Mike Elko provides update, timeline for return for Jabre Barber
As Texas A&M looks to bounce back from a season-opening loss to Notre Dame, the Aggies are looking to get a little more healthy across the board. And the return of receiver Jabre Barber would be a big boost.
Could that happen this week, against McNeese? Coach Mike Elko wasn’t quite ready to commit to that but gave a positive update.
“Yeah, I think he’s progressing and I think we’re getting a little bit closer,” Elko said. “I don’t know if I have a firm grip on exactly when we’ll be able to get him back out there, but I think he’s for sure getting closer and we’re excited to get him out there.”
Jabre Barber was one of the team’s key offseason acquisitions from the NCAA transfer portal, arriving in College Station after spending four years at Troy.
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However, he suffered an injury to his foot that required surgery this spring, sidelining him for several months. An exact timetable for a return hasn’t been established, but the Aggies are hopeful he can still contribute this fall.
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If he can, Jabre Barber could offer a significant upgrade in the receiving corps.
In total at Troy, Barber caught 132 passes for 1,674 yards, good for over a dozen yards per reception, and 10 touchdowns. He also returned 25 kicks for 285 yards. He returned 16 punts for 83 yards at an average of 5.2 yards and nine kickoffs for 202 yards at 22.4 per return.
Barber was Troy’s leading receiver in 2023. He finished with 75 catches for 999 yards, good for 13.3 per reception, and five touchdowns. The receptions, yardage, and scores were all career highs through his three seasons playing and four years in college. He also made three kick returns for 58 yards, good for 19.3 per kick, along with all of his punt coverage.
Bottom line: The Aggies could certainly use him back.
Prior to enrolling at Troy, Jabre Barber was ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 2,820 overall recruit in the 2020 recruiting class. He was ranked as the No. 394 receiver and the No. 96 overall player in the state of Alabama.