Patience and perseverance define rookie Lamin Barrow.
He dreamed of playing in the NFL, but his journey to the Broncos was paved in hardship. His family was displaced for several months by Hurricane Katrina. During his senior year at John Ehret High School in Monroe, La., he played linebacker and slot receiver. Even though he couldn’t catch well.
“I wasn’t that much bigger than those guys guarding me,” Barrow said, smirking. “OK, I was.”
Signed by Louisiana State, and fast enough to run the 200-meter dash, Barrow redshirted as a freshman and filled a reserve role for two years. He starred as junior and senior, totaling 195 tackles. The fifth-round draft pick fills an important role for the Broncos — adding speed to special teams, where he ranks third on the club with three tackles. As a reserve middle linebacker, he has returned to learning, soaking up advice like a sponge. Barrow, who is of Ethiopian descent and whose first name means trustworthy, spoke with The Denver Post about his path to the Mile High City.
Q: Growing up in New Orleans’ West Bank area, how big was football in your life?
A: I loved playing. At my high school, you heard about the stars that played there before like (Indianapolis Colts’) Reggie Wayne and (former Colorado and Pittsburgh Steelers star) Kordell Stewart. I was a linebacker, but my senior year a bunch of guys got hurt, so they had the linebackers work at receiver. We didn’t have very good hands, but I guess I did OK. They put me out there. I remember changing my number from 57 to 3.
Q: How did you end up at LSU?
A: I had other offers. (He was named the District 8-5A most valuable player as a senior.) But growing up in New Orleans, I wanted to go to LSU. As soon as they made an offer, it was an easy decision.
Q: You played in some big college games featuring several future NFL players. Any games stick out?
A: The Texas A&M games my last two years come to mind. We faced Johnny Manziel, and obviously everyone knows the kind of numbers he was putting up. The coaches devised a great plan against him (last season). We played a lot of nickel and we blitzed a lot. I was a spy on Manziel. It was fun and actually pretty easy because I didn’t have coverage responsibilities. I would just go where he’d go. It was a big win. There was vindication. (Manziel completed 39 percent of his passes and was intercepted twice.)
Q: What was game day like at LSU in Baton Rouge?
A: It’s a special experience. I was supposed to go back this last weekend to watch LSU play Mississippi, but they said I should not travel as I recovered from a concussion. If I am not 100 percent, I am 95. But, man, playing there, it was loud, with a lot of fast athletes on the field. They would take Mike the Tiger (LSU’s live Bengal tiger mascot) around the stadium before games. He would be in his cage parked next to the opponent’s locker room. It seemed like Mike was calm during the week, but he was always growling on game day.
Q: How big of an honor was it to be chosen to wear No. 18 as a senior, which, according to the university, represents the player who is the “consummate LSU Tiger”?
A: All those who have worn it before vote on it. I knew I was a candidate along with veteran guys like (QB) Zach Mettenberger. In the past, a player would show up to practice wearing it. We were in a conference room when we were told. It really meant a lot. Now I am one of the players who gets to vote on it each year.
Q: What has been the best part of playing in the NFL?
A: Learning, getting better. And I am around great players like Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas and Von Miller. It’s still weird seeing those guys. Especially Peyton. He’s a legend. You practice with him, then go home and see him on all the commercials and realize again what a big deal he is.
Q: You were ejected during the game against the Jets and fined. What happened?
A: Their guy was going at it with me. He got underneath my face mask and was scratching at my eyes. I threw a punch. I know I shouldn’t have. I reacted to what he did. I have appealed my ($8,268) fine. I am hoping to hear back soon (from NFL headquarters).
Lamin Barrow file
–Full name is Lamin Samboujang Barrow. First name pronounced Lah-Mean
–Starred at John Ehret High School in New Orleans, the same school that produced Colorado great Kordell Stewart.
–Named to to the New Orleans Times-Picayune Blue Chip list as asenior, recording 71 tackles, 13 for a loss, and returning two fumbles for touchdowns.
–After a redshirt freshman season and two years as a reserve, starred in final two years at LSU, making 195 tackles.
–Earned second-team All-SEC as a senior, and was singled out at the Senior Bowl by Jacksonville coach Gus Bradley for his ability to quickly learn new techniques.
–Selected by Broncos in fifth-round of 2014 draft.
–Tied for third with three special teams tackles, also serving as a reserve middle linebacker.
