Pirates’ space traveler

More scoot than scat, more jolt than juke and more zoom than zigzag, Nathan Barnett’s typical kickoff return is usually the shortest distance between reception and the opponent’s goal line.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound sophomore receiver said that beyond the blocking of his Orange Coast College football teammates, the success or failure of any return typically comes down to a single, split-second decision designed to exploit any fleeting crevice in the coverage unit.

“You start out with Plan A, but you already have a Plan B,” said Barnett,” a catalytic field-position converter who returned two kicks for touchdowns as a freshmen, when he averaged 32.8 yards on 14 attempts. He was the first-team All-Mission Conference National Division kick returner in 2006 and has already crossed midfield twice this season, with returns of 50 yards against Santa Monica and 39 against Citrus.

He had a two-yard return against Citrus on which he stumbled soon after making the catch. On his other four returns this season, he has averaged 37.3 yards, heading into the Pirates nonconference clash today at 5 p.m. against visiting Pasadena.

“He’s a threat every time he touches the ball,” said OCC Coach Mike Taylor, who is also committed to giving Barnett more of a consistent role in the offense this season.

Barnett, who led Orange County in receptions and receiving yards as a senior at Dana Hills High in 2004 (57 catches for 1,094 yards), caught 14 passes for 179 yards for the Pirates last season. He also carried seven times for 25 yards.

This year, Barnett, who has cracked the starting lineup, has five catches for 63 yards and has rushed four times for five yards.

“I got into the mix when we went four-wides last year, but I was pretty much a return guy,” Barnett said. “I had my dues to pay. But, coming into this year, I felt pretty confident that I would get enough playing time to make some things happen.”

Barnett, who ran 100 meters in 10.8 seconds in high school, but has slowed slightly after sustaining a hamstring injury, said he enjoys getting the ball in open space.

“Returning has always been something I wanted to do, because I believe I can do a lot in the open field,” said Barnett, who returned punts, but not kickoffs in high school. “When I have the kickoff return in my hand, I believe I can set the tone for our offense.”

When Barnett receives a kickoff, he said he turns his attention to the wedge, a group of four blockers who typically align shoulder-to-shoulder, before dispersing to block separate defenders.

“I also try to watch my lead blocker, Chris Holmesly [the other deep returner who assumes a blocking role when Barnett fields the kickoff],” Barnett said. “You’re looking for a hole, but you have to read it quickly. The best kick returners have the ability to make their reads in a split second. I consider it a gift.”

When there are no creases, Barnett said he prepares to deliver rather than absorb the blow that is usually amplified by the speeds that he and his tacklers have reached.

“Other teams may want to juke, but we go straight through the hole,” Barnett said. “When I know someone is going to make an effort to tackle me, my mindset is that I’m going to run them over. Sometimes you have to break a tackle to break [a return].”

Barnett said he uses the same straight-forward thinking to try to obtain yards after catch as a receiver.

His route to OCC, however, was considerably more circuitous. He attended Saddleback College out of high school, but broke two lumbar vertebrae in his lower back in his third game, when he was dumped on his tailbone after making a catch. The injury put him out for the season and, he said, prompted a life change.

“I wanted to leave Saddleback, because I wanted a fresh start,” he said. “I came [to Orange Coast] because my high school coach [Pirates defensive coordinator Scott Orloff] was here. And I also wanted to move in with my dad [John Barnett], who lives in Santa Ana.”

Nathan Barnett, whose parents divorced when he was young, lived with his mom and step-dad, Mike Carney, who played football at Notre Dame, growing up in Dana Pointe.

“I love both my dads,” Nathan Barnett said. “My step-dad got me started in football. And it has been great living with my dad these last two years.”