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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
10.28.21
BARNES STORM
The nation’s top college programs are lining up for a chance to sign Desert Pines running back Jovantae Barnes BY RAY BREWER
I
t’s 1 p.m. on a weekday at Desert Pines High School, and Jovantae Barnes has already heard from 10 college football coaches today. The senior star running back thumbs through his text messages before practice in what has become a daily routine. He notices one from DeMarco Murray, the Las Vegas legend who now works as the running backs coach at Oklahoma. There’s another message from the University of Miami running backs coach. “Here’s one from Nebraska,” Barnes says, showing his iPhone. “I haven’t heard from them in a while.” The 6-foot, 190-pound senior, ranked the nation’s 10th-best running back recruit by 247Sports, has received more than 35 scholarship offers. He has pared that list down to a who’s who of dynastic college football programs: Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and USC.
In addition to the nonstop communication from coaches, his typical day also includes a frequent question from friends: Which school will you pick? Barnes insists, even to his parents, that there’s no favorite. He plans to visit each of those final six schools before making a decision ahead of the early-signing period, which begins December 15. He’ll then announce his decision during the ESPN-televised Under Armour All-American Game on January 2, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. Even Barnes’ school attire doesn’t provide significant clues. On this day, he’s got an Alabama backpack and wrist bracelet, an Oklahoma lanyard and a Washington pullover—even though the Huskies aren’t among his final six. Earlier in the school year, he wore gear from both Alabama and Auburn simultaneously. Another day, it was Miami and Florida State, prompting Desert Pines coach Tico Rodriguez—a Miami native—to jokingly warn
his running back not to let anyone take his photo, because of the dislike between the fan bases. For his part, Barnes isn’t bothered by the attention or stressed about the decision, explaining that there are many other high school players throughout the nation who would love to be in his position. “You only get to be a recruit one time, so you definitely have to enjoy yourself,” he says. The recruiting trail has featured plenty of fun. Take the official visit he made in September to Alabama for the Ole Miss game. Activities included a Sunday breakfast at famed coach Nick Saban’s house. Barnes ate biscuits, eggs and waffles and then got to peek into Saban’s garage full of high-end Mercedes-Benz cars. Barnes says Saban told him his favorite is a Mercedes-Maybach SUV. “Nick Saban is the best coach to ever be,” Barnes says, “and he is also a real humble guy.”
