Eric Barriere will go down as one of the most electrifying players in FCS/Division 1-AA history. Between his highlight-reel plays or his clutch and record-breaking performances, to being named a four-time All-American, a two-time Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and the 2021 Walter Payton Award winner as the best FCS offensive player, the Eastern Washington quarterback was a transcendent talent.
Yet, as the NFL Draft process continues to roll along, he is getting little to no love or hype.
Not as in he got invited to a second-tier postseason college all-star game instead of the big three (Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Bowl, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl). Or that barely any mock drafts or quarterback rankings list his name. No, when we say “little to no love or hype,” we mean Barriere did not get invited to one all-star game. And in a weaker quarterback class, the notable NFL Draft analysts have not mentioned Barriere’s name.
At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds with an unorthodox throwing motion and playing in a spread offense, it’s understandable why NFL teams would be somewhat hesitant to view Barriere as a draft pick. Yet his arm strength and ability to make any throw in the pocket or on the run is evident on tape, he lit up FCS defenses and also two FBS defenses (Washington and UNLV) throughout his career, and he wasn’t a “tuck the ball and run the second things broke down” style of quarterback despite his dual-threat abilities. To not get a single invitation to one of the seven all-star games is puzzling, especially when looking at some of the other QBs who were able to showcase their talents in front of scouts.
Training out of California after his EWU career ended in the playoffs, Barriere and his agency ELITE Athlete Management were hearing he may get an invite to the Hula Bowl or the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
But no official invite ever came.
“I kept hearing the same thing: ‘He’s a really great player. He’s a good player.’ But for some reason, they just didn’t want to pull the trigger on sending me an invite,” Barriere told HERO Sports last week. “I questioned it at first. It did feel like a slap in the face. … But then, when you look at the NFL, you hear about different players who went undrafted or were late-round players who are making more of an impact today than some early-rounders. That helped put my mind in a different perspective. It’s not how you start or where you start, it’s where you finish. When it comes down to it, I think my work will show, and whatever team gives me an opportunity will see that.”
Barriere’s determined, but positive personality shined in our interview with him. It’s in line with his style on the field. Barriere’s smile between snaps sticks out just as much as the big plays. Despite his humble demeanor, there’s also a strong internal drive.
Barriere is used to the “Yeah he’s good, but…” narrative his whole career.
In high school out of Inglewood, California, he was a Rivals two-star recruit who totaled 9,304 yards of total offense and 130 career touchdowns … but he received just one FBS offer from Hawaii.
Barriere was a prized EWU recruit … but he didn’t see starting duties until the middle of his third season in 2018 due to an injury to All-American Gage Gubrud. Barriere led the Eagles to the national title game that season and earned HERO Sports Sophomore All-American honors.
In 2019, Barriere finished second in the FCS in total offense (355.8 yards per game) and third in passing (309.3 YPG) … but his postseason accolades was finishing fifth in the Walter Payton Award voting, one All-American selection (HERO Sports Third Team), and a nod on the All-Big Sky Third Team.
In the spring 2021 season, Barriere was named to six different All-American First Teams … but he finished second in the Walter Payton Award voting.
He finally won the Walter Payton Award in the fall 2021 season and finished his EWU career with 13,809 yards passing (62 completion percentage), 121 touchdown passes, and 29 interceptions while rushing for 1,585 yards and 22 scores … but it wasn’t enough to garner an all-star game invite.
“How my career was, I felt like I deserved an invite to something,” Barriere said. “But everyone has their own path and their own journey. And just because I didn’t get invited to the combine or a bowl game, it doesn’t mean my NFL dreams are cut short. People still know what I can do. All I want to do is get an opportunity and show a team what I’m capable of doing. I feel once I get in front of an organization, then they will like what they see.”
Barriere and his agent have been told NFL teams like his skillset. The big question mark is more about the Xs and Os. Scouts know he can throw and is a terrific athlete. What they want to see is on the board and what he knows about protections and coverages.
He will get his chance to interact with scouts at EWU’s pro day in early April. Barriere also has a massive opportunity when his agent was able to get him to throw at USC’s pro day on March 23. He will be the only quarterback there, meaning an important task in delivering accurate balls to the receivers performing at their pro days. There are multiple examples of past FCS players low on NFL radars shooting up boards late and getting drafted thanks to standout pro days, like Idaho’s Kaden Elliss and Prairie View A&M’s Quinton Bell in 2019 and Yale’s Foyesade Oluokun in 2018.
Barriere hopes to follow a similar path. Regardless, he will sign a pro football contract, whether it’s rising late as an NFL Draft pick, an undrafted free agent, or with the CFL. He is on Winnipeg’s negotiation list and is under their rights if he doesn’t land on an NFL team. Their general manager told Barriere they will have a spot for him. EWU has a successful pipeline of quarterbacks to the CFL, from Gubrud to Vernon Adams to Bo Levi Mitchell to Matt Nichols.
The NFL is the ultimate goal for Barriere, though.
He isn’t where he expected to be in the draft process. And he hasn’t had a chance yet to show scouts he should be moving up radars. As cliche as the “chip on the shoulder” saying is for athletes, it rings especially true for Barriere, a player who has accomplished incredible things throughout his football career, yet has faced doubts and “buts” every step of the way.
“This has been pretty much my life. Just overcoming doubters and proving people wrong,” Barriere said. “At the end of the day, people know I have the talent. I don’t know what it is, though. I don’t know if people just don’t want to give me the full credit. I don’t know. But I’ve been doubted before. From high school offers or having to work my way up in college. Everything has been a long process and a long journey. But that has molded me into the person I am today.”
