TheWolfpacker.com - Barrett showing the way for young receivers

August 10, 2006

Matt Carter
TheWolfpacker.com Editor

After the first football practice Saturday, senior receiver Lamart Barrett joked that he was the old guy of the receivers. He is the lone senior in a unit that is has new many new characters, including a former running back and three new freshmen.

"I get a lot of old guy jokes from the young guys. It's all fun and games," Barrett said. "If they want to call me old guy and it keeps everybody going, I can put up with the old guy jokes."

Barrett has stepped up his leadership role among the receivers, earning praise from receivers coach Dwayne Dixon, offensive coordinator Marc Trestman and head coach Chuck Amato for guiding his fellow wide outs. Barrett said it was a role he felt obligated to take.

"I think so because coach always talking about seniors have to play the best football of their life their senior year. When coach is in the meetings he is always saying watch how Lamart Barrett does this play," Barrett said. "When people are telling you and you hear it all the time that you have to lead, and the coaches are after you. Those young guys are doing a good job listening to all the things I am trying to tell them. I don't feel any pressure cause I think I am always doing the right thing, but it reminds me when I get tired or adversity strikes that those guys are watching me. So I try to fight through."

One of the new receivers is junior Darrell Blackman, who made the switch from running back before spring practice.

"Blackman got a real good jump in spring," Barrett noted. "Since the bowl game he has been playing receiver. He's pretty much got a lot of it down. He's a great athlete so it wasn't a big adjustment, but I just try to get him a few pointers here and there."

As NC State awaits final word on two more freshmen receivers from clearinghouse, State has three rookies on the field already in Donald Bowens, Darrell Davis and Jarvis Williams.

"I think they are doing a real good job of learning, listening to me and the coaches, paying attention in the film room," Barrett said. "I think they've done a real good job, and when they are getting their chance they are making the plays. The first day Donald Bowens came out and he had three nice catches. Then the next day, and even [Tuesday] Jarvis came out with a nice one handed catch. Double-D has really had the chances like the other guys for whatever reason, but he has been in the right spot he just hasn't had the ball thrown to him that much."

Over the past two seasons Barrett has been consistent for NC State. He caught 24 passes for 326 yards as a sophomore and had 21 receptions for 248 yards last year. But according to Trestman, there were many times that while watching film from the 2005 season they would notice an open Barrett not getting the pass.

"I don't mind being open and not getting the ball and it goes to someone else and it gets complete," Barrett said. "But when I think I am wide open and I don't get the ball and we wind up taking the sack or incomplete a pass, that's what hurts the most. As long as we find someone and hitting them for completions. It really hurts when the ball is incomplete or there is a sack."

But Barrett has a feeling the passing attack will be much more efficient in 2006 behind improved play from junior starting quarterback Marcus Stone.

"Marcus Stone has done a very good job, and the line has done a much better job of protecting him," Barrett said. "He's feeling real confident in the pocket, so he's not getting out of there like he did last year sometimes. He's standing tall and seeing through the pass rush. He's doing a great job of finding us receivers."

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