In a secondary that needs more experience and ability, Gopher strong safety Dom Barber is easy to identify as the best player. The Gophers have given up 431 passing yards per game in three games and rank 118th in the country in pass defense among major schools. Pass defense is the team’s biggest weakness but coach Tim Brewster admires Barber and told Sports Headliners that the former Wayzata High School athlete (he lettered in hockey, baseball and football) is the best pro prospect among his seniors.
“He’s got all the attributes you look for in a safety,” Brewster said. “Very physical guy. He’s got speed. He can cover half the field. He can cover a tight end. He’s a blitzer. I think Dom Barber is a real good pro prospect.”
Other seniors who Brewster said are “going to have an opportunity” to possibly make it in the pros are center Tony Brinkhaus, left offensive tackle Steve Shidell, fullback Justin Valentine and wide receiver Ernie Wheelwright. Not surprisingly, all are offensive players except for Barber who is part of a defense that has yielded 36.3 points to three mediocre teams.
Asked to identify a player in addition to Barber that might have the best opportunity to make the pros, Brewster said perhaps Valentine. “I think Justin Valentine has a chance because true fullbacks are really hard to find, and I think Justin Valentine can be considered a true fullback,” Brewster said.
Valentine had a more prominent role with the Gophers (primarily as a blocker) in his first three seasons before the team went to the spread formation that uses one running back, not two. Coming into this season Valentine had played in 36 games with the Gophers and had seven starts. He entered the season with 183 career rushing yards on 59 carries. So far in three games he has one rushing attempt and two pass receptions.
Barber, the younger brother of former Gopher and Dallas Cowboy running back Marion Barber III, was selected as an honorable mention all-Big Ten Conference player by the media last season. He had three interceptions in conference games, one in non-conference games.
Barber was credited with a strong effort against Purdue’s explosive wide receiver Dorien Bryant last season (six catches, 59 yards). Bryant, a first team all-Big Ten Conference pick by the media last year, is in town Saturday night for an 8 p.m. game against the Gophers. Purdue is 15th in the country in passing offense and sixth in total offense.