Ashlynd Barker growing like a bonsai tree as a leader, rover in FSU secondary
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Ashlynd Barker’s offseason at Florida State didn’t start very well, with him announcing he would be entering the transfer portal and then saying unkind things about the FSU football program on a TikTok livestream.
He apologized shortly after, however, and then announced he would be returning for his final season of eligibility with the Seminoles.
That sad story is taking a turn for the better, though, as Barker has been one of the breakout names of the offseason within the program.
“Ashlynd Barker had a couple of great plays (in Tuesday’s scrimmage). He’s playing the rover position that suits him so very well,” FSU head coach Mike Norvell said. “ … I think his leadership and mentality have been outstanding.”
A junior-college transfer who arrived ahead of the 2023 season, he’s gradually seen an uptick in playing time and production, culminating in a 2025 season where he had 48 tackles (second-most on the team), five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two pass breakups for the Seminoles.
Upon his return, he was eyed as a critical secondary piece in the second season of Tony White’s 3-3-5 defense. Before fall camp even began, he was selected to break the rock at the end of summer workouts for his leadership and work ethic.
“I feel like every year I’ve been here, I’ve worked harder each year,” Barker said. “It’s just seeing new people, how much (work) they do, it just motivates you.”
There have been some tough conversations around the FSU football program the last two seasons, over which the Seminoles followed up their 13-0 record and College Football Playoff snub with a 7-18 record since that moment.
Maybe there haven’t been enough tough conversations within the program, though. That’s something Barker said he was willing to take on as part of his role this offseason despite the challenges it presents, taking inspiration from former Seminole and NFL receiver Anquan Boldin’s pre-camp message to the team.
“(Boldin) never feared judgment,” Barker said. “I feel like always being the one to say what’s going wrong is kind of awkward. Because you don’t want to be that type of person and (have people think) ‘Oh, he’s on me again.‘ But that’s what a team needs.”
Barker says he’s now used to his daily routine, which includes a 4:30 a.m. wake-up call. That is probably just the tip of the iceberg for the change that FSU safeties coach Evan Cooper says has made Barker grow like a bonsai tree this offseason.
“He grew a little bit, a little bit, I cut it and he (shot up). He’s everything you want as a coach,” Cooper said. “He’s hard-working, he’s competitive, he’s smart. The guys kind of feed off of him. So when you look around, you have a hard-working, competitive and smart group.
“ … (Our safeties) don’t do nonchalant, and it’s mostly because of him. That’s the standard, and he holds the guys to that. Quite honestly, they all just do that. I like the progression, I like where he is. He can see it. He feels it. His confidence is through the roof. He prepares at a level where he doesn’t have to worry very much.”
Barker played a little of the hybrid rover position last season, but Earl Little Jr. got the majority of the playing time, relegating Barker to playing more boundary safety.
With Little now at Ohio State, Barker has stepped into the role — which he says fits him well because of his 6-foot-3, 217-pound frame and his mental capacity — full-time. He continues to flash in the role, including in Tuesday’s first fall scrimmage.
“Ash, you’ve got this picture in your brain of what it could be and telling everybody, ‘He’s going to be the guy,’” White said Wednesday. “He just shows how he’s maturing and being so patient in there, seeing the ball and inserting and being able to make plays.”
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