Most Black quarterbacks have been labeled as “dual-threat” quarterbacks, who can run and throw, as opposed to the traditional “pocket-passing” quarterback. For instance, even the New Orleans Saints’ Jameis Winston, who ran a slow 40-yard dash time of 4.97 seconds, got tabbed as a mobile quarterback in his career.
It’s also a struggle Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback and 2019 NFL MVP, has faced. After he won the 2016 Heisman Trophy as Louisville’s quarterback, NFL scouts suggested Jackson play another position where he could show off his 4.34-second 40-yard dash speed and athleticism. In 2017, an unnamed coach in the ACC told Sports Illustrated Jackson had “no shot” at being an NFL quarterback. As of Oct. 25, Jackson is the seventh-leading passer in the NFL with 1,943 passing yards. Four Black quarterbacks are in the top 10 in passing yards in the league, including Jackson, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray and the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott.
Barriere Jr. has gotten Eastern Washington to a 7-1 start, and he’s putting up video game-like numbers. In a 71-21 win over the University of Idaho, Barriere Jr completed 26 of 35 passes for a single-game school record of 600 yards and seven touchdowns.
“Most of y’all don’t know I’ve been going through a lot this week,” Barriere Jr. told his team after the historic performance. “I found out on Monday that I lost my auntie to a car accident, so it’s just been really tough on me and I dedicated this game to her today.”
