If Chris Barnes could construct a relay team from the Oklahoma State football roster, he said there's no doubt he'd be on it.
The redshirt sophomore receiver ran in the event at North Shore High School in Houston and a 4.3-second 40-yard dash caliber sprinter. Barnes is also the self-proclaimed fastest player on the team.
"Man, I wish I could still run actually, like, for the school. But we're in spring ball, and I don't want to, nah," Barnes said. "This is where I want to be, on the field."
The Cowboys are looking to utilize Barnes' speed and skillset on the football field this season, though. Barnes, a 5-foot-7 Wake Forest transfer, has spent his career as a slot receiver because of his size, but during Tuesday's spring practice, Barnes also spent time on the outside.
OSU wide receivers coach Nick Edwards has spent the past two years coaching Barnes and seeing his capabilities. Edwards said Barnes spreads the field vertically, and his track speed will be used in the slot and on the outside this season.
"Man, he's the total receiver," Edwards said.
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Oklahoma State wide receiver Chris Barnes, seen here during Tuesday's spring practice, has been a slot receiver his entire career but will mix in as an outside receiver this season.
Barnes was a standout at North Shore and a finalist for Houston Area High School Player of the Year. Coming out of high school, he originally committed to now-OSU head coach Eric Morris at North Texas. A few weeks before signing day, Barnes flipped to Washington State .
Now, Barnes is back with Morris. He watched Morris create one of the top offenses in the country the past two seasons and liked what he saw. Receivers flourish in Morris' explosive offense. Morris' passing attack also utilizes smaller receivers, such as 5-6 Miles Coleman , who caught 47 passes for 550 yards last year, and 6-foot Wyatt Young , who ranked third nationally in receiving yards.
"I see what he can do with guys like me. You know, small receivers," Barnes said. "A lot of guys that he just helped get to the next spot with them being smaller."
Barnes was also comfortable with Edwards, who was his receivers coach at Washington State, then again last season at Wake Forest. Injuries forced Barnes to redshirt as a freshman at WSU, then he had a breakout season with the Demon Deacons, leading the team with 39 catches for 547 yards and three touchdowns.
At first, OSU wasn't in Barnes' top three options. Then, when he saw what Morris was building and that Edwards was hired as the Cowboys' wide receivers coach, Barnes committed. Edwards said he was excited to be reunited with Barnes.
"He can play inside and outside. One of his best qualities is when the ball's in his hands, which we don't get to see every day because we don't tackle every day," Edwards said. "He's done a great job for us so far. He's been a standout guy."
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Oklahoma State wide receiver Chris Barnes catches a pass during a drill at Tuesday's spring practice while receivers coach Nick Edwards (left) looks on.
Barnes had never played outside receiver, but he was all for it when Edwards approached him about it.
"I didn't have a problem with it because anywhere I'm gonna play at, that's where I want to play," Barnes said. "Being on the outside, it's definitely taught me a lot. You've got to be more patient and wait, but still be definitive in your actions."
On paper, the Cowboys have a loaded receiving room. Along with Coleman and Young, 6-5 senior Justin Bowick, 6-2 junior Israel Polk and others give OSU plenty of other options out wide.
Barnes is one of the smaller receivers in the room, but that doesn't mean much to Edwards. He's looking for one thing from a shorter receiver on the outside, and Barnes has that.
"Ball skills – that's the No. 1 thing," Edwards said. "Can you stretch the field vertically when you're on the outside? Obviously, he has the speed to go ahead and beat any corner in the country, but he has the ability to catch the ball.
"He has the ability, like I said, to be a complete receiver, not just a guy that's a gadget guy and all that. Some schools were recruiting him just to be a gadget guy. Like, no. I've seen this guy the last two years. He's an every-down receiver."
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Oklahoma State redshirt sophomore wide receiver Chris Barnes catches a pass during Tuesday's spring practice. The Houston native was a All-ACC third-teamm honoree as a freshman at Wake Forest in 2025.
Barnes was fighting for 50/50 balls on the outside during practice Tuesday and learning how to play in that role. He said being a quick learner is one of his strongest attributes, and being in a competitive receivers room has pushed him, too.
Wherever Barnes lines up on Saturdays, he said he's embracing the challenge and ready for another breakout season and to expand his skillset.
"I've been a slot literally my whole life," Barnes said. "For them to put me on the outside and me to actually work on my craft, then when I get moved to the inside, it's still the same because that's where I've been my whole life. I feel like being available in multiple areas of the field, that's how you want to be."
