GIBSON CITY — Bryce Barnes questioned himself Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours before he was set to leave for the University of Illinois.
Barnes' response, after a brief pause, gave him the appearance of being confident, yet hopeful, to improve his craft with Lovie Smith's Illini football program.
"Am I ready, mentally and physically?" Barnes asked. "Mentally, I'm there. I'm ready. I'm ready to get to work. Physically, I think I'm almost there. The cardio part is really going to be the part that gets me."
The recent Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley graduate will have ample opportunity to perfect that aspect of his football acumen.