2022 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Perre’ Barbarin, RB, University of St. Francis

• Name: Perre’ Barbarin
• Position: Running Back
• College: University of St. Francis
• Height: 5’7
• Weight: 215
• Twitter: Golen_7
• Instagram: Golden__7

What makes you a top prospect at your position in the 2022 NFL Draft?

What makes me a top prospect at my position is my playmaking ability along with my eagerness to be the best.

At what age were you first interested in the sport of football?

The age that I began playing football was 3 years old on the 5-6 year old team. There was no team for my age so my father put me on the older team and I started at cornerback because I would just come up and crash into the person with the ball. 

What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?

One thing that teams should know about me is that I am a born leader with the biggest heart of them all.

If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be?

If I could donate to one cause in the world, I would donate to the inner city in New Orleans, Louisiana, where I am from, because I know a hand full of kids who grew up to become something that they are not because of what they did not have growing up.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

The best advice that I have received recently is “Pressure Makes Diamonds”. This advice helped me over come multiple situations on the field and off of the field because I have always been that person that person that people look up to and it comes with pressure to upheld those responsibilities. The best advice that I have received overall is that “It is in God’s hands” or “Trust in God”. This advice is something that has gotten me through life in a different and humbling way.

Who was your childhood hero?

My childhood hero is my dad. My dad has been through almost everything in life and he has kept me away from going down the wrong path in life in order for me to have a greater chance at succeeding in life. He is the person who worked with me as a little kid to be the best at whatever I do because he pushed me to be ahead of everyone else that was at my age level. He has also showed me how to be a real man in life.

Who is the most underrated teammate in your locker room at your school?

There’s a few teammates in the locker room at school that I feel like is underrated for multiple reasons, but the most underrated would probably have to be our linebacker Mike Whitney. I say him because he has battled injuries through high school that has led to some in college, but he is still a great player. Even though he has not been a starter yet, whenever he is on the field he is around the ball to impact the tackle, if he was not the person that made the tackle. He is also one of the fastest linebackers that I know. He is a person that would get you better as a player at practice going up against him.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

My biggest pet peeve is when someone thinks that they know what they are talking about when they are wrong.

Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome?

Aside from the passing of my grandmother, the fact that I have always been overlooked because of my lack of height or just because of the lack of belief in me is some adversity that I have had to overcome my entire career starting in High School. Being that I am not the tallest, I have always been put behind someone that has the ideal size, even though I may be better. I am a strong believer of the saying, “Heart over Height”.

Tell me something about your school and why it is so special to you?

I feel like my school is a place where individuals can grown and find themselves because there are many different crowds. My school is so special to me because I came in as a freshman alone and far from home, so I had to open up and meet new people and everyone was welcoming and friendly. I have some of my best friends and friendships/relationships at my school and I love everyone there.

What is your favorite snack food?

My favorite snack food has to be seafood, such as Crawfish, Shrimp, Crabs, etc. 

What is the best part of football?

The best part of football is playing the sport that you love with those who go to war with you everyday at practice and in games, but having fun while y’all are out there playing.

If you could sell yourself in one sentence what would you say?

I am a hardworking leader who is eager to learn, so that I may be the best and beat the best.

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be?

There’s multiple players in the NFL who I believe I can compare to. Those players are Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram, Marshawn Lynch, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Barry Sanders. I say this because I have been compared to these running backs based on my running style. Just like them, I may not be the fastest or the biggest, but I am versatile, powerful, and have breakaway speed. I am the definition of a balanced running back.

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why?

The three people that I would picked to have dinner with is God because I would love to be in his presence alive and able to understand his word in first hand, my Grandmother because she’s not here anymore and I would love to catch up with her with conversation, and Russell Wilson because he is my favorite football player and I would love to get tips on how I can make it to the NFL and succeed with my size being overlooked.