Running back, Ball State, 2021–⁠23

Rico Barfield

Lettered 2023 (school media guide)

Number
No. 5
Height
5′11″
Weight
214 lb
Class (2023)
Sophomore
Hometown
Saint Louis, MO

Rico Barfield played running back at Ball State (2021–⁠23).

Rushing

Rushing yards, season by season, with his team’s record
SeasonTeamCarYdsAvgTDLong
2021Ball State3124.0010
2022Ball State15604.0017
2023Ball State25963.8124
Career431683.9124

Season lines from CollegeFootballData, regular season and bowls.

On the roster

SeasonTeamNo.PosClassHtWt
2021Ball State5RBYr 1
2022Ball State5RBYr 2
2023Ball State5RBSo. (Yr 3)5′11″214

As each season’s roster listed the player (CollegeFootballData). Classes before the latest listing are counted back from it; “Yr 1” is the year on file where that count can’t place a season he played (a redshirt, transfer or 2020 year); height and weight as last listed.

Per play

SeasonTeamPlaysEPA/playPctileMedianTotalUsage
2021Ball State30.10––0.3–
2022Ball State160.02––0.3–
2023Ball State340.17––5.68%

Expected points added: how much the player’s plays moved the team’s expected score, per play and in total. Plays: total EPA divided by EPA per play, the plays the source credits to him (for a receiver roughly his catches and runs, not every target; for a passer, not every attempt), so it can differ from attempts plus carries. Percentile: against the position’s regulars that season across all divisions on file (quarterbacks with 150+ plays, backs 60+, receivers and tight ends 30+), with how many there were (n) and their median; a dash means too few plays to rank. A season in progress uses the full-season bar scaled by games played, never below 75 plays for quarterbacks, 30 for backs and 20 for receivers. The cohort grows or shrinks with the source’s coverage each season (2025 lists far more players), so compare percentiles rather than raw EPA across years. FCS seasons are marked. Usage: the share of the team’s plays the player was part of (shown from 20 plays). From CollegeFootballData, 2013 on.

Game by game

2023 Ball State 7 games, 96 rushing yards, 1 TD
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLongRecRec yds
Sep 2atKentuckyL 14–⁠4431405112
Sep 9atGeorgiaL 3–⁠4561003210
Sep 16vs.Indiana StateW 45–⁠7548124116
Sep 23vs.Georgia SouthernL 3–⁠4041009250
Sep 30atWestern MichiganL 24–⁠422304––
Oct 7atEastern MichiganL 10–⁠242404––
Oct 14vs.ToledoL 6–⁠133703––
2022 Ball State 4 games, 60 rushing yards
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLongRecRec yds
Sep 1atTennesseeL 10–⁠59621010––
Sep 17vs.Murray StateW 31–⁠0939017––
Oct 1vs.Northern IllinoisW 44–⁠38––––13
Nov 22atMiami (OH)L 17–⁠18––––––
2021 Ball State 1 game, 12 rushing yards
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLongRecRec yds
Dec 25 ✦vs.Georgia StateL 20–⁠51312010––

Box scores from CollegeFootballData, 2004 on. ✦ postseason; ★ a career high on file.

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