WR aims for another season of big catches

YSU junior Dominique Barnes had a team-high 38 receptions last year as a sophomore.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Dominique Barnes has special reasons to hope Youngstown State senior quarterback Brandon Summers has a big year in 2009.

Barnes, a junior wide receiver with the Penguins, combined with Summers a season ago for 38 receptions, which was highest on the team, and both players were just in their first complete season as regulars with the YSU offense.

Barnes (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) also played high school football with Summers at Southfield (Mich.) High School.

In fact, when Summers left Southfield to play at the University of Toledo, Barnes took over as the team’s quarterback his final two years.

“He’s gotten even better,” said Barnes about his former high school teammate. “He’s much more comfortable back there now that he knows the offense and you can expect even bigger and better things this year.”

Barnes was one of just six YSU players to see playing time as a true freshman two years ago. He played in six games as a wide receiver and on special teams.

He caught three passes for 21 yards and also returned an onside kickoff 37 yards for a touchdown against Missouri State and was named special teams player of the game.

Last season he played in every game, starting five and pulling down a team-high 38 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 9.7 yards a reception and was the only player on the team to catch a pass in every game.

Seventeen of his receptions went for first downs and he was thrown to 55 times.

Barnes also had a team-high 17 kickoff returns for 399 yards, the longest being 57 yards. He finished the year with 780 all-purpose yards.

His best game last season included eight receptions for 100 yards at Illinois State. He was also awarded the YSU Alumni Club’s Difference Maker award for his performance in the homecoming game against Northern Iowa. That same game he was named the special team’s player of the game by the YSU coaching staff.

Barnes expects big things out of the offense this season.

“We’ve got some talent coming back,” he said. “We’ve got a strong offensive line, a very strong backfield and we should be strong at wide receiver, so we’re expecting a big turnaround from last year.”

He’s also expecting some big improvement in his own game.

“I’m a year older and [have] a year more of experience,” he said. “I’ve worked hard in the offseason and I’m really looking forward to having a good season.

“Even though I’m a junior I know that I’ll have to become more of a leader this fall,” he added. “I’ve already got some of the younger players coming to me for advice and I like to help out whenever I can.”

Barnes and the rest of the Penguins will be looking forward to Saturday when the Penguins will hold their annual spring jersey scrimmage at 9:30 a.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.

mollica@vindy.com