Clemson Football: The lone Tiger in the AAF is playing in Atlanta
Clemson football has but one representative in the Alliance of American Football’s inaugural season. Former Tiger DL Tavaris Barnes is playing in Atlanta.
The Alliance of American Football (AAF) opened up its inaugural season this past Saturday with a game that featured the Orlando Apollos and the Atlanta Legends.
The Apollos, who are coached by former South Carolina Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier, waxed the Legends, winning the game by a score of 40-6.
The league was created to give football players a chance to showcase their talents with the hopes of getting to the NFL. It also is trying to provide a good alternative for football fans that want to watch the sport outside of the normal fall and winter season.
While there are several intriguing athletes choosing to play in the league, just one former Clemson football player is participating.
That player is former Tiger defensive end Tavaris Barnes.
Barnes didn’t see much playing time his freshman and sophomore seasons with Clemson football, but saw an increased role in both 2013 and 2014 as a junior and season. He signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015 with New Orleans Saints, but was later waived.
He had contracts with the Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins, but his NFL career never really worked out. He made the Saints 53-man roster, but was never placed on the regular roster for any of the other teams.
Barnes, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, is now a member of the Atlanta Legends and trying to make a name for himself there. It’s not about trying to get to the NFL all the time either, but it’s about extending your career and continuing to play the game you love.
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It’s clear that Barnes loves to play football and that he has a deep passion for the game.
I expect to see several other Clemson football players whose careers didn’t quite pan out in the NFL follow Barnes’ path in the future.