Florida State safety Ashlynd Barker had his best season a year ago with 48 tackles, five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two pass breakups. He did make plans to enter the transfer portal once the season ended, but he decided to return in 2026.
Barker is entering his reshirt senior year, making it his final one to make his mark on the collegiate level before potentially going to the NFL. He took a very serious approach to the offseason, and when he was asked if that made him work harder, he said that was the case.
“Yeah, I did,” said Barker. “I feel like every year that I’ve been here, I’ve worked harder each year. It’s just really just seeing new stuff and new people, seeing how much they do, and it just motivates you to do more. Like last year, I was seeing Jerry, watching Jerry wake up early every day and doing extra stuff. It motivated me to do it and just wanting to reach your full potential.”
Barker will play the Rover in Tony White’s 3-3-5 scheme, which features three safeties, and he’s slotted to be the starter there. It’s a hybrid role that will require him to cover slot wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs while also being stout versus the run. There’s some blitzing off the edge in this role as well, and he’ll have to cover the flats in zone coverage.
How did Barker prepare for this in the offseason? He did so by sticking to a very disciplined routine of going to bed extremely early and waking up at 4:30 a.m. ET. He went into detail as to why he handled things this way.
“Honestly, I really don’t talk to that many people on the phone anyways,” Barker said. “But my whole schedule. Of course, if we have practice or something. I have my bedtime set for nine. So I try to be in the bed by nine. Of course, it’s harder now because we have camp. But during the summer, I set my bedtime for nine. I make sure I shower and eat. I’m hydrated before then and just cut everybody off.”
Barker is a vital piece to what FSU wants to do defensively, and an elevation in his play will be needed.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU safety Ashlynd Barker speaks on disciplined offseason regimen
Reporting by Matthew Lenix , FSU Wire / FSU Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Matthew Lenix , FSU Wire | USA TODAY Network
