Former RU standout hopes to get back on field
By: John E. Powers
At this time last year, Valentine Barnaby was in camp with the New York Jets, pursuing a job in the National Football League. In fact, Barnaby, a former two-year starter at defensive end at Rutgers, played in exhibition games against the Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before being waived last Aug. 21.
He played in three games for the New York Dragons in the Arena Football League before being waived March 26.
Football, however, hasn’t deserted Barnaby, who has been contributing to the pre-season preparation of the Manville High School football team. Barnaby, the uncle of Mustang lineman Glen Hall, has spent part of his Monday and Friday nights at Manville this summer.
"It’s my way of helping the kids who are coming up," said Barnaby, who graduated from Franklin High in 2001. "It’s a great opportunity for me to work with the team and watch them grow."
An All-State player for Franklin his senior year, Barnaby spent a year at Kents Hill School, an hour north of Portland, Maine. He was recruited to play at Rutgers by former coach Terry Shea, but played four years for Greg Schiano.
Barnaby led Rutgers with 10 sacks and 13 tackles for loss his senior year. He was known as an athletic defender, an explosive pass rusher, who is quick off the snap. Opposing coaches had to plan for his speed off the edge. He was known as a player who adjusted his angle of attack and pursuit from the backside with speed.
Improving Manville’s speed has been his primary objective.
"We’ve been running something of a speed camp and I’ve seen major improvement with their running," said Barnaby, 24. "I’m trying to work on their form."
One of those players is his oldest nephew.
"He always says that he’s going to be better than me and I tell him, ‘strive for it,’" Barnaby said. "I want to keep him around me as much as possible. I try to steer Glen in the right direction."
Barnaby has experienced adversity especially in his first two years at Rutgers when the Scarlet Knights went 1-11 in his freshman year. But his final collegiate season produced a 7-5 record and a trip to the Insight Bowl where the Knights lost to Arizona 45-40.
Manville enjoyed a similar turnaround last year. After years of losing records, the Mustangs finished 6-4, making the Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs for the first time.
"I’m having fun with it, I’ve also watched game film with coach (Brett) Stibitz," said Barnaby, who earned a degree in Labor Studies and Business Administration. "I get a chance to talk to the kids. You really get their undivided attention. They respect the things you have done.
"I’m trying to give them little tips," he added.
Barnaby worked as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Rutgers during the spring. He was in a car accident in Franklin in April, injuring his lower back, but has left the door open for a possible return to the field at some point.
He said playing in the new All American Football League, scheduled to kick off in the spring of next year, is a possibility. The league will have a national workout in August in Little Rock, Ark.
"The love of the game is still there; the passion is still there," Barnaby said. "Am I done playing yet? I really can’t say one way or the other."
Meanwhile, Barnaby works for Fastenal, an Edison-based company that sells industrial work supplies. The work enables Barnaby to go out and meet a lot of new people but his potential to coach one day is always present in his thoughts. The experience of helping Manville’s players is making him think more of it.
"It’s in the mix," he said.

