Josh Barrett sees the 2006 college football season as a fresh start, a new opportunity.
The junior free safety out of Reno, Nev., will attempt to be a major contributor on ASU's rebuilt defense - which returns just four starters - while trying to stay healthy for the first time in his collegiate career.
Barrett arrived in Tempe in 2003 and played in the season opener against NAU - also the Sun Devils' initial opponent this year - as a true freshman. But he injured his right shoulder against the Lumberjacks, and was forced to sit out the rest of the season, making use of his medical redshirt.
Barrett's shoulder has been the culprit in a majority of his injuries the last three years, forcing him to have surgery twice.
Barrett's most recent injury was a sprain to the medial collateral ligament in his knee, which sidelined him for several practices and ASU's final preseason scrimmage at Sun Devil Stadium on Aug. 18.
"Injuries are a part of football - they are a part of athletics in general," Barrett said. "For me it was a little different. I was coming off a couple surgeries then I had some unfortunate incidents with injuries reoccurring. But now I feel good and everything is healthy."
When he made it onto the field, Barrett plays an influential role for the Sun Devils.
Coach Dirk Koetter has praised Barrett on several occasions this fall as being the emotional leader of the defense.
"What a difference in the speed of our defense when 'ole No. 19 is out there," Koetter said.
Leadership is a role Barrett said he relishes.
"I like it, whether it's having to step up and be a vocal guy and saying some things or getting the crew hyped up with verbal cues," he said, "or just having energy on the field, even if it's not rah-rah talk.
"Being a leader hasn't always been my role here at ASU, but it helps you play better because you're not always worried about exactly doing your job as far as technique. You just go out there and play and you get into the flow of the game a lot quicker."
With a time of 4.27 seconds in the 40-yard dash during spring practices, Barrett is considered the fastest player on ASU's roster.
"A lot of guys like to challenge it with words,but not necessary out on the turf," Barrett said.
Barrett's speed is surprising for a player his size - he is built more like a linebacker than a safety.
At 6-feet-2-inches and 227 pounds, he is bigger than starting linebackers Derron Ware and Mike Nixon, yet smaller than fellow starting safety, senior Zach Catanese.
It will be up to Barrett and Catanese to lead an inexperienced secondary that has been the subject of criticism in recent seasons.
Barrett said he's taken the criticism "with a grain of salt."
He did admit the defense has a lot to accomplish after last year's performance.
"Our job is to overachieve in what our coaches' expectations of us are," Barrett said. "We are doing a good job in practice and setting a good pace. We just got to come out and play."
Barrett confidently said his role on defense is to be a playmaker.
"I got to be around the ball," Barrett said. "I got to do my job. I got to be a vocal leader. I got to be the guy that younger guys can look up to and say, 'That's how you work hard. That's what it takes for Sun Devil football.'"
Reach the reporter at: Christopher.d.Ramirez@asu.edu.
