Former Alabama quarterback charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon

Former Alabama quarterback Jay Barker was arrested early Saturday morning, according to Tennessee public records, and he was charged with felony aggravated assault.

Barker was arrested at 4:10 a.m. CT, according to Tennessee records, and he was booked at 4:52 a.m. CT.

Barker is being held in Davidson County on a $10,000 bond, and he is scheduled to appear in court on March 22, 2022. Public records show that Barker is being held on one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The assault saw Barker placed on a 12-hour hold for domestic violence, was on his wife, award-winning country music artist Sara Evans.

The Tennessee public record includes a notice that he is “not eligible for release at this time” due to the domestic violence account, which resulted in a 12-hour hold.

Barker had a storied career at Alabama, leading the Crimson Tide to the 1992 national championship, a run that included a win over then-No. 1-ranked Miami in the 1993 Sugar Bowl. He ended his collegiate career as Alabama’s all-time winningest quarterback, compiling a 35-2-1 record as a starter.

Barker was a three-year starter at Alabama, enrolling in 1991 and starting his first full seaosn under center in 1992. He held a 56.9 percent career completion rate, coupled with 5,689 total passing yards, 26 touchdowns and 24 interceptions.

Barker won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 1994, the same season during which he was named a first team All-American, first team All-SEC, first team academic All-American and SEC Player of the Year. He finished that season, Barker’s final year at Alabama, with a 61.5 completion rate through 12 games, good for 1,996 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

Barker was inducted to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame after his retirement.

The Trussville, Alabama native decided to stay home at Alabama, and after his impressive college career, he spent a couple seasons in the NFL. Barker was selected in the fifth round of the 1995 NFL Draft, taken off the board with the 160th-overall pick by the Green Bay Packers. He spent the 1995 season with the Packers and later the New England Patriots, then the 1996 season with the Carolina Panthers. His 1996 stint with the Panthers marked the end of his NFL career; next up, Barker spent four years with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, then one year with the Birmingham Thunderbolts, a team within the first rendition of the XFL.