UCLA Football: Anthony Barr Returning For Senior Season

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA football has earned some good news with UCLA junior linebacker Anthony Barr returning to Westwood for the 2013 season.

Here’s the tweeting of his announcement:

As close as I am to my dream of playing in the NFL, I believe one more year with this awesome coaching staff and my teammates is whats...
— Anthony Barr (@AnthonyBarr) January 1, 2013

best. I will be returning for my senior season to further develop as a player and person, to help lead this team to a PAC12 championship...
— Anthony Barr (@AnthonyBarr) January 1, 2013

and ultimately a national championship. Go Bruins! #8clap
— Anthony Barr (@AnthonyBarr) January 1, 2013

Anthony Barr received countless accolades for his breakout season. Barr was recruited as a running back out of high school and was buried on the depth chart for two years. When Jim Mora came on board as head coach, Barr approached the new coach for an opportunity to start as a defensive player, specifically linebacker.

Since then, Barr earned himself the title as best pass-rusher in the Pac-12 while earning all-conference first team honors as well as CBS All-American second-team honors. Barr recorded 13.5 sacks en route to a high-profile season and, recently, was the 13th player on Mel Kiper’s Big Board.

Barr has absolutely terrorized opposing Pac-12 backfields and essentially took USC QB Matt Barkley out of football for six weeks. Considering the linebacker has only been playing linebacker for one year, it’s possible he’ll be high on the national radar as a defensive Heisman contender.