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All-In [10635]
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Heisman Winner [82169]
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nope
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Apr 18, 2025, 10:27 AM
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I think they want money
What did it say?
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All-In [10635]
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Was about Mama
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Apr 18, 2025, 10:29 AM
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And how she was so glad recruiting is over
Will try to C&P
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All-In [10635]
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High School Sports |
Breaking News 3 new Michelin stars shine bright on Orlando’s fine dining scene April 17, 2025 at 9:18 pm
SportsHigh School Sports
For Clemson commit Chancellor Barclay, mother knows best | Football Insider
Chris Anne Barclay and her son, First Academy offensive tackle Chancellor Barclay, have formed an enviable mother-son relationship. (Courtesy of Chris Anne Barclay)
Chris Anne Barclay and her son, First Academy offensive tackle Chancellor Barclay, have formed an enviable mother-son relationship. (Courtesy of Chris Anne Barclay)
By Chris Hays | chays@orlandosentinel.com | Orlando Sentinel
UPDATED: April 16, 2025 at 11:19 PM EDT
When Clemson commit Chancellor Barclay was a little kid, his mother said “he was a mess.”
Now he’s a big kid and the The First Academy junior is one of the best 2026 interior offensive line prospects in the country. He’s earned his reputation and accolades through determination, focus and hard work. He’s now on the verge of earning a 5-star rating from recruiting web sites like 247 Sports and Rivals.
There was a time when the term focused would never have been used to describe Barclay. His mother, Chris Anne Barclay, said she wasn’t keen on the idea of him playing football.
“He had impulse control issues when he was younger and I wasn’t sure football was good for him,” Chris Anne said.
In fact, Chancellor had ADHD and his mother said he was also on the autistic spectrum. But he cleared most clinical testing. When he was in junior high, she decided to contact Todd Carpenter, who was in charge of the Clermont little league football organization East Ridge Knights, and told him about Chancellor.
“Todd Carpenter said football would be the best thing for him, and it literally has been,” Chris Anne said.
TFA offensive lineman Chancellor Barclay and teammate Bam Whitfield ham it up after the team's kickoff classic game last season. Barclay has committed to play at Clemson. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)
TFA offensive lineman Chancellor Barclay and teammate Bam Whitfield ham it up after the team’s kickoff classic game last season. Barclay has committed to play at Clemson. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)
Chancellor was a kid whose twitch motor was unhinged.
“To go from impulse control issues to having incredible impulse control is pretty amazing,” Chris Anne said. “He has had a great journey. He was delayed in a lot of things. He didn’t walk until he was two. I thought it was just because he was too fat.”
She laughs, “He was nine pounds at berth, but 35 pounds at one year [old].”
Now he’s a 6-foot-4, 285-pound blocking technician and he has come a long way, with much of it because of his tiny helper. Chris Anne is all of about 5-foot-2, but she has been a giant in raising and guiding her behemoth son.
The two are best friends. They love being together and it’s a good thing, because they’ve been joined at the hip since he became the rage among college recruiters.
“I have a fantastic mom,” Chancellor said. “We’re open with each other. We joke around with each other. My mom is my biggest supporter, but I also just really enjoy being around her.
“Through the good, the bad and the neutral, I just enjoy having the relation that I do with her. My mom is a joker. My mom is fun. My mom likes to go out and do stuff.”
Chris Anne Barclay has not only guided her son through the recruiting process and into a scholarship at Clemson, but she has also worked the sideline chain crew at all of Chancellor Barclay's home high school football games. (Courtesy Chris Anne Barclay)
Chris Anne Barclay has not only guided her son through the recruiting process and into a scholarship at Clemson, but she has also worked the sideline chain crew at all of Chancellor Barclay's home high school football games. (Courtesy Chris Anne Barclay)
Mom saw potential in her son when he was young. He was big, he was athletic and as he bounced around trying different sports, all things pointed toward football.
“We tried soccer but he kept knocking people over, so that was not the sport,” she said. “He thought that’s what he was supposed to do, but it was not well-received.”
Chris Anne has been a single mother since a divorce from Ricardo Barclay seven years ago.
Ricardo remains in Chancellor’s life. The son works at his father’s music store in Clermont on free weekends. He also works out with his father from time to time, but when it comes to the off-the-field football stuff it’s all mom.
Chris Anne is a teacher at South Lake Charter School in Clermont. She’s also been a travel agent, a financial planner, a secretary, a communications director, a chauffeur, a sports agent and more. Above all, she was exhausted.
Finally, she can relax. Chancellor announced last month that he is going to play football at Clemson, shutting down the tiresome recruiting process.
Chris Anne Barclay and her son Chancellor Barclay pose with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney during a recruiting visit. Chancellor committed to Clemson on March 9. (Courtesy Chris Anne Barclay)
Chris Anne Barclay and her son Chancellor Barclay pose with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney during a recruiting visit. Chancellor committed to Clemson on March 9. (Courtesy Chris Anne Barclay)
“Oh my God, it was immediate relief,” Chris Anne said. “We had Georgia coming up, then Oklahoma and then UF. Then we were going to start it all over again May 30th with every single weekend up until July on an official visit.”
Mom’s pocketbook felt the relief, too.
Of course, Chris Anne is not the only single mom in the world who has navigated recruiting. Like many, she could write a detailed guide on it. Going in, she knew nothing. She gathered as much information as she could, piecing together a strategy for success. She did so while also juggling time for her 20-year-old daughter, Sage, a former Lake Minneola lacrosse player who attends Pace University in New York.
“I hopped on some of the [bus] tours with the school when they had them, and my parents have helped me out when I needed it,” she said. “Money was always the challenge. I hate to have to say no to the kids because of the money, but that’s always the reality. But it’s me and a million other mothers out there.”
At first it was just figuring out the direction.
“When he started getting bigger, I contacted Coach [Walter] Banks and said, ‘I have this 6-foot-2, 220-pound seventh grader who is going to be coming to [Lake Minneola]. What do I need to do?’ ” Chris Anne said.
The inquiry might have been the best thing she ever did. Banks advised her to contact Lo Wood, who trained Chancellor through junior high. She also gained knowledge from former Lake Minneola offensive line coach and FSU player Chad Mavety, now a TFA assistant.
“I’ve had a tribe of people around me who have really helped me when I’ve had questions,” Chris Anne said.
Early on in the process, Mavety said to her: “Your son is going to make a lot of money in this sport.”
He’s likely not wrong. Success at Clemson will probably turn into an NFL opportunity. The path may have been chaotic at times, but there is no doubt the road has been paved.
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Now that Chris Anne has the entire recruiting process figured out, it’s over. She sees the irony.
“When you are in it, it’s like that expression you can’t see the forest for the trees,” she said. “In the beginning it was exciting. As we got further into the process, it became more hectic. There is this cycle you get in that is almost like a tornado. It happened so fast and so chaotic.”
The emotions peaked during Chancellor’s commitment call to Swinney, which was video recorded and posted online.
“That phone call to Dabo Swinney was one of the most favorite moments of my whole life,” she said.
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