Tony Barker
Anthony Ray Barker is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League. He played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks before transferring to the Rice Owls following his sophomore year. He was selected by the Washington Redskins in the 10th round of the 1992 NFL draft. He also briefly played for the Green Bay Packers.
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/discus in track and field. However, he gave up basketball after his junior year. As a high school football player, he played offensive tackle, defensive end and punter. In his senior year, he was a 1st Team All-City selection as an offensive tackle, defensive end, and punter, best 11 in the state from Wichita and Topeka newspapers, and honorable mention in the 1986 High School All-American football team voting.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, Linebackers Mark and Mike Bell, Pro-Football Hall of fame running back Barry Sanders, and Tennessee Titans Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, who is 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. 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 1987 season, head coach Bob Valesente was fired 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.