2021 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Eric Barriere Jr., QB, Eastern Washington
- Name: Eric Barriere Jr.
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 210
- Position: QB
- College: Eastern Washington University
- Twitter: @EB3__
Tell us about your university/college. Did you participate in any other activities or campus organizations other than football?
Eastern Washington is in a great location. Small college town but 15-20 minutes away from Spokane which is great because Spokane has everything that you need.
Cheney, Washington is a very special place and with Eastern being its only sports team, we get a lot of recognition because we are a college town. I do community service around Cheney and Spokane.
How did you end up at Eastern Washington?
It was either out of Eastern or Hawaii and I chose eastern because it felt more like home and the coaches were already talking to me before my senior year started.
What do your teammates say is your best quality?
I would say leading by example is my best quality because I’m not very vocal but I make sure I attack everything with a purpose.
What kind of role do you see yourself in on the team? What scheme and/or position suits your skill set?
I’m a captain on my team and I can play in any scheme. Playing Quarterback fits my skill set the best.
Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?
Adam Rodriguez Weber State
Which one of your teammates impresses you the most?
Talolo Limu-Jones. He’s going to be a senior WR this season with a lot of size and speed.
Describe a time in your life when you were able to overcome a struggle.
I was dealing with a lot of family problems heading into my senior year of high school. It was a rough 3 months dealing with drama every time you walked in the house and also finding out my uncle had been killed after a 7 on 7 game was tough. I ended up overcoming everything by having faith and talking to God a lot more. Later that year, we ended up winning the championship.
What is something that you are most proud of? What would you say is your biggest achievement?
Knowing that I will become a first generation graduate in my family is something I’m most proud of. My biggest achievement is knowing that after all of this is done I will have a college degree.
Describe one of the most memorable plays of your collegiate career.
My 1st college touchdown. It was when I was a red shirt freshman playing against North Dakota my first start collegiate start. It was 4th & goal with a 2-3 sec left on the clock heading into half time and the coach decided to put the ball in my hands and I scored and we went into halftime with the lead.
If you didn’t play football, what other sport would you play?
I would play basketball.
What was your major/minor? Other than football, what would be your dream job?
I’m a communication major and minoring in Africana Studies. My dream job would be to start a family business dealing with helping kids like starting a YMCA or something for the kids in the community.
What have you been working on in the off-season?
I have been working more on footwork drills and making sure my feet are good. Because as a QB you need to have good weight transfer if you want to be accurate
Do you have a favorite athlete or professional team? Is there a player that you model your game after?
My favorite athlete is Michael Vick because as a kid he gave me hope playing QB as a African American.
What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies? Do you have any secret talents?
For my spare time I usually like to play some 2K or watch documentaries about life, sports,etc. A secret talent is that I know how to use a Kendama and know how to do tricks with it.
Why do you play football?
I play football because it gives me the freedom to go out there and block out all the noise and play a sport that I love.
Who or what motivates you the most?
My mom and sister are my motivation because growing up my mom made sure she did everything for me and my sister no matter what she was going through, and I will always respect my mom for that. They motivate me to want more in life and that’s what I’m striving for.
Assistant Director of Scouting for the Hula Bowl and long-time writer for NFL Draft Diamonds.