Zakye Barker out to regain all-conference form at UNT after tough season at SMU

Zakye Barker was down to one last chance a few months ago.

The Georgia linebacker played at East Carolina, transferred to SMU and was derailed by a hamstring injury.

Add it all up, and Barker was left with one season of eligibility remaining.

That reality was why Barker spent a whole lot of time on the phone to learn about North Texas, the Mean Green’s new coach, Neal Brown, and his staff.

UNT was just up the road and wasn’t shy when it came to expressing its desire to bring him in for his final year.

“I didn’t know a lot about North Texas, and the whole coaching staff had been wiped out,” Barker said. “It was a learning process, and I took that process very seriously. I researched everyone.”

What Barker discovered is a key reason he’s in line to play a key role for Mean Green, who are quickly closing in on their season opener at Indiana on Sept. 5.

He heard nothing but good things about Brown, UNT’s new defensive coordinator Matt Powledge and even linebackers coach Bradley Dale Peveto, who also serves as the Mean Green’s co-defensive coordinator.

The love goes both ways.

Ask UNT’s coaches and players and they quickly name Barker as one of their key offseason additions, because of his playmaking ability and the leadership role he’s quickly moved into.

“Zakye’s probably as mature of a player as I’ve coached,” Brown said. “It’s almost like having an extra assistant coach out there. I was joking around about that with him this morning.

“He’s highly intelligent and also has high emotional and football intelligence. I’ve been very impressed with him.”

College football has a way of teaching players to handle the ups and downs of life. Barker has experienced both in just the last few months — a season that saw him earn second-team All-American Conference honors at East Carolina and a year where that pulled hamstring limited him to starting just once last season at SMU.

The experience has made Barker appreciate the opportunity at hand.

“My motto for my last year, my fifth year, is to have fun,” Barker said. “I’m not going to stress too much or put too much pressure on myself. The pressure is already going to be there. Can I have fun right now today? That’s been the challenge from coach Peveto and coach Brown — to have fun and be a leader.”

Back to form

Barker had plenty of fun not all that long ago, and he did it in the American Conference, against UNT no less.

The 5-foot-11, 229-pound fireplug was racking up tackles and big plays for ECU back in 2024 when he visited DATCU Stadium for a game against the Mean Green.

The Pirates came back from a 21-point deficit to stun UNT 40-28. Barker made one of the key plays in the rally when he forced a fumble that ECU recovered. The Pirates scored two plays later.

Barker went on to finish with 86 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, and two sacks. That performance caught the attention of programs across the country when Barker entered the transfer portal, including SMU.

Barker never really had a chance to show what he could do with the Mustangs after suffering a hamstring injury. He finished with 27 tackles in 11 games, including the one he started.

“It was mentally and physically tough,” Barker said. “It was one of those years where I had to pick myself up and piece myself back together.”

Barker has yet to play a down for UNT but has already made an impact by emerging as a leader for a team in transition. Brown and the members of his staff are just the start of what’s new about UNT’s team.

UNT also has more than 50 new transfers and upward of 70 new players.

Barker is among a handful of veterans who have taken on leadership roles to help guide the group.

Leadership was the first trait Powledge listed when asked what Barker brings to the team before also naming football IQ and work ethic.

Barker’s teammates also spoke highly of his leadership qualities.

“Zakye is a great guy,” said Taye Seymore, a safety who transferred in from Auburn in the offseason. “He does everything the right way, is always talking on the field, makes sure we line up the right way and are communicating. He’s going to lead us.”

Can he do it again?

The season seems to set up perfectly for Barker to have a bounce-back year. He’s healthy again, motivated and back in the American, a conference where he excelled not all that long ago.

Baker knows life and football are usually a whole lot more complicated than they appear, though.

“I’m very confident in what I can do, but I also know the whole league is different than it was two years ago,” Barker said. “I wouldn’t expect it to be the same. I want that challenge. It will only make me better.”

The more Barker learned about UNT while considering his options heading into his last season, the more he felt like it’s the best place to continue his career.

His discussions with Brown’s former players and his current staff helped convince him of that.

“Those guys told me the coaches are very transparent and honest, and they want the best for you,” Barker said. “A former receiver who played for coach Brown said he had a great time. It was the same message from all three of the guys I talked to.”