The final day of the NFL Draft is always littered with intriguing prospects. In the 2021 NFL Draft, one of those players is Jacksonville State tight end Trae Barry. While most prospects have been focused on draft preparation over the last few months, Barry has been lighting it up in the 2021 FCS spring season. Can he attract the interest of an NFL team in the later rounds?
Trae Barry NFL Draft Player Profile
- Position: Tight End
- School: Jacksonville State
- Current Year: Senior
- Height: 6’6″
- Weight: 235 pounds
Tony Pauline’s Trae Barry Scouting Report
Positives: Tall, angular tight end who is an outstanding pass catcher. Tracks the pass in the air, adjusts to the errant throw, and makes the reception in stride. Displays focus as well as concentration, extends his hands, and consistently snatches the ball from the air. Plays faster than his 40 time and moves well about the field. Works blocks and displays solid strength at the point. Stays square and out-positions opponents from the action.
Negatives: Lacks a quick release off the line into pass routes. Possesses a thin frame, lacks next-level strength, and struggles finishing blocks. Plays to one speed.
Analysis: Barry is a tight end I first noticed when he was a junior in 2018. He returned to form last fall from an injury that sidelined him in 2019 and displayed consistent progress on the field. He needs to get a little bigger but has the size and skill to develop into a second tight end at the next level. As of posting, it’s not yet known if Barry will enter the draft or stay for an additional year of college football in 2021.
Trae Barry Player Profile
Barry is not just an intriguing 2021 NFL Draft prospect. His entire football journey has been far from straightforward. A 6’6″ man-mountain, he was a multi-sport standout for Spanish Fort High School. His height made him a natural star on the basketball court. Furthermore, he excelled at multiple field sports, including discus and javelin.
His ability to excel at many disciplines created opportunities on the football field. As Spanish Fort went 10-3 and won two playoff games in his senior season, Barry contributed from multiple positions. He saw time at quarterback, tight end, and wide receiver. Despite being spread out all over the offense, he earned first-team All-County in his final season.
Without a specific, full-time position hurt Barry in the recruiting process. A two-star recruit, he was described as the 147th pro-style quarterback in the 2017 class. However, one look at his 247 Sports recruiting profile demonstrates the confusion as they tabbed him as a wide receiver in his athletic profile. As a result, he received just five offers from smaller schools and ultimately chose to suit up for Jacksonville State.
Barry’s college football career at Jacksonville State
Arriving at Jacksonville State in 2017, Barry made an immediate impact as a tight end. Although he is only credited with three starts, he saw playing time in 11 games. He demonstrated his ability to be a game-changing threat with an 80-yard touchdown against Liberty, the first of his career. Barry also added a 65-yard score against Southern Missouri. As a result of his impressive performances, he earned Freshman All-American honors from Hero Sports and was voted second-team All-Ohio Valley.
Although he only secured 1 touchdown in his sophomore season, Barry flashed his potential. Earning first-team conference recognition, he racked up 503 yards off 32 receptions. Once again, Barry demonstrated his big-play ability as he rumbled in for a 44-yard score against Eastern Illinois. Moreover, he set career-high single-game receiving yards against Kennesaw State.
He blew that outing out of the water in the 2019 season opener against Chattanooga. He rattled off a career-high 151 receiving yards as well as secured a 48-yard touchdown. Unfortunately, his junior season wouldn’t end with such excitement. During the game against Austin Peay, Barry suffered a season-ending injury.
Due to the disruption of the 2020 season, that threatened to be the final act of his college football career. However, not only did the Jacksonville State tight end play out his senior season, he had the opportunity to prove himself against Power 5 opposition. In a truncated year between the fall and spring, Barry put up 52 receiving yards against Florida State in the season opener. Additionally, he added two 100+ yard games to his resume as he amassed 27 receptions, 460 yards, and 1 touchdown.
At the time of writing, Barry was still in action with Jacksonville State as the Gamecocks advanced to the FCS playoffs.
Trae Barry’s best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
A massive target down the middle of the field, the Jacksonville State tight end is sure to have some suitors in the 2021 NFL Draft. Barry has shown excellent catching prowess, the ability to make plays after the catch, and offers versatility, having lined up at multiple alignments during his collegiate career.
Some fits for Barry in the NFL include the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, and the Philadelphia Eagles. With a seventh-round grade from Pro Football Network’s Chief NFL Draft Analyst Tony Pauline, there is every chance the Jacksonville State tight end makes his way to an NFL training camp.
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Oliver Hodgkinson is a staff writer for Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.