Purdue Football: Derrick Barnes Headed to Reese’s Senior Bowl

Another Boilermaker is headed to the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Derrick Barnes will represent Purdue in the Senior Showcase Game, hoping to boost his NFL Draft stock.

Last season, Brycen Hopkins played in the game and improved his stock and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams.

The previous year, Markus Bailey, drafted to the Bengals.

The year before that, Ja’Whaun Bentley, drafted to the Patriots.

Now, Derrick Barnes hopes to do the same.

Derrick was an immediate starter from Day 1 of Jeff Brohm coming to Purdue. Coach Brohm signed him late in the 2017 class after he was hired and the rest is history.

He has played Defensive End, Middle Linebacker and Outside Linebacker in his 4 years at Purdue.

His sophomore season, he had 93 tackles playing inside linebacker. Then in 2019, he made the move to defensive end, where he tallied 7.5 sacks, tied with George Karlaftis for the team lead.

Over 4 seasons, he has accumulated 226 tackles. 10.5 sacks, 25 TFLS and one interception.

At 6-1, 245 pounds, Barnes best suits an inside linebacker role in the NFL and that is probably where he will play in the showcase game. But with his experience all over the field, he offers some nice versatility to whatever NFL team takes a swing at him, he could also be a stand up OLB in a 3-4.

Here is an analysis from TheDraftNetwork.com

I personally see Derrick as a third day selection in the draft, going between rounds 4 to 7.

Best of luck, Derrick. Boiler Up!