The only individual goal Poncho Barnwell sets for himself before each game is to help his team win.
The accruing of accolades and statistical milestones are not a concern to Barnwell, who spent two seasons at Nassau Community College in his home state of New York before joining the Monarchs for the 2014 season.
Racking up 53 tackles, 7.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries in his sophomore season in JUCO, he kept his focus centered on his team. It didn’t take long for the Old Dominion coaching staff to focus on him, though, as they quickly recognized his potential to be a valuable asset to the Monarchs’ defensive regime.
“Right off the bat, the thing that caught our eye about him was that he was a playmaker,” defensive line coach Jeff Comissiong recalled. “He was active, explosive and very athletic. We knew he had what it took to play at this level.”
The Junior College standout only needed to take one visit before deciding on a new home.
“Coming out of Nassau, I took my visit to ODU, and it just felt like home. Coach Wilder told me I could go to a college that already had history, or I could come to this college and become a part of making history. That really stuck in my mind.”
In his debut season as a Monarch, Barnwell made the most of his opportunity to finally play on the big stage, leading the team with 3.5 sacks, adding 6.5 tackles for loss and scoring ODU’s first defensive touchdown since 2010 after recovering a fumble in the end zone against Vanderbilt.
Beyond the individual numbers helping Old Dominion to a victory is the first thing on Barnwell’s mind.
“The best feeling I’ve had as a Monarch was beating FAU in our season-finale last year on a last-second field goal.”
It is that kind of maturity and selflessness that has solidified his role as a veteran leader on the ODU defense in his senior season.
“He’s a young man that works hard at everything he does, not just football,” Comissiong pointed out. “He’s been extremely important to our defense because he brings a lot of energy, and he can be depended on consistently. He is a great leader for the young guys.”
Fittingly, Barnwell has his sights on making a career out of his leadership abilities. An African American Studies major, he enjoys working with children and plans to become a counselor and maybe even a youth football coach.
Although he is unsure of where his future career aspirations may lead him, for now, Barnwell feels right at home inside S.B. Ballard Stadium.
“There’s no better feeling than hearing the crowd go crazy on a third or fourth down, and everyone is counting on the defensive line to make the stop. Then it’s our job to deliver and make a play.”
Though you would never know it based on his team-first mentality, Barnwell has done just that on many occasions for the Monarchs.
His impact has been felt further than just across the line of scrimmage, however. He has epitomized what it means to be a team player, sacrificing individual glory for the greater good of the team.
Younger generations can learn to pick up a lot more than just loose footballs from Poncho Barnwell.
BY: Tristan Warner