DE Barnaby Signs with NFL's Lions
May 08 | Football
PISCATAWAY, NJ - Rutgers defensive end Val Barnaby has signed a free agent contract with the NFL's Detroit Lions.
The 6-5, 270-pound Barnaby was tied for second in the BIG EAST (and tied for 14th nationally) with 10.0 sacks in 2005. Barnaby teamed with fellow defensive end Ryan Neill to give the Scarlet Knights a fierce pass rush in 2005, as Rutgers was tied for second nationally with 47 sacks.
Barnaby, an All-State center at nearby Franklin Township High School, recorded 41 tackles in 2005 to help lead Rutgers to a third place finish in the BIG EAST and a berth in the Insight Bowl, was also tied for seventh in the Conference with 13.0 tackles for loss. As starter at defensive end in his final two seasons at Rutgers, Barnaby concluded his career with 109 tackles, including 23 TFLs and 12 sacks.
'I'm really excited to have this opportunity. I'm just going to go play the game the way I know how, with passion and enthusiasm,' Barnaby said.
Barnaby became the fifth member of Rutgers' 2005 Insight Bowl squad to sign on with NFL teams, and will join teammate OT Sameeh McDonald in Detroit. Neill is with the Buffalo Bills, while wide receiver Tres Moses signed with the Baltimore Ravens and fellow receiver Chris Baker signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
