Kenjon Barner (2024) - Hall of Fame - University of Oregon Athletics

Kenjon Barner

Induction:
2024
Class:
2013

After sharing the backfield with fellow Hall-of-Famer LaMichael James for his first three seasons in Eugene, Kenjon Barner became just the 10th player in program history to be named a consensus first-team All-American as a redshirt senior in 2012. He earned first-team honors from the AFCA, FWAA, Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation. Barner still owns the Oregon single-game record for rushing yards with his incredible 321-yard performance at USC on Nov. 3, 2012. He also tied the modern record with five rushing touchdowns in that game and his 347 all-purpose yards rank second in single-game history. Early in his career as a Duck, Barner made his mark on kick returns. In 2009, he set the UO single-season record with 1,020 return yards. Included in that was a season-high 160 yards on eight kickoff returns against Oregon State. Yet it was his five-yard run on fourth down late in the game which secured the 2009 victory over the Beavers. In addition to his return yardage record, his 1,553 all-purpose yards ranked ninth on the school’s single-season list. As a member of Oregon’s 2010 team that played Auburn in the BCS Championship game, Barner turned in the first two 100-yard rushing games of his career and returned a punt for a touchdown at Tennessee. He rumbled for 147 yards and accounted for five touchdowns in the season-opening win vs. New Mexico. He posted the second 100-yard rushing game of his career against Oregon State, totaling 133 yards with a touchdown and also had a receiving score against the Beavers. He had an 80-yard punt return for a score against Tennessee, equaling the eighth-longest punt return in school history. As a junior in 2011, Barner ranked eighth in the Pac-12 in rushing at 78.2 yards per game. He caught two passes for 52 yards and one touchdown and carried the ball seven times for 30 yards in the Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin. His senior campaign of 2012 remains one of the best in program history. In addition to earning All-America honors, Barner was also named to the all-Pac-12 first team. Including the 321-yard game against USC, which saw him earn both Walter Camp Football Foundation national offensive player of the week and Pac-12 offensive player of the week recognition, Barner rushed for 100 yards seven times in 2012. He gained 201 yards on 34 attempts with three touchdowns in a victory versus Fresno State. His 80-yard touchdown scamper highlighted his 195-yard performance against Washington State. He followed that with 122 yards against Washington and 143 at Arizona State. After gaining 104 yards on nine carries against Colorado, his final 100-yard game came in a victory at Oregon State, where he ran for 198 yards on 28 attempts and scored two touchdowns. His 1,767 rushing yards in 2012 rank third in Oregon single-season history, and his 21 rushing touchdowns remain tied for the single-season UO record. For his career, Barner ranks third in Oregon history with 3,623 career rushing yards, and is tied for third with 41 career rushing touchdowns. He is also No. 3 all-time at Oregon with 5,848 career all-purpose yards, and sixth with 300 career total points scored. Barner was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. His nine-year NFL career included stints with the Panthers, Philadelphia, New England, Atlanta and Tampa Bay and he won Super Bowl titles with the Eagles, Patriots and Buccaneers.