Pirates Sign OL Barry Wesley
Presented By Phoenix Communications, Inc.

By: Mick Moninghoff
Pirates Broadcaster
December, 14, 2022

WORCESTER, MA - The Massachusetts Pirates have signed offensive lineman Barry Wesley for the 2023 season. Wesley was a four-year starter at Colorado State University. He twice received All-Mountain West post-season honors, and was invited to minicamps with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League this season.

The 6'7", 324 lb. lineman was a walk-on in 2017 and red-shirted that season. In the fall of 2018 he earned a scholarship and for the next four seasons started all 38 games for the Rams.

The 2018 season saw the Rams ranked 14th in the FBS passing stats averaging 304.9 yards per game. Wesley protected quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels, who finished the year with 2,261 passing yards and 19 touchdowns. 

After starting all 12 games in 2018, Wesley repeated that feat in 2019. That season the Rams went 4-8 but ran off three straight victories over New Mexico, Fresno State and UNLV as they averaged 37.6 points per game during that stretch. That year he was also the recipient of the Albert C. Yates Student Leadership Award, presented annually to a student who displays strong involvement through leadership and a commitment to upholding the university's values, traditions and spirit.

Wesley started all four games in the abbreviated 2020 season, but his efforts were not overlooked as he received All-Mountain West Conference Honorable Mention honors. 

He was in the starting line up for all ten games in 2021 and earned All-Conference Honorable Mention status for the second consecutive season. 

A native of Morrison, CO, Wesley was more than versatile, playing four of five positions on the offensive line for the Rams.

Wesley is looking forward to joining the Pirates but still has options with the XFL.

"I went undrafted in that league, but I did have a team reach out to me and there is a supplemental draft in January, so I guess we'll see." 

As for playing offensive line in indoor football for the first time, Wesley said, " I think it's going to be a big adjustment honestly with a lot of it being more one-on-one.  In eleven-on-eleven you've got five offensive linemen and normally at tackle or guard you are working with somebody, so it's going to be an adjustment for sure but I think part of being an athlete is being able to adapt and adjust," he said. "In Massachusetts, I think they do a really good job of being able to coach and give players the ability to build their tool box essentially, so having those skills in my tool box and being able to apply them in a game situation, I'll show other leagues what I am capable of," Wesley added. 

His NFL minicamp invites were on the same day. Wesley chose to entertain the Giants offer and said, "It was good. It was very competitive and I was able to pick up a couple of things that they do at the high level and it was one of those experiences that you are really grateful for and not many people are able to say that they have gone to one of those."

The 2021 United Bowl Champions; Massachusetts Pirates are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Pirates play all home games at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center located at 50 Foster St. Worcester, MA, 01608. For more information on the Massachusetts Pirates please call (508)452-MASS (6277), email contact@masspiratesfootball.com or visit http://www.masspiratesfootball.com. For 2023 season, half-season, luxury, or group ticket packages please call 508-452-MASS (6277) or visit www.masspiratesfootball.com/tickets. Follow the Pirates on Facebook via Facebook.com/MAPirates, Instagram @mass.pirates, and Twitter @mass_pirates.