Each season, DTC Sports selects an outstanding player from the DTC service area for the DTC Communications Player of the Year. This year, the honor went to DeKalb County High School senior Colby Barnes.
Barnes was chosen based on his outstanding performance throughout the 2022 regular season, including being named DTC Sports Player of the Game for his performance against Macon County in Week 3.
Barnes was a threat from multiple positions on the field and lit up the stat sheet throughout the season. Offensively, he primarily lined up as a running back, where he ran the ball 232 times for 1,746 yards and 18 touchdowns in the regular season. In the Tigers’ first-round playoff game, Barnes carried the ball a staggering 55 times for 327 rushing yards and a touchdown. Barnes, alone, accounted for 83.8% of DeKalb County’s total team rushing for the season. He also caught nine balls for 69 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Barnes was impressive on the defensive side for DeKalb County also. He registered 15 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks from his defensive line spot. Barnes’ efforts helped the Tigers earn a 6-4 overall record and a berth in the TSSAA playoffs.
In addition to Barnes’ award, DTC Communications also presented DeKalb County High School head football coach Steve Trapp and the DeKalb County High School Football Program a check for $500 for having this year’s DTC Communications Player of the Year. Nick Nokes of DTC Sports made the presentations to Barnes and Coach Trapp during a visit to the school before their first-round playoff game against East Hamilton.
“DTC Communications is proud to be a community partner with the local schools in our service area, and we are equally proud to recognize the accomplishments of the outstanding student-athletes within the area,” said Chris Townson, CEO of DTC Communications. “I want to personally congratulate both Colby Barnes and the DeKalb County High School football team for their remarkable accomplishments throughout the 2022 high school football season.”
Barnes becomes the fifth DeKalb County Tiger to win the DTC Player of the Year Award, joining Lucas Phillips (2012), Steven Jennings (2014, 2015), Axel Aldino (2020), and Isaac Knowles (2021). Other past winners include Seth Price (2016) and Deramus Carey (2018) of Watertown, and Carson Hackett (2017), and John Ross Hord (2019) of Smith Co.
DTC Sports and DTC Communications are proud to recognize DeKalb County High School senior running back/defensive end Colby Barnes as the DTC Communications Player of the Year. We proudly congratulate him and the DeKalb County High School football team for their outstanding accomplishments in 2022.
DTC Communications is proud to continue its long-standing support of its communities and the athletic programs within these communities.
DTC Communications is a member owned telecommunications cooperative established in 1951. DTC provides world-class broadband and technology solutions to improve the quality of life of our members and communities in the regions we serve.