Does Anyone Remember...?| Kevan Barlow

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Does anyone remember Kevan Barlow?

I do—and I hope I know him very well.

So I was walking to school one day, and there is this kid just wears shorts and an NFL jersey every single day. So that day, he wore a No. 32  San Francisco 49ers jersey with the name "Barlow" printed on the back.

That just gave me something, Should I write about this guy or what?  He had some pretty solid season, didn't he? Haven't written much in the series for like three months now. It's time I write one now.

So here I am—and here you are, reading this article about Kevan Barlow.

Barlow really was a great back. I swear. He had the power, the agility, and the speed. Just all-around perfect back to me, but then, he only lasted seven whole NFL seasons. It's been since 2007 since his last game, if it's the preseason or regular season.

So you know a little bit about this guy.

Well, now, you are going to learn a whole lot more.

God designed Kevan Barlow to be a success, and on January 7, 1979, it all started. But it truly started back in high school, when rushed for over 3,000 yards with 31 touchdowns in his career at Peabody—a school located in Pittsburgh.

He was a complete beast, I swear. He also played some defensive end and man, you just couldn't stop him.

Barlow then went on to play at the University of Pittsburgh, rushing for 2,324 with 20 touchdowns in his career. He then left Pitt and went on to the NFL Draft in 2001, after being ranked in the Top 15 for most points scored with his college team's history.

It was time for the NFL. After having over 7,000 rushing yards and 51 touchdowns in his college and high school career combined, the NFL was a chance to prove what he was really worth.

Barlow was then drafted as the 80th overall pick in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft, having a lot more success in his career than a lot of guys picked before him. Drafted by the 49ers, no one expected Barlow to do that much with Garrison Hearst still there.

But he did do pretty good actually. In his first two years combined, Barlow ran for a total of 1,187 rushing yards with eight touchdowns, including 4.4 yards per carry. It showed that he actually could be a starter.

But could San-Fran take the risk? They did, as in 2003, they released Garrison Hearst. The fans may be discouraged at first, but at the end, all the naysayers were proven wrong.

Barlow ran for 1,024 rushing yards with six touchdowns, including a staggering 5.1 yards per carry. Impressive indeed. Barlow really showed what he could do, with his size at 6'1" 230 pounds, he was a complete monster.

In 2004, Barlow ran for 822 rushing yards with seven touchdowns, including a disappointing 3.4 yards per carry. But it wasn't all that bad. I mean, this was really his first true big shot at starter.

Although he didn't reach the 1,000-yard mark, people shouldn't be all that disappointed. I mean, it was still a pretty good year for the guy. But then, the 49ers started leaning towards Maurice Hicks, a backup.

Luckily for Kevan, they didn't for all that long. But his job still wasn't safe, because after the 2004 season with Barlow's 822-yard performance, the 49ers drafted running back Frank Gore out of the 2005 NFL Draft.

Gore wasn't going to be the starter, though. Gore was going to backup Barlow as they would both become a one-two punch, maybe. That year, things began to slow down then.

Barlow ran for 581 yards with three touchdowns, including another disappointing 3.3 yards per carry. But that wasn't Barlow's fault that year, as San-Fran was possibly the worst team in the NFL with the worst O-line.

But surprisingly, Gore had more success than Barlow that season, having to rush for 608 yards with three touchdowns, including 4.8 yards per carry. That's when the 49ers released Barlow and declared Frank Gore as starter.

Barlow had nowhere to go. No job. It was just plain horrible. What could he do? Go to the CFL? AFL?

No, the NFL is still an option. It still is. Just one big down year, it wasn't all that bad. No one else could have done what he had done with the worst O-line, expect maybe Gore.

But still, you're a still a starting-caliber running back.

That's when the New York Jets signed him during the August of 2006. Barlow stirred some controversy that year, according to this source, as he made compared Mike Nolan to Hitler.

Barlow didn't start that year, though, and ran for 370 yards with six touchdowns, including 2.8 yards per carry. It wasn't a good year, but it was an okay year I guess.

The Jets went 10-6 that year, eventually being destroyed by the Patriots in the playoffs with the Asante Samuel heroics. Then in near March of 2007, Barlow was released.

Then in May, Barlow was signed to a one-year deal with the Steelers. Barlow played poor in training camp, and after Pittsburgh was looking at his performance, he was cut on August 27th.

Barlow was expected to split carries that year as a second-string back, but it was proven wrong. Barlow didn't show his heart to win the job, rushing for 22 total carries for 64 yards and one touchdown.

It wasn't good at all.

Nobody has heard of Barlow since. But he is probably laying back in his house. Probably gotten into business or something. Maybe a coach of a high school team. I don't know, but whatever it is, the job isn't bad at all.

Barlow is 30 years of age right now. He has numerous choices of going to play football. CFL is still out there. I head from sources Barlow was in talks with the United Football League.

I remember Barlow. He was just great. His running style was pretty unique and he made it look great. Yes, his career may not be all that long, or all that great.

Yes, you wouldn't call rushing for about 4,000 yards, 30 touchdowns, and four yards a carry a Hall-of-Fame career, but damn, it's good enough to make it look like you did have success in the NFL.

Barlow did.

His career good, but not great.

But no matter who positive or negative it is, we'll still remember.

Remember Kevan Barlow, for what he has done in the National Football League.

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