Freddie Barnes (2020) - Hall of Fame - Bowling Green State University Athletics

Freddie Barnes

Induction:
2020
Class:
2010

Freddie Barnes, from Chicago, Ill., was one of the top wide receivers in the history of Falcon football. In 2009 alone, Barnes broke the NCAA record for most receptions in a single season with an inconceivable 155 catches, eclipsed Randy Moss' MAC record for receiving yards in a season, and enjoyed a sit-down interview on ESPN First Take after completing a 22-catch performance in a thrilling, come-from-behind victory at rival Kent State.

After redshirting in 2005, Barnes made his debut for the Falcons as a redshirt freshman and the starting quarterback against Big Ten opponent Wisconsin in the 2006 season opener at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The Falcons lost, 35-14, but Barnes rushed for 158 yards and both Falcon touchdowns. The 158 rushing yards against Wisconsin remains the school record for rushing yards in a game by a quarterback. Barnes was 12-of-19 passing with a 72.5 QBR and was named MAC Player of the Week for his effort.

Despite his instant success, Barnes showed early in his career he could find the football if asked to split out wide. Barnes completed his freshman campaign with 96 carries, 405 rushing yards, and nine rushing touchdowns to go along with 20 catches, 203 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns. His nine rushing touchdowns were the third most in the MAC.

As a sophomore in 2007, Barnes proved immediately, and yet again under the brightest of lights, that his transition to receiver would prove to be a wise one. In front of nearly 50,000 fans at the Metrodome, Barnes and new starting quarterback, sophomore Tyler Sheehan, knocked off Big Ten opponent Minnesota 32-31 in overtime after completing a dramatic two-point conversion that led to both the team storming the field and an iconic radio call from the voice of the Falcons, Todd Walker.

Barnes finished the game with six catches for a game-high 99 yards, but no catch to this point in his career was bigger than the game winning two-point conversion.

Visiting future NFL Most Valuable Player Matt Ryan and No. 7 Boston College, Barnes and the still-improving Falcons lost 55-24, but not before Barnes could make his presence known. He finished the contest with eight catches for a game-high 112 yards and two touchdowns. Barnes would go on to record at least six catches in eight games and at least 70 yards receiving in seven contests that season.

He finished the regular season with a career-high 10 catches for 113 yards in a win at Buffalo and five catches for 66 yards and a touchdown in a win over Toledo. Barnes helped the Falcons flip their record from 4-8 the previous season to 8-4 and earned Bowling Green a trip to the GMAC Bowl, where he caught five passes for 71 yards against Tulsa.

After only starting four games as a freshman, he started all 13 games at receiver, and his 82 receptions, 962 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns all led the team. Barnes' 82 catches were third most in school history for a single season at that time, and he was named Third Team All-MAC.

As a junior in 2008, Barnes battled injuries as the Falcons struggled through an up-and-down season. He started only eight games, and while the Falcons opened the season with a victory at No. 25 Pittsburgh, they finished 6-6, including a heartbreaking loss at home to Buffalo in double overtime with the MAC East Championship at stake.

Despite the loss to Buffalo, Barnes was at his best that night. He hauled in another career-high 10 catches matched up against the Bulls secondary, this time for 107 yards and with a potential MAC championship on the line.

The 2009 season played out more like a fairytale than a schedule of football games for Barnes, with the season opener giving a glimpse into what fans could expect the rest of the way. In front of his home crowd, Barnes reeled in an eye-popping 15 catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-14 win over Troy. There was a prominent buzz around Doyt L. Perry Stadium following the dominant performance of Barnes. The Falcons then traveled to Power Five opponent Missouri, where Barnes caught 10 passes for 70 yards and carried the ball twice for another 23 yards.

Fans began to track each reception after Barnes torched the Marshall Thundering Herd for 17 catches and 109 yards, giving Barnes double-digit grabs for the third straight game, and was his fourth such game in five tries dating back to the previous season.

Four losses in a row after the season-opening win, though, had the Falcons looking for answers headed into the Battle for the Anniversary Award with Kent State.

The Falcons finally found that answer in the form of a 22-reception, 278-receiving yard, three-touchdown onslaught from Barnes, who put BGSU on his back and carried both Kent State defenders into the end zone and his teammates to a much-needed 36-35 road victory. With Barnes cashing in three times on the day, he and the Falcons were just getting started.

The 22 receptions by Barnes were one shy of the NCAA record of 23, and his performance is still the greatest single day in the history of pass catching for BGSU. The Falcons trailed 35-23 with 4:42 left in the game before Tyler Sheehan found Barnes across the middle. Barnes then turned up field and made one of the most spectacular runs-after-catch for a hair-raising 45-yard touchdown, as he stiff-armed one defender, broke two tackles, stiff-armed another Golden Flash after catching his feet, and then stiff-armed one last defender before finally reaching pay dirt.

Barnes caught three passes on the final drive before the Falcons scored the go-ahead touchdown with five seconds left to turnaround both the game and the seasons for the Orange and Brown, who were now 2-4 but with the hottest wide receiver and arguably the hottest player in all of college football. ESPN agreed, as they invited him on the now-flagship First Take the following week to talk about his unbelievable performance, now being dubbed the "Catch-22" game.

With Barnes now a national star, all eyes would be on him as he looked to help the Falcons finish strong collectively compared to an already impressive individual campaign for Barnes. The Falcons won five of their next six games, with Barnes posting lines of 10 catches for 160 yards and three touchdowns, 14 catches for 172 yards and a touchdown, eight catches for 122 yards and one touchdown, 10 catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns, 12 catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns, and nine catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns in a win over rival Toledo.

Barnes not only led the nation in receptions in 2009 by a staggering 39 catches, but he also led the country in receiving touchdowns while finishing second in receiving yards. His 19 touchdown receptions were four more than the next closest wide receiver in the nation, 2009 Biletnikoff Award winner Golden Tate, who also finished with 274 less receiving yards and 62 less receptions than Barnes. Barnes was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, along with Jordan Shipley from Texas.

"I am thankful and have tremendous gratitude for the honor of being nominated and elected into the Bowling Green Athletics Hall of Fame," Barnes said. "I am thankful and grateful for the coaching staff, training staff, and teammates; without their faith and truth in me, none of this would be possible.

"I came to Bowling Green as a quarterback, never expecting that I'd be receiving awards as a wide receiver. All I can do is thank God and the many people who made my career at BG a dream come true. Thank you!"

Following his collegiate career, Barnes graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2010 and played professionally for the Chicago Bears for a short time. Barnes now resides in Los Angeles, Calif. where he operates Blue Flame 155 Sports Performance, a performance enhancement company he founded in 2013.