JUCO Report: Amare Barno

Amare Barno is expected to play the backer position. (Photo via @Ayye_Barno)

Coming in at a lanky 6’6”, 225, with fast feet and long arms, it’s easy to see why folks are so keen to compare Amare Barno (#4) to recent Hokie standout Tremaine Edmunds. But looking beyond the measurables, Barno brings a distinctive set of skills to the field that doesn’t remind me of any Hokie linebacker I can recall. He comes from a school with an evolving defensive scheme; in the past few years, Butler CC has gone from a 3-3, to a 3-4, to a 4-3/4-2 look. You can see the influences in how Barno’s asked to play, with his work ranging from a contain-focused OLB to lining over the slot like a third safety. Here are his Hudl highlights:

0:20—He surprises the tackle with an opportunistic bull-rush.

0:28—The offense has a numbers advantage here, but Barno IDs the screen and gets under the block.

1:08—I like his closing speed here.

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