Oregon’s Kenjon Barner on ESPN’s First Take Talking the Draft, the Ducks and Chip Kelly

Jan 2, 2012; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Kenjon Barner (24) carries the ball in the 2012 Rose Bowl game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Rose Bowl. Oregon defeated Wisconsin 45-38. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Former Oregon Running Back Kenjon Barner took some time to chat with Stephen A Smith and Skip Bayless this morning on ESPN’s First Take on ESPN2. Whenever you deal with Stephen A, he makes you think. One of the first questions was about why he’s not being named much this week as we head toward the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Barner has worked hard to get where he is and is poised to enter the NFL before the weekend is out.

"“It’s not about where you start, it’s where you finish.”Kenjon Barner"

The First Take crew talked about the Oregon season and the Stanford loss, as well as asked Barner about being the starter after following in the footsteps of LaMichael James. Talk then continued to the NFL Draft and his size:

"“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the fight in him.”"

He was asked who was faster him, or current Oregon player De’Anthony Thomas.

"“He’s a different breed”"

Barner was asked about his  former coach Chip Kelly making the jump to the NFL and Barner wasn’t shy in saying ‘Kelly was a genius’ when it came to football.

Finally, Barner was asked about his Southern California, Riverside hometown and why he left and went to Oregon for football. He said he needed to get away and start fresh, get away from the same old same old, that if he stayed ‘home’ that’s exactly where he would be every weekend.

"Its about me going somewhere where I could become a man."

The full interview with Barner on ESPN First Take has yet to be posted.

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