Jay Barker

Jay Barker
Personal information
Born: (1972-07-20) July 20, 1972 (age 52)
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Alabama)
College:Alabama
Position:Quarterback
NFL draft:1995 / round: 5 / pick: 160
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards

Harry Jerome “Jay” Barker (born July 20, 1972)[1] is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, earning third-team All-American honors in 1994. After his playing career, he became a Birmingham radio personality.

Football career

Barker attended Hewitt-Trussville High School in Trussville, Alabama, where his football career began. He graduated in 1990.

Barker played college football at the University of Alabama, under head coach Gene Stallings. In the final game of the 1992 season, Barker led the Crimson Tide to a national championship by defeating the #1 Miami Hurricanes, 34–13, in the 1993 Sugar Bowl. In the 1994 season, Barker won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and finished fifth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.[2] Barker led the Crimson Tide to a 35–2–1 record as their starting quarterback, which was the NCAA record for most wins for a college quarterback at that time. However, the official NCAA record book reflects a 27–11 mark due to later forfeiture of games during the 1993 season.

Barker was drafted in the 1995 NFL draft in the fifth round by the Green Bay Packers, but did not make the team.[3] Subsequently, Barker was on the roster of the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers, but never played in a regular season game.

In 1998, the Toronto Argonauts signed Barker, bringing him to the Canadian Football League.[4]

After three seasons with the Argonauts, Barker left to join the Birmingham Thunderbolts in the XFL.[4] A fan favorite of the Bolts' (generally small) crowds, Barker was the team's second-string quarterback and played several games in the middle of the season before suffering a career-ending concussion late. In contrast to his college career, his time in the XFL saw him oversee the beginning of a seven-game losing streak.

Radio career

Barker is currently an analyst for ESPN Radio, and formerly an on-air personality for WJOX in Birmingham. Both he and Al Del Greco, a former Auburn placekicker, hosted the Opening Drive program on WJOX, along with Tony Kurre until 2018.

Personal life

From 1995 to 2007 he was married to Amy DiGiovanna. The couple has four children.[citation needed]

In 2008, Barker married American country musician Sara Evans.[5] They lived in Mountain Brook, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham[5] with his four children and Evans' three children.[6]

On January 15, 2022, Barker was arrested on domestic violence charges after he allegedly tried to hit Evans and another individual with his car. The report also indicated that Barker and Evans are currently separated.[7][8] Evans filed for divorce in August 2021 citing "irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital conduct”.[9] In March 2024 Evans and Barker announced they had reconciled.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Sara Evans' estranged husband arrested after reported domestic assault in Nashville". FOX17.com. January 16, 2022.
  2. ^ "1994 - 60th Award". heisman.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  3. ^ "1995 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Barker bolts Argos for XFL". CBC. January 8, 2001. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Sara Evans has married former Alabama quarterback". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. June 16, 2008. Retrieved December 6, 2008.[dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Sara Evans Welcomes Daughter". CMT. January 27, 2003. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
  7. ^ Patrick Reilly (January 16, 2022). "Ex-Alabama QB Jay Barker charged with domestic violence". New York Post. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  8. ^ Carol Robinson (January 15, 2022). "Jay Barker, former Alabama quarterback, reportedly tried to hit wife Sara Evans with vehicle". Alabama.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  9. ^ Jason Steen (January 16, 2022). "Sara Evans Filed for Divorce Prior to Jay Barker's Arrest for Attempting to Run Over Her with a Vehicle". Scoop Nashville. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  10. ^ DeSantis, Rachel (March 22, 2024). "Why Sara Evans Is Asking for 'Benefit of the Doubt' After Reconciling with Husband: 'People Are Going to Be Mad'".