LB Travis Barr - A Coaches Take

Not much is known about verbal commitment #2 Travis Barr but his coach says the Illini faithful can expect big things in the future.

Illinois landed a verbal commitment from one of Georgia’s top linebacker prospects. Travis Barr, a 6-foot-2, 220-pounder from Alpharetta (Ga.) Chattahoochee made 140 tackles as a junior and even had one game with 26 solo stops.

We asked Chattahoochee head coach Bill Waters what the Fighting Illini fans can expect from his star prospect.

“Travis has been playing football in our community for about 12 years.” Waters said.

“Travis is a great student, a great football player and athlete. He leads by example in the weight-room and in the classroom.

“I think what sets Travis apart from other prospects is that he truly cares about his teammates. He goes out of his way to help them and make them better.”

Illinois was Barr’s first offer and he jumped on it for many reasons. He has family in Central Illinois and he grew up an Illinois fan. Where there other schools considering offering Barr a scholarship.

“Everybody was recruiting Travis,” Waters said laughing. “Illinois was just the only school that offered him early. I had West Virginia in here yesterday and they told me that Travis was the only reason they came to the school. I had to give them the bad news.

“We had every school in the SEC recruiting him as well as most of the ACC. Notre Dame even had him on their board.”

Why Illinois?

“Well obviously there’s a family connection and Illinois plays in the Big Ten conference. Illinois recruits the nation and is a very good school.

“Illinois has a great linebacker tradition going all the way back to Dick Butkus.”

What are Barr’s strengths on the football field?

“He’s 6-2 and 223-pounds right now. He’s got the knack for plugging the hole and he can also move laterally. Travis is very quick to the hole and to the football.”