Octavus Barnes joined the UNC Academic Support Program in the summer of 2005. He serves as an academic counselor, working primarily with the football team.

Barnes graduated from UNC in 1997 with a double major in sociology and African American studies. He played two years in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons, participating in Super Bowl XXXIII. In 2000, he signed with the Carolina Panthers, but saw his playing career ended by an injury.

Before returning to UNC, he worked with children with Autism Spectrum disorder and also worked for the Department of Juvenile Justice.

A four-year letterwinner for the UNC football team from 1994-97, he participated in three bowl games for the Tar Heels, including the 1997 Gator Bowl. He still holds the school records for career receiving touchdowns (19) and career yards per catch average (18.6) and ranks second all-time on UNC's career receiving yards list.