It was quite a ride for Kirk Barron, the face-painted block of granite on the interior of the Purdue offensive line.

Through thick and thin, 39 consecutive starts and new partners on either side of him, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound Mishawaka native from Marian High was an anchor at center along an offensive line that was in constant flux in recent seasons. Purdue's staff always could count on No. 53.

The captain saw lows — a 3-22 Big Ten record his first three seasons — and highs — back-to-back bowl trips in 2017-18 — during his tenure in West Lafayette. Now, he says good-bye, coming off his best season yet, having earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media. I caught up with the affable Barron recently for what is the first in a series of Exit Interviews with outgoing Boilermakers.

GoldandBlack.com: With your career in the rear-view mirror, what’s next?

Barron: Well, I am going to Florida to train. I need to maintain my strength. I'm hoping to be an interior lineman at the next level.

GoldandBlack.com: What was the highlight of your career?

Barron: It was probably my first start vs. IU my redshirt freshman year (2015). That got my career rolling. My favorite game probably was at Iowa in 2017. They were good. It was their Senior Day. We were 4-6 and needed that game for a chance to go to a bowl and we got the win.

GoldandBlack.com: What was the low point?

Barron: Probably when Coach Hazell got fired (during the 2016 season). When you are recruited by a person and you let him get fired, you think it’s your responsibility and the reason he doesn’t have a job is because we weren’t able to execute what he was trying to get accomplished.

LINK: Spring preview offensive line

GoldandBlack.com: Did you ever consider transferring?

Barron: Yes, I did. After I graduated (following the 2017 season). It depended on what Coach (Jeff) Brohm was gonna do, stay or go. If he was gonna go, I was either going to follow him or look for somewhere else. It wasn’t just me. Nothing against Purdue, I just didn’t want to play for a different coach. Realistically, if he was going to go to Tennessee, I looked at that roster, and I thought I could play there, I could start there, so I may as well go, too. Once you play for a guy like Coach Brohm, you don’t want to play for anyone else. That’s nothing against Purdue, it’s just how fun he is to play for, and he lets you be yourself. Young guys will be spoiled to have him for the next five years.

GoldandBlack.com: Your life was touched by Tyler Trent, as you were able to visit his house and forge a relationship with him. What was that like?

Barron: He was a very special young man. He used his platform like I would use mine. He used his voice to speak for things he believed in. He was a very powerful individual. And once I got to meet the whole family, it made sense. His mom and dad are great people. His little brothers are awesome. Ethan is an offensive lineman, so we connected off the bat. And his grandmother is a nice lady, too.

GoldandBlack.com: What was your favorite opposing stadium to play in?

Barron: I really enjoyed playing at Nebraska. It's very loud. I wish I had played at Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State. Still, Nebraska was special. There is nothing better than hearing people cheering all the time like at Nebraska and you are up so many points on the road.

GoldandBlack.com: Who was the toughest opponent you faced?

Barron: I thought Derrick Brown from Auburn posed a lot of threats physically, but I don’t think he was the best player I went against in my career. The guy who gave me the most trouble was Steven Richardson from Minnesota. He is short, strong and quick. He posed a lot of leverage threats with how I play. He's a good player.

GoldandBlack.com: At times, you were a target on social media from fans when things weren’t going well. How did you handle that?

Barron: Fans will be fans. They are invested like you are to a degree. When people say you suck or aren’t good, you take offense to that. I always heard it was the offensive line’s fault (when the team lost). I am making a highlight film now. Hopefully people can see and get a better idea of the player I am and get an in-depth look. From a fan perspective it is frustrating. If I didn’t have to conduct myself in a professional manner, I would talk (back). But it probably wouldn’t be the greatest for my image. I try to block out most of the noise. My girlfriend helps me with that. So do my mom and dad.

After the Auburn game, a fan tweeted out: 'Kirk Barron is gone. He does a lot of talking for how bad he is.' You hear those things and they are in the back of your mind, and it’s rough. The Auburn game, even though the score didn’t reflect it, was the best game of my career. That’s the worst part about it.

GoldandBlack.com: What was your favorite class?

Barron: Bible as Literature. I am not an overly religious guy. But I had a great teacher who I became friends with. I became friends with her and her husband.

GoldandBlack.com: If pro football doesn’t work out, what will you do?

Barron: I'm still working on that. I really don’t know. I’d like to get into coaching, but if that doesn’t work out, I will have my master‘s from Purdue (in technology leadership) and I can do damn near anything I want to do. Wherever my girlfriend goes, I’ll try to find a job in that city and figure it out from there.