By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Paul Barrera had one last thing to do Wednesday as an athlete for the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers.
The recent 2019 graduate signed an athletic scholarship agreement to play football beginning in August at NCAA Division III Ferrum College in Ferrum, Virginia.
Wednesday’s signing was a celebratory event taking place before family, friends, teammates, coaches and school officials at the Brownsville Veterans campus.
“I’m really happy about today,” said Barrera, who plans to pursue a degree in health and human performance in college. “For me, it was really time to do this. I’m proud of myself.”
A 5-foot-10 1/2, 185-pound inside/outside linebacker for the Chargers, Barrera is showing his heart and strong desire to play his chosen sport by signing with a school that is a considerable distance from his hometown.
He said he was influenced to go play out of state by older brother Aaron Barrera, a 2018 Brownsville Veterans graduate who plays football at Hiram College in Ohio.
“I’d really like to thank my brother,” said Barrera, who also played basketball and competed in track for the Chargers. “Aaron is someone who has always pushed me to do my best. He’s always pushed me to be a better player and to be a better person in life.
“I know there will be a change in the speed of the game in college,” he added. “There will be bigger guys out there to go against, and I’m definitely ready for that. I’m always ready to improve. I’ve faced adversity before, so I don’t think there’s anything I can’t adapt to. It’ll be tough sometimes, but that’s something I’m willing to fight through.”
Although Barrera played football only one year for the Chargers, he still made quite an impact. Against La Joya Palmview last season, he set a school record for causing or recovering three fumbles in a single game.
“We’re always so thrilled and proud when any of our football players have a desire to go out and play in college somewhere,” Chargers coach David Cantu said. “In this case, Paul is going to Virgina, and it just proves that he’s hungry to play at the next level. He’s very athletic and tenacious, so we feel he’s going to be successful. He’ll be playing inside linebacker at Ferrum.
“The quality that stands out most to me about Paul is confidence,” Cantu added. “I remember when we were in the third round of the basketball playoffs this year. When he stepped on the floor, regardlesss of the fact that the athletes he was facing were elite-type of athletes, he had no fear whatsoever. He just went out and matched up with them and gave them all that they could handle.
“Paul is just a confident, tenacious athlete. He’s normally very easy going, but once he steps on the football field or the basketball court, that switch (to becoming a hard-nosed defender) takes place.”
Barrera thanked his teammates and coaches along with parents Jaime and Abby Barrera and brother Aaron for all the support they’ve given him throughout life, particularly in high school. He said playing sports for the Chargers has been a life-changing experience.
“We have something in common (here at Brownsville Veterans),” Barrera said. “It’s like a brotherhood. It’s a close-knit unity. Everyone is involved with each other, and there’s no one person (who stands out). It’s a whole family. I think that’s what makes it such a good school. It’s a school of contenders (in athletics).”