[jwplayer cvU9zIUO-XNcErKyb]
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Karsen Barnhart’s path wasn’t exactly as he dreamed it.
The Paw Paw (MI) native always had his eyes set on something other than the in-state school, with his family being cut from a cloth of an SEC powerhouse.
“Growing up it was Alabama, because my grandpa was born and raised from Alabama,” Barnhart said. “I just always had the Crimson Tide in me.
“I had the clothes in my closet everywhere and every Saturday I’d watch the game with my grandpa growing up. Just big Alabama people all around. He loved football, so that – him showing me his passion for the game and how much he loved it got me to where I am today.”
[lawrence-related id=30338,30297]
Yet, he ended up at Michigan, and he chose the Wolverines relatively early in his process. Barnhart never got that Alabama offer to instill some controversy into the former four-star’s recruitment. And then, in just his first year in the program, he found his team preparing to take on the one he rooted for all his life.
Still, he’s glad he picked Michigan, and he did so because of the people he got to know along the way.
“It was kinda weird, playing against the team you grew up watching every Saturday,” Barnhart said. “I basically chose Michigan for the brotherhood here during the recruiting process. I know everybody in my class really well and just having great friendships. And also coming to Michigan because we want to win football games. Right now, it’s not going that way yet, it’s never too late to turn the table around.”
[lawrence-related id=30241,30206]
Now, in just his second year, he’s found himself thrust into a starting role, playing left tackle the past two weeks with starter Ryan Hayes out with injury. The two had battled it out in camp, which helped Barnhart prepare for this opportunity.
Though he wasn’t the Day 1 starter, that battle informed him that he would be ready to go when his name was called. Still, there’s a few things he’d like to improve upon to bring his game to the level he envisions.
With a few games under his belt, he knows where his strengths and weaknesses lie, and hopes to fix the minutiae that ails him.
“It’s a great experience and I’m very proud of where I’m at,” Barnhart said. “Getting an opportunity to be a starter here. I think my performance has been good, but there’s a few things I need to clean up in the run game and it’ll be good. Pass game looks good, just a few things in the run game.”
At the moment, there’s no telling whether or not Hayes or Barnhart will take the field as the starter come Saturday against Rutgers. Regardless, getting time on task now will help the Paw Paw native for his future games with the team.