Newcomer Barkins Could Be Big Help to UW on Special Teams

When the Washington football team hosts Oregon in mid-October, as always, a lot will be on the line. Both teams return a lot of guys who played in the Huskies' 37-34 win last November in Eugene. One has even changed sides.

Darren Barkins, a 5-foot-11, 184-pound sophomore, joined the UW on May 23 after two seasons at Oregon. A former three-star recruit out of Mater Dei Catholic in Chula Vista, California, the transfer appeared in 13 games for the Ducks.

“Again, I just think it’s critical for us to make sure we have enough depth for not only the secondary but special teams,” UW co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell said. “Darren is a guy who can run for real. [He] has great speed out there. Those are guys you can find ways to get on the field.”

Last season, the Huskies used a combined 15 players at cornerback and safety after several players were sidelined at various points with injuries.

To achieve its lofty goals for 2023, the UW building depth across the board is at the forefront.

During the first six practices of fall camp, Barkins demonstrated the speed that Morrell and UW coach Kalen DeBoer saw from him on film at Oregon and back in high school.

During Wednesday’s practice, he took a handful of reps with the second-team defense along with the gunners on special teams.

Similar to former UW coach Chris Petersen, DeBoer follows the method of having younger players earn playing time through special teams first.

The new rule changes to college footbal keep the game clock running except inside two minutes in the second and fourth quarter. When it comes to kickoff and punt coverage, the Huskies need to have veteran gunners who can maximize the yardage opposing offenses have to go to start each drive.

“He’s got a high end just because of how fast he is,” UW special-teams coordinator Eric Schmidt said of Barkins. “He’s a long, lean, linear athlete. A guy that can help us in things like anti-missile technique. He can be a missile. He can cover kicks. I think he’s violent enough to be able to get guys on the ground. That’s a huge piece of it for us."

Barkins never got on the field against the UW in his two years at Oregon, but he appears to have a good chance to suit up against his former teammates and be involved on Oct. 16 at Husky Stadium and maybe make a difference.

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