SE: Alex Barnes’ Summer Internship Paying Dividends in the Fall
Oct 14, 2018 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Alex Barnes has successfully taken on a much bigger load this season for K-State's offense. That much is clear from looking at his statistics, which now include a career-high 34 carries for 181 yards and four touchdowns after K-State's 31-12 win over Oklahoma State on Saturday.
What is less obvious or talked about is what he did to get to this point, the work he put in to prepare himself for this increased role. To understand that, Barnes said to go back to this summer. Specifically, go back to his internship for Barr Fitness, a personal-training gym in Manhattan.
Not only did Barnes learn the behind-the-scenes business aspects of running a gym, a career goal of his, he also took part in the workouts. These were not ordinary workouts, either.
"We'd go to City Park and carry plates over our heads for like two miles. We broad jumped a mile. That was horrible; we had to go a mile in an hour. We did tire flips from (the gym) to IHOP and back. It was pretty far," Barnes, a kinesiology major also studying business management, said. "Just a lot of stuff to challenge us, stuff that I never thought I'd be doing, a lot of old-school stuff."
Barnes, the first Wildcat running back with 30 or more carries in a game since John Hubert in 2013, endured these workouts on top of K-State's intense summer strength and conditioning program. Months later, he can still feel the extra work paying off.
"I'm not really wearing down at this point of the season like I was last year," said Barnes, averaging nearly 20 carries per game, which is up nearly nine a game from his average last season. "I'm not taking on any injuries, so it's been promising."
Each week, Barnes seems to add more promise to K-State's offense.
This week's performance for Barnes followed a 250-yard rushing outing against Baylor, the fifth-most by a Wildcat in a game ever and the most against a conference opponent since Darren Sproles put up 273 against Missouri in 2003. With it, Barnes became the first Wildcat to rush for 175 yards or more in back-to-back games since Sproles did so in 2003.
"It's an honor to be named amongst such high company," Barnes, who surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards on Saturday, said of the honor. "Darren did a lot of great things for this program and this city. To be mentioned among his name is truly an honor."
Barnes joined Sproles, in his 14th NFL season, in another feat on Saturday. With his team-leading 51 yards on three receptions, Barnes became the second Wildcat under K-State head coach Bill Snyder and only the third K-State player ever to record at least 175 yards and at least 50 receiving yards in a game. Sproles met both thresholds in K-State's 2003 Big 12 Championship win over Oklahoma, while Tony Jordan did it against Iowa State in 1986.
"Alex is going to find himself in the NFL," senior right tackle Dalton Risner said, "and Alex is going to find himself doing great things this season if he continues to do that."
Additionally, Barnes' eight rushing touchdowns over the last three games accounts for the most scores by a Wildcat in a three-game stretch since now-co-offensive coordinator Collin Klein tallied nine against Iowa State, West Virginia and Texas Tech in 2012.
"How he's performed is pretty obvious," Snyder said of Barnes, now 10th in school history for career rushing yards. "He gets a lot of those yards after contact. I don't recall a time where he's been tackled and bent back and stopped on the first hit. He's a good player, tough, runs hard, passionate, good teammate, good man."
A redshirt junior, Barnes said he's always wanted to "carry the load."
"I enjoy it," he added.
This season, he's proven capable of handling it. For him, at least, it all started with grueling walks in the park, miles made up of broad jumps and tire flips to IHOP — an internship paying dividends.
"I'm really glad I did it," Barnes said. "I'm really seeing the benefits of it right now."
Alex Barnes has successfully taken on a much bigger load this season for K-State's offense. That much is clear from looking at his statistics, which now include a career-high 34 carries for 181 yards and four touchdowns after K-State's 31-12 win over Oklahoma State on Saturday.
What is less obvious or talked about is what he did to get to this point, the work he put in to prepare himself for this increased role. To understand that, Barnes said to go back to this summer. Specifically, go back to his internship for Barr Fitness, a personal-training gym in Manhattan.
Not only did Barnes learn the behind-the-scenes business aspects of running a gym, a career goal of his, he also took part in the workouts. These were not ordinary workouts, either.
"We'd go to City Park and carry plates over our heads for like two miles. We broad jumped a mile. That was horrible; we had to go a mile in an hour. We did tire flips from (the gym) to IHOP and back. It was pretty far," Barnes, a kinesiology major also studying business management, said. "Just a lot of stuff to challenge us, stuff that I never thought I'd be doing, a lot of old-school stuff."
Barnes, the first Wildcat running back with 30 or more carries in a game since John Hubert in 2013, endured these workouts on top of K-State's intense summer strength and conditioning program. Months later, he can still feel the extra work paying off.
"I'm not really wearing down at this point of the season like I was last year," said Barnes, averaging nearly 20 carries per game, which is up nearly nine a game from his average last season. "I'm not taking on any injuries, so it's been promising."
Each week, Barnes seems to add more promise to K-State's offense.
This week's performance for Barnes followed a 250-yard rushing outing against Baylor, the fifth-most by a Wildcat in a game ever and the most against a conference opponent since Darren Sproles put up 273 against Missouri in 2003. With it, Barnes became the first Wildcat to rush for 175 yards or more in back-to-back games since Sproles did so in 2003.
"It's an honor to be named amongst such high company," Barnes, who surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards on Saturday, said of the honor. "Darren did a lot of great things for this program and this city. To be mentioned among his name is truly an honor."
Barnes joined Sproles, in his 14th NFL season, in another feat on Saturday. With his team-leading 51 yards on three receptions, Barnes became the second Wildcat under K-State head coach Bill Snyder and only the third K-State player ever to record at least 175 yards and at least 50 receiving yards in a game. Sproles met both thresholds in K-State's 2003 Big 12 Championship win over Oklahoma, while Tony Jordan did it against Iowa State in 1986.
"Alex is going to find himself in the NFL," senior right tackle Dalton Risner said, "and Alex is going to find himself doing great things this season if he continues to do that."
Additionally, Barnes' eight rushing touchdowns over the last three games accounts for the most scores by a Wildcat in a three-game stretch since now-co-offensive coordinator Collin Klein tallied nine against Iowa State, West Virginia and Texas Tech in 2012.
"How he's performed is pretty obvious," Snyder said of Barnes, now 10th in school history for career rushing yards. "He gets a lot of those yards after contact. I don't recall a time where he's been tackled and bent back and stopped on the first hit. He's a good player, tough, runs hard, passionate, good teammate, good man."
A redshirt junior, Barnes said he's always wanted to "carry the load."
"I enjoy it," he added.
This season, he's proven capable of handling it. For him, at least, it all started with grueling walks in the park, miles made up of broad jumps and tire flips to IHOP — an internship paying dividends.
"I'm really glad I did it," Barnes said. "I'm really seeing the benefits of it right now."
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
OL
/ FootballK-State FB | Welcome back Collin Klein
Monday, December 08
K-State FB | Head Coach Collin Klein Radio Interview
Friday, December 05
K-State FB | Head Coach Collin Klein Official Introductory Event
Friday, December 05
K-State FB | Thank You Coach Klieman
Wednesday, December 03
