Mark Barron

Mark Barron (born October 27, 1989) is a former American football linebacker.

He played college football at Alabama, where he was twice recognized as an All-American, and was a member of two BCS National Championship teams.

He played multiple positions, including running back, wide receiver, and linebacker from 2004 through 2007.

Barron had 785 rushing yards as a junior on 78 carries and added 368 receiving yards on 23 catches, scoring a total of 12 touchdowns.

As a senior, Barron was the MVP of the 2007 Class 5A state championship game after rushing for 1,094 yards on 122 carries with 15 touchdowns in his senior season.

He was also named a first-team Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State selection in Class 5A as a senior.

In addition to playing football, Barron also competed in track & field, where he won multiple 5A individual state titles in events ranging from the shot put to the long jump during the 2008 season.

He recorded a career-best throw of 17.09 meters in the shot put at the Mobile Challenge of Champions, where he placed first.

He captured four state titles at the 2008 AHSAA 4A-6A Championships, winning the triple jump, with a jump of 14.08 meters, long jump, with a leap of 6.74 meters, discus throw, with a throw of 44.03 meters, and in shot put, with a throw of 16.76 meters.

He also recorded a personal-best time of 11.39 seconds in the 100 meters.

Barron was ranked as a five-star prospect and the number one weakside linebacker in the Class of 2008 by Scout.com.

He was also ranked as the fifth best player in the state of Alabama and the 55th best player in the nation in the Class of 2008 by Rivals.com.

Barron chose to play at Alabama over offers from Auburn, LSU, Florida, Florida State, and Tennessee among others.

Barron accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Alabama, where he played for coach Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide football team from 2008 to 2011.

As a true freshman for the 2008 Crimson Tide, he made his first appearance on kick-off coverage against Clemson.

He had his first career tackle early in the game on a crushing blow of Jacoby Ford on a kickoff return.

On September 20, against Arkansas, he recorded his first collegiate sack.

Barron played in all of Alabama's 14 games, recording 18 tackles and a sack.

During his sophomore season in 2009, Barron took over as a starter at safety and was second on Alabama's national championship team with 74 tackles and a Southeastern Conference-leading seven interceptions and a touchdown.

He also had a career-high two interceptions against Mississippi State.

On October 10, against Ole Miss, he had his first career collegiate reception, which went for seven yards.

On October 17, against South Carolina, he had a 77-yard pick six in the 20–6 victory.

On November 14, against Mississippi State, he had two interceptions in the 31–3 victory.

Barron finished the regular season tied for third in the nation with seven interceptions and tied for sixth in the nation with 17 passes defended.

In the SEC Championship against Florida, he had seven total tackles in the 32–13 victory.

In the BCS National Championship against Texas, he had six total tackles and one pass defended in the 37–21 victory.

He was recognized as a first-team All-SEC selection and third-team All-American at safety.

Barron was the Crimson Tide's only returning starter in the defensive secondary for the 2010 season.

He finished the season with 77 tackles, three interceptions, nine passes defended, and one forced fumble.

He was named an FWAA All-American.

In 2011, Barron was again a first-team All-SEC selection and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.

In the BCS National Championship against LSU, he had two total tackles and a sack in the 21–0 victory.

Barron attended the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, but did not perform drills as he was still recovering after recently undergoing sports hernia surgery.

He was drafted as a strong safety by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, where he played for two and a half seasons before being traded to the St. Louis Rams in 2014, where he moved to the linebacker position.

He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos.

Barron was born in Mobile, Alabama.

He attended St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile, where he played for the St. Paul's Saints high school football team, under the coaching of Eddie Guth.

On March 7, 2012, Barron attended Alabama's pro day and performed the majority of drills, but opted to skip the short shuttle, three-cone drill, and bench press.

At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Barron was projected to be a first round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts.

He was ranked as the best strong safety prospect by DraftScout.com and was ranked as the top safety by NFL analysts Mike Mayock, Charley Casserly, and Sporting News.