Zaire Barnes
Zaire Barnes
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Second year in the Western Michigan linebacker corps, same address the whole way. Two straight seasons of it now: All-MAC again in 2022. One game to point at: 13 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Ohio — Week 7, 2022.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- recognition record
- game log
How it ended
Two seasons at Western Michigan, 162 tackles — drafted at #184 overall by New York.
Career Arc
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2022)
All-MAC
Where He Ended Up · NFL
New YorkEntering 4th NFL season
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Lance Taylor
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 3 · RecognizedR09 · All-Conference HM / 2nd team
All-Conference HM / 2nd team. Conference recognition has started.
Recognition
Production
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2022)
All-MAC
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Western Michigan | 94 | 60 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 8 | 1 | -- |
| 2021 | Western Michigan | 68 | 45 | 7.0 | 2.5 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 162 | 105 | 12.0 | 4.0 | 8 | 1 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 5 · 2022
W 44–7
vs New Hampshire
10 TOT · 6 SOLO · 1 TFL
Dominant 37-point win at home against New Hampshire.
How he plays
Play style
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Coverage 'Backer
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
His 2022 production profile sits closest to Luke Reimer’s 2021 season.
Matches Luke on
Differs from Luke on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Bryan Cook's senior season at Cincinnati (2021).
Matches Bryan on