Recruiting Report: Charlie Barnick (2021)

After losing two of their first three games to start the 2019 football season, the Rosemount Irish would only lose two more games for the rest of the year. They finished with a 7-4 record and advanced to the state tournament for the first time since the 2016 season. According to junior <strong>Charlie Barnick</strong>, once the young guys got some experience, the team took off. As for Barnick, it was a year of transition. He needed to gain experience of his own. "We had a good season," Barnick said about the 2019 season. "We lost most of our defense, so we had a couple of grey areas – a couple of guys playing positions they hadn't played before. We did a lot of learning at the beginning of the season. Towards the end, most of our defense had it locked down. Our offense was solid." Barnick started at inside linebacker and played situationally on offense. "We were good against the run," Barnick explained. "We had some trouble against the pass, but throughout the season, we started to figure that out. On offense, our run game was solid. When we were hitting our passes, we were good. We had a couple of sophomores on the offensive line. Once they adjusted, our run game was good." The Irish junior felt he could have played better. "I did pretty well, but I was still disappointed. This was my first year playing inside linebacker. I was an outside linebacker last year. I was doing decent at the start, but throughout the season, I was making some mental errors. I made some plays, but I knew I could have made more plays. My favorite part of football was going in on offense at fullback – especially in short-yardage situations. I feel like whenever I am in on offense, I can hype up the offense." Playing in the Irish's base 3-4 defense, Barnick saw some varsity time last season. "As a sophomore, I would rotate in at the outside, weakside linebacker. This year I was a full-time starter and usually the strong side, inside linebacker, but I would switch back and forth from strong side to weak side." Moving from the outside to the inside was a test for Barnick, but it ended up being a welcome test. "At the beginning – playing seven on seven in the offseason - I was used to outside linebacker. Once I learned the position I loved inside linebacker – it was much easier for me than outside linebacker. After the first game, I felt right at home. In the middle of the season, I struggled. By the end of the season, I was back on top of my game." Barnick knew his limitations, so he had to gain an advantage in different ways. "I am not big," the 6'0" 210 junior admitted. "Taking on guards was difficult, but I was able to diagnose plays and was able to use my speed. A lot of times, I was a spy against the pass. I had five sacks, and even if I didn't get a sack, I was able to put on a lot of pressure. I feel like if I make a big hit, I can bring energy to the defense." On offense, he was primarily a lead blocker. This winter, compensating for his size is his focus. "I want to be able to take on o-linemen better," Barnick said. "I am lifting and eating a lot more. I also need to work on my quickness – how quickly I can read a guard or how quickly I can get off the ball." Before everyone's lives changed with the virus, Barnick was in the weight room. Now, although obvious changes have been made, he is still able to lift and train on his own. "I lifted in the winter. I focus on the big muscles and do a lot of bench, clean, and squat. In the spring, I would usually throw the discus in track. I recently purchased a discus, and my coach loaned me a few, so I have been able to get to the throwing arena and throw two or three times a week." Barnick has been on the radar of some DI and DII schools. "Before all the virus stuff happened, I was able to go to some junior days and game days. Two that I liked that are communicating back to me are South Dakota State and Miami, OH. I was supposed to go on visits that got canceled at Winona State, Minnesota State, Augustana, and Moorhead – I am doing an online visit there on Thursday." He assumes he is being recruited as a linebacker. "They like my energy and my love for the game," Barnick said. With his experience at numerous positions, some college program is going to love having Barnick on their side.