th nationally in total defense (300.9), 4th in pass defense (147.67 ypg) and lead the Division 1-A ranks with an average of 8.17 TFL per game…Recorded a career-high 69 tackles (42 solos), the 3rd-best total on the team…Had 6 sacks (-51 yards) and 2 QB pressures…Ranked 3rd in the nation with an average of 1.88 stops behind the line of scrimmage per game, finishing with 22.5 TFL (-87 yards)…Posted 1 FR and 1 PD…Returned his 2nd career INT 23 yards for a TD…Barnes’ 4 sacks vs. Middle Tennessee in 2006 broke his own school’s game-record (3 sacks) vs. Arkansas State in 2005.
2005 All-Sun Belt Conference 1st-team choice…Began the season as a reserve OLB, but moved into the starting lineup at DE in the team’s 3rd game…Ranked 6th in the nation with an average of 1 sack per game and ranked 2nd in the conference with an average of 1.41 TFL per game…Set then-FIU single-season records with 11 sacks (-72 yards) and 15.5 TFL (-87 yards)…Posted 1 FF and 3 FRs…Also blocked 2 punts that led to FIU TDs.
2004 Played in 10 games, starting vs. Youngstown State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Florida Atlantic at strong-side OLB…Recorded 53 tackles (30 solos) with 3 sacks (-23 yards) and led the team with 8 TFL (-34 yards)…Caused 2 fumbles and deflected a pair of passes…Intercepted 1 pass for a 51-yard TD return and returned a blocked punt 13 yards.
2003 Took over OLB duties as a true freshman, starting all 12 games…Registered 57 tackles (28 solo) with 3 sacks (-18 yards) and led the squad with 11 TFL…Blocked 1 kick, posted 1 FF and 2 PD.

PERSONAL
Majored in liberal studies at FIU…Attended Norland (Miami, FL) HS playing football for head coach Nigel Dunn…Was an All-State 1st-team LB who was touted by several recruiting services as FIU’s best-ever football recruit.…He was listed on the Miami Herald’s Top-20 in the Miami-Dade County area and helped lead Norland to the Class 6A State Championship as a senior…During the regular season, he recorded 65 tackles, 30 TFL and 13 sacks…In 5 playoff games, he racked up another 51 tackles, 20 TFL, and 14 sacks, including posting 2 sacks and recovering 1 fumble in the State Championship game…Earned 2nd-team All-County honors…As a Vikings’ wrestler, Barnes was a 2-time district champion, a regional runner-up and a state qualifier.