Texas A&M Football Portal Profiles: Jabre Barber Is Explosive Receiver Option

Troy WR Transfer Jabre Barber Brings Explosive Slot Skill Set to Texas A&M Football

During the initial portal window, one of the names that flew way under the radar for Texas A&M football fans was that of Troy wide receiver Jabre Barber. There were a couple of other names that the Aggies seemed to be more strongly linked to at the position initially, but the volatility of the transfer ranks ended up directing them elsewhere.

For that reason, the commitment from Barber didn't get nearly the attention that it should have. This is a guy that was part of a 11-3 Sun Belt champion team that boasted a potent offense. A lower level school, yes, but one that had a high profile this past year.

And it's not as though Barber was a passenger on last year's Trojans squad, either. Quite the opposite, in fact: Barber was the leading receiver on the team, notching 75 receptions for 999 yards—and, as silly as it is, I do think that because he fell one yard shy of the 1K mark, there is a bit of a psychological factor when it comes to the way his production is perceived.

There really shouldn't be. This is a guy who can do it all—he returned punts and kicks, recorded three rush attempts and two pass attempts, and was a machine when it came to picking up yards after the catch. Which recent Aggie player does that remind you of?

Now, I'm not saying that Barber is an immediate Ainias Smith replacement. What he can do for this Texas A&M football team, though, is provide a specific skill set at that spot where the Aggies otherwise might have had to place a less explosive option. The only other guy on the roster those slot skills will be recent signee Terry Bussey, but he is reportedly starting out as a corner.

Whether or not Bussey eventually makes his way onto the field on offense this year, I think it's a safe bet that Barber will be the starter on day one. The explosion, open-field quicks and jukes, and and experience quite clearly recommend him for that spot.

I'm excited to see how Barber will be used in OC Collin Klein's offense. Klein is a creative and innovative mind, and with the versatility that Barber boasts, there's a lot of ways he could be used in the new system. The role I'm envisioning for him is one where he is extremely productive between the 20s, piling up lots of yardage before Weigman, Thomas, and Walker go to work in the red zone.