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2027 In-state RB Asa Barnes reacts to offer from Tennessee

4A3DA472-0F39-4C89-9987-5851509375C0by:Matt Ray•06/05/25•

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Martin (Tenn.) Westview High School running back Asa Barnes visited Tennessee on Thursday, and after spending time with the coaching staff, the 2027 On300 running back left with an offer in hand. He discussed what this meant to him with Volquest.

“It means a lot,” Barnes said of getting the offer from the Vols. “It means that people have recognized me and it gives me more opportunities to go out and be great. That is what it is really all about. It means the world to me. It is the home town, and I know a lot of people that went to Tennessee. Putting on for the home state feels good.”

Barnes got to spend plenty of time with De’Rail Sims during the visit, and the message from Tennessee’s Running Backs Coach was clear. Keep working.

“He is just telling me to keep working,” Barnes said of the message from Sims. “Always keep working and work is the main thing. Have fun with it and make sure that you are doing everything right to continue to be great.”

Barnes has paid close attention to the in-state program over time, and the development of players has caught his attention.

“I think they just do well developing players,” Barnes said of Tennessee. “You see guys like Trey Smith get to the league, and he is the highest paid guard. I know Dylan Sampson and Jaylen Wright are some great running backs, and Dylan Sampson is the single-season touchdown leader, so that is great.”

The way Tennessee runs the football and utilizes multiple bodies at tailback has also caught the Industry-rated four-star attention.

“It is great because as a running back, you always want the ball in your hands, so if you come to Tennessee, they are going to put the ball in your hands,” Barnes said of this. “They are going to give you the opportunity to go out there and show yourself.”

Barnes wants to keep getting faster and stronger, and he feels like his game has only improved over the past year.

“I think in the last year, I have improved on being more dynamic, being quicker and faster, all of that stuff, and I feel like it is all coming around,” Barnes said of this. “I am ready for more.”

Westview came up short in the 3A State Championship last year against Alcoa, but this fall, the running back feels like have the ability to get all the way across the finish line.

“I think we always have a bullseye on our back, but it is even bigger now that they are gone,” Barnes said of this. “I feel like we are the best team in 3A, and we just have to do everything right, and we will go get that gold ball.”

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