Tony Barker

Anthony Ray Barker (born September 7, 1968)^[1] is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rice University.

High school career

Barker began attending Wichita Northwest High School in Wichita in 1984. While at Northwest, he participated in football, basketball, and shot put in track and field. However, he gave up basketball and track after his junior year. As a high school football player, he played offensive tackle and defensive end. In his senior year, he received honorable mention in the 1986 High School All-American football team voting. He was a 1st Team All-City selection as an offensive tackle, defensive end, and punter.

Barker was voted to the Wichita Eagle's all-time Wichita High School Football team as a 1st team offensive tackle. Also on that team was former Detroit Lions Defensive end Lawrence Pete (who went to South), Linebackers Mark (Seattle Seahawks/Indianapolis Colts) and Mike Bell (Kansas City Chiefs) (Both went to Bishop Carroll), Pro-Football Hall of fame running back Barry Sanders (North), and Tennessee Titans Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, who is (like Barker) a Northwest alumni.

College career

Barker was recruited by multiple Division I programs. Barker's final selection came down to Kansas and Oklahoma State and with encouragement from his parents, he picked Kansas.^[2] He was recruited as a defensive end, but while watching film of another recruit, his coaches noticed his speed and decided to switch him to linebacker.

After the 1988 season, head coach Bob Valesente left and Glen Mason took over. Because of the coaching change, Barker transferred to Rice after his sophomore season. By NCAA regulations he had to be redshirted his junior year. He lettered in football in 1990 and 1991. In 1991, he collected 127 tackles, tied for the fifth highest single-season total in team history. That same year, he finished with five interceptions, eighth on the team single-season list. He made the All-Southwest Conference that year and won the Jess Neely Linebacker Award. He missed the final game of his senior season due to a concussion.

College statistics

Professional career

NFL Draft

After the NFL combine, the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders expressed interest in Barker. Ultimately he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 10th round (280th overall pick) in the 1992 NFL draft.^[6]

Washington Redskins

He signed a 1-year contract worth $110,000, the league minimum at the time, a common occurrence for late-round picks. Barker was released during the preseason, but was eventually re-signed.^[7] As a rookie, he mainly played on special teams, but had two starts at outside linebacker against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks. After the season, Barker's contract expired and Joe Gibbs retired. Following Gibbs's retirement, Richie Petitbon took over and chose not to renew Barker's contract.

Green Bay Packers

Barker was reunited with his the coach that recruited him at Kansas, Bob Valesente, when the Green Bay Packers signed him before their 1994 training camp.^[8] He was released two days before the first pre-season game. Barker decided not continue his career, despite several offers from minor league teams and the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europa (then, NFL Europe).

Personal

Barker resides in Texas. He works at Wells Fargo as a home mortgage consultant. He married his wife in March 2005. He has two children, from a previous marriage and two stepchildren from his wife's previous marriage.

References