VERMILLION — Shahid Barros’ 2023 playoff run was over before it barely even began and his status for the 2024 season was all of a sudden up in the air.
Just a mere three plays into the University of South Dakota’s 2023 second-round matchup against Sacramento State in the FCS playoffs, Barros went to make a play on a pass. As he ran full speed toward the play, the receiver fell down with Barros’ knee caught under him. In an instant, his ACL, MCL and meniscus in his right knee all tore.
But despite this devastating injury that in some cases would end an athlete’s playing career, Barros not only returned in 2024 but he’s maintained his status as one of the Coyotes’ most impactful defensive players.
The New Bedford, Massachusetts native returned to the field in the Coyotes’ third game of the season against Drake. Since his return, he’s played in every game for USD and has amassed 31 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack and three pass breakups.
Barros said the road to recovery was one of the toughest challenges he’s faced during his athletic career. However, his desire and drive to return kept him motivated throughout his recovery process.
“It took a lot of work missing those nine, 10 months of no activity or nothing and just constant coming in here and working out,” Barros said. “Every day, waking up early, staying late, just watching practice and all that just drove me to really get back in football. I'm away from home, I came here to get an education and play football. One of those was taken away from me. So that's what really drove me to get back here. I think that's why it was so good for me and easy for me to get back on the field because I just constantly worked on my knee and worked on the mental aspect of the game too.”
“He’s a guy that worked really, really hard to get back and when he got back, he was able to get right back to playing at a high level,” said head coach Bob Nielson. “I’m really proud of him and the work that he did and the impact that he's had on the football team.”
Like with most athletes returning from a big injury, there is a mental block that they have to overcome. The fear of re-injury can be just as challenging as the rehab process itself. Even though Barros was able to return to his high level of play almost instantaneously, that mental side of playing again was still an obstacle.
One he was cleared, the ramp-up period came fast and furious. The first few times he went full speed on it, the lingering concern of re-injury was certainly there but Barros pushed through.
“I didn’t play on it and went into practice, that was the first week I really got into running and doing stuff,” Barros said. “It was a tough battle, but I don't really have an answer of how I overcame that. Just God really giving me the strength and motivation from my family is the reason why I’m here today.”
Last season, he and now-Cleveland Brown Myles Harden formed a dynamic duo on the outside. Despite Harden departing for the NFL, Barros found a new cornerback partner opposite of him in Monmouth transfer Mike Reid. With those two patrolling the perimeter and the likes of Dennis Shorter and Josiah Ganues at the safety spots, the Coyote secondary has been a force to be reckoned with.
The Coyote defense allowed the 18th-fewest passing yards per game (175.9) in the FCS during the regular season. That mark was also the best in the Missouri Valley. Not to mention the secondary has played a pivotal role in the defense being the second-leading scoring defense (14.91) in the FCS only behind South Dakota State.
Barros said the high level of play from the entire secondary was an expectation set long ago when he first entered the program in 2021. Since then, he and the rest of the back end of the defense have tried to maintain it every day.
“We had a lot of guys before, a lot of older guys who aren't with us anymore who set that standard. We just try to live up to that every day in practice, in the meeting room and try to maintain that balance to take it to the field,” Barros said.
His personal remaining goal for this season is simple, but it would be the next step in his return from an injury that already cut time off his football career.
“I just want to finish the season,” Barros said. “That was my biggest goal for coming back this season was helping my team and being able to finish the season. Last year, making it to the playoffs and then getting hurt within the first three plays, that hurt watching my team out there struggle. I just want to compete and finish the season out. My biggest goal is just to get to the next step, which is just finishing out the season.”
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