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K Devin Barclay (Official Thread)

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Barclay knows all about pressure
Kicker experienced ups, downs in MLS before joining OSU
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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Neal C. Lauron | dispatch
Devin Barclay (12) got a field promotion when Aaron Pettrey was hurt against New Mexico State. Barclay was 1 for 3 on field-goal attempts and went 3 for 3 on extra points.


Of course there will be pressure on Devin Barclay this weekend. He might have to attempt a key field goal for Ohio State in front of 108,000 white-clad screamers at Penn State.

Barclay will take over place-kicking duties from Aaron Pettrey for the rest of the regular season. Pettrey suffered a torn ligament in his right knee last week and will undergo surgery today, according to his mother, Lillian Pettrey. He might be able to return for a bowl game.

That puts Barclay in the spotlight. But this will not be the first time that Barclay, 26, has dealt with pressure.

Pressure is struggling with attention deficit disorder as a child and dropping out of high school after two years.

Pressure is signing a professional soccer contract at 17, being labeled a wunderkind and being sent off to make a living.

Pressure is being traded three times and then released, his soccer career over at age 22.

Pressure is pursuing football, a sport he never played competitively, and deciding to test his raw skill by walking on at powerhouse Ohio State.

"I've been playing professionally at a competitive level for almost 10 years now," Barclay said, "and it's definitely helped me get ready for this experience. I'm kind of used to getting thrown into games and you kind of learn to adapt and to deal with those pressure situations a little bit better, having that background."

A native of Annapolis, Md., Barclay was put on Ritalin at age 7 to help control his ADD. He quit taking the drug after his freshman year of high school and dropped out a year later (his mother home-schooled him, and he eventually earned his diploma).
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BuckeyeXtra - Barclay knows all about pressure
 
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From JT's press conference today.

Official.site

REPORTER: Can you talk more about how Barclay got here, I know he played a couple years in the MLS, he's the oldest player on your team, did you recruit him? Did he seek you out? Talk about how he came to Ohio State.

COACH TRESSEL: I think Devin was involved in the Athletes in Action Ministry and some of the Athletes in Action's leaders that minister to the MLS teams of the various pro teams and college programs happened to bring him over and he got to know our guys, I guess, our kickers, and he had forged a little bit of a relationship, I think, while he was still with the (Columbus) Crew. And one thing led to another and said he wanted to go to college and I remember there was some time that it took to figure out if he could come and walk on and so forth. He may have liked the fact that we were senior citizen friendly, we had http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059342http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059342Ryan Pretorius and they had opportunities and one thing led to another and he's done a nice job.
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Still Kicking: Devin Barclay Transitions From Major League Soccer to Ohio State Football
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Tim Cary on 11.03.09

Saturday's much-anticipated showdown between Big Ten defending co-champions Ohio State and Penn State could very well come down to a high-pressure field goal attempt.

And if it does, Buckeye placekicker Devin Barclay, despite the fact he may be making his first career start in one of the season's most important games, is more than ready.

After all, Barclay has been kicking under pressure for years: the only difference is that he's accustomed to booting soccer balls, not footballs.

Barclay, a 26-year-old former walk-on, joined the Ohio State football program after wrapping up a Major League Soccer career that included stints with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, the San Jose Earthquakes, DC United, and most recently, the Columbus Crew.
Earthquakes v Rapids X

While he is still getting accustomed to his new sport, Barclay was pressed into duty Saturday against New Mexico State when starting kicker Aaron Pettrey suffered a season-ending knee injury.

After scoring his first career points in the 45-0 win, Barclay credited his soccer experience for preparing him to face the challenges of big-time college football.

"I've obviously been in another sport playing professionally at a competitive level for almost 10 years now," Barclay said. "That definitely helped me get ready.

"I'm kind of used to a pressure situation, and getting thrown into games, you learn to adapt and deal with the situation a little better having that background."
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Still Kicking: Devin Barclay Transitions From Major League Soccer to Ohio State Football - First and Big Ten
 
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Buckeyes turn to Barclay after Pettrey's injury]
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

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COLUMBUS - Almost 10 years ago, Devin Barclay was beginning a career in professional soccer at the age of 17. Four years ago, Barclay saw that once-promising opportunity end when he was released by the Columbus Crew.

Fast forward to three days from now, when Barclay the football player might be called on to kick a game-winning field goal for Ohio State when the Buckeyes play at Penn State. He will have in his powerful leg the opportunity to keep the Buckeyes' dreams of a potential fifth straight Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl trip alive.

"Things have a strange way of working out sometimes," Barclay said last weekend after he was summoned to kick for Ohio State in the second quarter of a lop-sided win over New Mexico State.

Senior starter Aaron Pettrey had his knee torn up by a low block, and had to be helped off the field. With redshirt freshman Ben Buchanan not dressed for the game because of illness, Barclay, the former soccer player for the D.C. United and the Tampa Bay Mutiny, became Ohio State's kicker.

"It's a little nerve-wracking, because as much as you try and have yourself ready, you don't expect a situation like that," Barclay said. "Going out there in front of 100,000 fans -- you don't get that kind of crowd at soccer games. That was different, but it really got my adrenaline going."

Barclay, a 26-year-old junior, hit all three extra points he attempted and was good on a 29-yard field goal try while missing from 36 and 47 yards out.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Pettrey, who yesterday underwent surgery to repair his knee, could possibly be back for a postseason bowl game, but that Barclay and Buchanan would handle the kicking for the Buckeyes as they go through a difficult final stretch that has them facing Penn State and Michigan on the road and Big Ten leader Iowa in Ohio Stadium.

"So between Devin and Ben, we've got to step up," Tressel said.
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toledoblade.com --
 
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This is in no way meant to disparage Barclay, but without Pettrey in there, maybe JT will be a little more aggressive inside the other team's 40 yard line, and we won't be settling for as many field goals.
Might be one upside coming out of this situation.

There's no way to judge Barclay based on last week's game. That wind was brutal. I think he'll do fine in good conditions.
 
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Barclay prevails

Tressel said junior Devin Barclay will handle the place-kicking and kickoff duties Saturday at Penn State.

Barclay, a former Columbus Crew player, was pressed into action last week against New Mexico State when starter Aaron Pettrey suffered a season-ending knee injury. The other kicker on the roster, Ben Buchanan of Westerville, was not in uniform because of an illness.

Tressel said the two competed in practice this week.

"I think both have done well this week," he said. "I can foresee good competition this week and beyond for those two kids."

Jon Thoma will remain the holder, Tressel said. The backup holder is receiver Dane Sanzenbacher.

Because Sanzenbacher and Barclay had the same jersey number (12), Barclay has switched to 23 in case Sanzenbacher is pressed into action as the holder.
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BuckeyeXtra - OSU football notebook: Tressel deferred on '54 uniforms
 
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NightmaresDad;1584507; said:
This is in no way meant to disparage Barclay, but without Pettrey in there, maybe JT will be a little more aggressive inside the other team's 40 yard line, and we won't be settling for as many field goals.
Might be one upside coming out of this situation.

There's no way to judge Barclay based on last week's game. That wind was brutal. I think he'll do fine in good conditions.
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Or we'll punt :wink:

Good job by Barclay today. Was odd not going for the.. What, 47 yarder? But he made the other one easy, put us ahead, and gave us some nice momentum. A miss there would have sucked and could have drastically changed the game.
 
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xcrunner;1587986; said:
Or we'll punt :wink:

Good job by Barclay today. Was odd not going for the.. What, 47 yarder? But he made the other one easy, put us ahead, and gave us some nice momentum. A miss there would have sucked and could have drastically changed the game.
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Yep, great job by Barclay! Big FG at a big moment today! I like this guy! :)
 
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Barclay flawless

Filling in for Aaron Pettrey, out for the season after a knee injury, kicker Devin Barclay made his only field-goal try, from 37 yards, and all three extra-point kicks.

"It's pretty up there in terms of sports feelings," said the 26-year-old, who played professional soccer for five years before walking on to Ohio State last season. "I'm pretty speechless."

Early in the game, coach Jim Tressel passed up what would have been a 46-yard field-goal attempt, taking a delay of game penalty and punting. It seemed to indicate a lack of confidence in Barclay.

"There was just a little breeze (in Ohio State's face)," Tressel said. "We wanted to be down about the 22, 23 (yard line)."
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BuckeyeXtra - OSU notebook: Small gets Buckeyes going
 
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