GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers gave Don Barclay a shot.

The Cranberry Township native went out and made the most of it.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound rookie offensive lineman out of West Virginia University was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Packers immediately following April’s NFL Draft. On Friday, he learned he would be part of the team’s active roster and will be in uniform when Green Bay opens the 2012 season at home Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

Barclay will begin the season as a backup who can play either guard or tackle.

“I’m a guy who can fill a hole on the line, but they feel more comfortable with me on the right side,” he said. “That’s where I played during (organized team activities).”

Barclay, who will wear No. 67, entered the final preseason game against Kansas City last Thursday late in the first quarter and remained on the field with the team’s offense for the duration of the game. His blocking had a hand in all 24 of the team’s points. He then kept his fingers crossed on Friday.

“My line coach (James Campen) told me I had done a good job of improving all camp,” said Barclay, “but you never know. I wasn’t sure I was going to make the final cut.

“Even if I was drafted, I would have given it my all on every play,” he added. “But I did come into camp with a chip on my shoulder. I knew I had to open some eyes with my play.”

The Packers went 2-2 in their four preseason games, with Barclay seeing action with the second team in all of them.

“The offense started out slow, but as the preseason went on, we started to jell,” he said. “That’s really important.

“There are similarities between the offense we run here and the one I was in at West Virginia,” added Barclay. “We do a lot of zone blocking and much of the footwork is the same. That helped me out a lot.”

Packer tradition runs deep. Curly Lambeau, Don Hutson, Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke and Brett Favre are just a few of the legends associated with the team.

Being a member of one of the most storied franchises in the NFL is not lost on Barclay.

“It feels great,” he said. “You think about all the guys who have played here, it’s special.

“This franchise is a class act, too,” he added. “I love it here.”