Signee Damion Barber says he won't report to Penn State until late July

HARRISBURG, Pa. – When Penn State’s incoming freshman class reports to campus at the end of June it will be doing so without defensive end signee Damion Barber.

The Harrisburg High standout who signed with Penn State in February told DKPittsburghSports.com he will have his arrival delayed while he takes classes back in Harrisburg and plans to report to campus in late July.

“I gotta do some classwork, some college courses. I’ve already graduated, but I’ve gotta do some of my college courses and then I’ll get up there on July 30,” Barber said following Tuesday night’s Big 33 practice at Central Dauphin East High School. “Coach told me to worry about my school first and he said once I get up there I’ll do whatever I can and as much as I can -- and I gotta do as much as I can while I'm home."



While it’s the first time Barber acknowledged that he won’t be reporting with the rest of the class, he said he’s known for a while that his arrival would likely be delayed. He called it a “50-50 chance” that he would arrive with the rest of the class on June 25, but now the four-star signee will continue training on his own while wrapping up his school work with a pair of online courses.

Penn State’s second six-week summer session, which marks the arrival of the freshman class, begins with classes on June 28. Typically the Lions start camp in early August.

“It really doesn’t matter as long as I get my schoolwork done before camp,” he said.

While Barber led the Mid Penn with 27 tackles for loss last season and tallied 13 sacks, he was likely in line to take a redshirt anyway given Penn State’s other options along the defensive line. The late arrival would likely seal it.

Barber, who played football and basketball with 5-star defensive end Micah Parsons and has known him since they were kids, said since football season he’s gained about 30 pounds, bringing his weight to 258 pounds. Barber aims to report around 260 pounds and now will work to maintain his muscle while training on his own to make sure his conditioning is up to par.

Going right into the team’s fall camp could prove challenging. As Barber sat drenched in sweat following Tuesday’s practice in the 90-degree heat he said this is a good way for him to keep improving his conditioning. He’s worked against classmate Des Holmes during Big 33 practices as well, with Holmes staying after practice to run hills after Barber beat him in a drill.

“He’s a player,” Holmes said, adding that Barber told his classmates he'll be a late arrival. “He’s an awesome dude and out here I’m always with him so we’re already friendly with all the guys in our class and we’re already like brothers with our team chemistry and all that so we’re always going to be around each other so those guys are already like my brothers.”