Under the radar: Clark Barnes continues to be key part of the Calgary Stampeder offense
Clark Barnes continues to be key part of the Calgary Stampeder offense heading into a matchup against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Article content
Clark Barnes is never the name that rolls off the tongue first when listing off weapons of the Calgary Stampeders offence.
Vernon Adams Jr.? Most definitely.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Under the radar: Clark Barnes continues to be key part of the Calgary Stampeder offense Back to video
Reggie Begelton? Certainly.
Dedrick Mills, Jalen Philpot and Dominique Rhymes? Check, check and double-check.
Barnes, however?
“Definitely I’m a little bit more under the radar than I feel I deserve, for sure,” said Barnes, a third-year receiver with the Stampeders.
“But it’s exactly where I should be, honestly,” continued the 24-year-old native of Brampton, Ont.. “It’s exactly what God has planned for me. I’m exactly where I need to be, and I’m going to do exactly what is meant for me.”
On Saturday, he’ll be back in action for the Stamps (5-3), suiting up for the home squad against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-3) in the pivotal Canadian Football League contest at McMahon Stadium (5 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).
His last catch came against the Bombers — the opening touchdown five weeks back in a stunning 37-16 upset of the defending West Division champs. The Stampede Bowl play saw Barnes beat the defence for a 43-yard touchdown on a pass from Adams but come away hobbled by an ankle injury that sidelined him for four games.
And … yes … he was sorely missed by the Stamps, whose decimated offence — including the key head injury to QB Adams — is a big reason why they’ve dropped two straight affairs.
Not only has his absence been glaring because the team suddenly was hit by a rash of injuries in its Canadian receiver room but because Barnes is as clutch as they come in the CFL.
Think go-to guy or a need-a-first-down type. Perhaps Begelton-light — if you will — for the Red and White.
“I like that,” agreed Barnes, with a smile. “I think I’m clutch and consistent … and electric. I take pride in my route running. I feel like I’m a great route runner, probably one of the best in the league.
“But I just want to be there whenever my name’s called, whenever my number is called, whenever V.A. wants to throw that out to me … I try to be everything, honestly — whatever the team needs.”
Barnes was everything early on this season, with seven catches for a team-leading 216 yards through three games of the 2025 CFL campaign.
That production nicely followed last year’s totals of 590 yards and four TDs on 44 haul-ins.
But the ankle sprain knocked the 6-foot-1, 193 lb. pass-catcher off that track.
“He was having a good year,” praised Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson, of Barnes. “He was our leading receiver and caught that touchdown against Winnipeg.
“I know he’s trying to prove himself, and he pushes himself,” continued Dickenson. “Personality-wise, he’s pretty quiet, but I think internally he’s got a fire burning. He wants to be the best.”
It seems injuries have always kept Barnes from balling out entirely.
After being plucked by the Stamps in the third round of the 2023 CFL Draft — and fresh off being sidelined by injury with the U SPORTS’ Guelph Gryphons — a major knee issue limited Barnes to just nine games in his first professional year, catching 25 balls for 234 yards and one TD.
But last year’s bounce-back and his early success this season have the ever-positive receiver shrugging off any previous sidelined time.
“My confidence hasn’t changed at all,” Barnes said. “Actually, it probably got a little bit better, for sure, early this year.
“My confidence was high coming in, though. I felt like I was going to come out here and have a great year in my third year, for sure, and then as I’ve had success out there, it’s just grown even more.”
So has the confidence from his coach, who is gushing about his depth at Canadian receiver these days, with Barnes a central figure in all that.
“Well … I was at the point there of, ‘What are we going to do when Clark comes back?’ Because you’ve got Jalen playing great, you’ve got (Damien) Alford playing great and you’ve got Clark playing great,” Dickenson said. “So it was, ‘What are we going to do?’ And all of a sudden, none of them are healthy.
“Yeah, it’s been tougher,” continued Dickenson. “We don’t have super great depth across the board. It seems like this year, our injuries have really hit the Canadian guys from training camp on. I think we had the most six-games and basically all of them had surgery and then major injuries.
“So it’s been a challenge, but we got some reinforcements back.”
Clark tops that list this week as a starter at wide-out.
It’s possible Philpot also returns to start Saturday at slotback, although he’s listed as a game-time decision after missing last week’s loss to the host Ottawa Redblacks with a hamstring issue. Meanwhile, rookie Alford is still out with a sore hammy, who — like Philpot — came out early from the Stamps last home loss two weeks back to the Montreal Alouettes.
“Experience,” said Adams, when asked what Barnes brings to the passing game. “He’s an all-around, great receiver. His route running is second to none. He goes up and attacks the ball. I’m happy to have him back.”
“I’m definitely feeling good,” added Barnes. “Definitely ready to go and happy to get back out here with the boys. So I’m excited to get it rolling again.”
SHORT YARDAGE
QB Adams, of course, headlines the handful of players returning to the Stamps active roster for Saturday’s game … Also back in action are Barnes, Philpot, LB Morice Blackwell Jr. and DB Jackson Sombach (hamstring) … Out is QB Josh Love, WR Daylen Baldwin, WR Vyshonne Janusas, OL Tomas Jack-Kurdyla and DB Dolani Robinson.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.