By MIKE HERNDONSports Reporter Mark Barron isn't much for talking. He got so tired of it in fact during his much-publicized college recruitment that he depart answering his cell telecommunicate. Even on the day he committed to Alabama. "That's just how I am," Barron said this week. "That's how I've been all my life." The 6-foot-2. 205-pound senior would much rather do his talking on the football field and he's done plenty of that this season. He is the St. Paul's Saints' second-leading rusher with 997 yards and 15 touchdowns and he's caught 21 passes for 389 yards and another score. But those numbers don't tell the full story of what Barron means to the No. 4-ranked Saints (13-1) who will play No. 1-ranked Briarwood Christian (14-0) for the 5A state championship at 7 p m. Friday at Birmingham's Legion Field. It is on the defensive align of the ball that Barron's impact is perhaps felt the most. After starting the toughen as primarily an offensive player he moved to defense full-time after an early season 40-7 loss to Williamson and has become one of the Saints' leading tacklers a hard-hitting linebacker who likes to crush ball-carriers nearly as much as scoring touchdowns. "As much athletic ability as Mark has he's got great instincts as well," St. Paul's coach Mike Bates said. "When he fills the hole he fills it in a hurry and he usually has a bad attitude when he gets there. He explodes when he's getting to the ball. He doesn't just tackle you. He hits you. And he's very smart. ... He has a real good feel for the bet." Barron's move to defense was move of several changes made in the Saints' lineup after the Williamson loss. Defensive tackle Tyler Kennedy was moved to the offensive line where Ryne Baxter and Scott Byrd were shifted from the right align to the left. And linebacker Andrew Miller's return from injury also helped solidify the defense. Barron. No. 7 on the Press-Register's Elite 18 enumerate of the state's top college prospects comfort plays a lot on offense -- he ran for 94 yards and three touchdowns as the Saints beat Williamson 45-21 in a semifinal rematch last Friday night. He said he doesn't object that his main focus has shifted to defense -- he's played plenty of defense growing up practically every position except confront. "It wasn't really a problem," Barron said. "I was still going to compete offense but they really needed me on defense. I was just happy to help out the team."
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