Journal-News.com

CINCINNATI — When University of Cincinnati football coach Brian Kelly moved senior Connor Barwin from tight end to defensive end at the beginning of spring practice, this was what he expected to receive: An athletic player who would use his energy and stamina to make up for whatever technical deficiencies would hamper his development as he learns the position.

With little more than a week remaining before UC's spring game, Barwin has exceeded Kelly's expectations.

"I really think it's been close to spectacular in terms of his ability to pick up the nuances of playing the position," Kelly said.

Not that Barwin is surprised with how well he's performed so far. When Kelly asked him to switch, Barwin was confident he could learn the new position. He had, after all, played with the UC basketball team for two seasons as a walk-on when the Bearcats were desperate for bodies. Even though he was slated to compete for the starting tight end job, Barwin knew he was versatile enough to swap offense for defense.

"I was confident I could play it," said Barwin, a native of Hazel Park, Mich. "My motor, having endurance and playing fast are the reasons I came over. If I go over there and start thinking about how this is what I'm supposed to do, I'm not playing to my advantage. I have to play to my skills, which is playing fast and using my endurance. I just want to stay fast and pick up the technique as I go, instead of slowing down and picking up the technique. That's not as beneficial."

At the beginning of spring practice, Kelly explained the move, saying the Bearcats needed to replace departed seniors Anthony Hoke and Angelo Craig at the defensive end spots. Plus, with a glut of potential tight ends, including Kazeem Ali, Ben Guidugli and Adrien Robinson, Barwin would be more valuable to the Bearcats if he lined up against the opposing squad's offensive tackle.

Senior offensive lineman Khalil El-Amin — who has faced off against Barwin in spring drills — can see Kelly's point.

"Connor Barwin is an outstanding athlete," El-Amin said. "If you put that guy anywhere on the field, he can play that position. He's big, strong and fast. He has a motor. He just doesn't stop. A lot of guys, you wear on them throughout practice and games. Connor is going to be that guy who has the same amount of energy that he had in the first quarter."

That, Barwin knows, is his biggest strength.

"The bottom line is I'm trying to turn around and play as fast as I can and pick up the little technique things as I go," Barwin said. "You have to learn how to play the position technique-wise. You have to be sound. That's something I have to work on, and it'll happen as you play and get more live snaps. But you don't want to learn how to do it by not playing full speed."

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