AJ Barner

AJ Barner
refer to caption
Barner with Michigan in 2023
No. 88 – Seattle Seahawks
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (2002-05-03) May 3, 2002 (age 22)[1]
Aurora, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:251 lb (114 kg)
Career information
High school:Aurora (OH)
College:Indiana (2020–2022)
Michigan (2023)
NFL draft:2024 / round: 4 / pick: 121
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 13, 2024
Receptions:21
Receiving yards:180
Receiving touchdowns:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Albert "AJ" Barner (born May 3, 2002) is an American professional football tight end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and Indiana Hoosiers. Barner transferred to Michigan for his senior season, winning a national championship in 2023. He was selected by the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Early life

Barner was born in 2002 at Aurora, Ohio[2][3] and attended Aurora High School. He played football as a tight end and linebacker at Aurora and was selected as the Northeast Ohio Division III Defensive Player of the Year.[1][4]

College career

Indiana

Barner played college football as a tight end for Indiana from 2020 to 2022. As a freshman and sophomore, he appeared in all 20 games for Indiana.[5][6] As a junior, he was selected a team captain for the 2022 Indiana Hoosiers football team, started 10 games, and totaled 28 receptions for 199 yards and three touchdowns.[1][7]

Michigan

Barner (#89) blocking for J. J. McCarthy in the 2024 Rose Bowl versus Alabama.

In December 2022, Barner entered the NCAA transfer portal and accepted an offer from the University of Michigan.[8] He chose Michigan because of its prioritization of the tight end position under Jim Harbaugh.[9] He was named to the John Mackey Award watch list in August 2023.[10]

Barner finished the 2023 national championship season with 22 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown. Barner was an All-Big Ten honorable mention.[11]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 6 in
(1.98 m) 		251 lb
(114 kg) 		33+3⁄8 in
(0.85 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)		 4.84 s 1.65 s 2.77 s 4.41 s 7.02 s 34.5 in
(0.88 m)		 9 ft 9 in
(2.97 m)		 22 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[12][13][14]

Barner was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round, 121st overall, of the 2024 NFL draft.[15] In Week 4 against the Detroit Lions, he scored his first professional touchdown on a nine-yard reception from Geno Smith.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c "AJ Barner". Indiana University. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  2. ^ "AJ Barner, Michigan Wolverines, TE". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "AJ Barner (TE) Stats, News, Rumors, Bio, Video - Michigan Wolverines". Sports.Yahoo.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  4. ^ Michael Beaven (July 25, 2019). "Aurora senior selects Ohio: AJ Barner commits to play football with Bobcats". The Akron Beacon Journal. p. C2 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Zach Osterman (August 31, 2022). "Barner could be the 'best tight end we've ever had at Indiana'". The Indianapolis Star. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Dustin Dopirak (April 15, 2022). "Barner suddenly one of IU's top weapons". The Indianapolis Star. p. B5 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "AJ Barner". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  8. ^ Jack Ankony (December 20, 2022). "Former Indiana Tight End AJ Barner Commits to Michigan". SI.com.
  9. ^ McMann, Aaron (March 23, 2023). "Michigan's tight-end usage sold Indiana transfer A.J. Barner". Mlive.com. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  10. ^ Knoop, Trent (August 5, 2023). "Could Michigan Get Its Second-Ever Mackey Award Winner In Program History?". SI.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  11. ^ "AJ Barner". University of Michigan.
  12. ^ "AJ Barner Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  13. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout AJ Barner College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "Michigan Pro Day 2024". mgoblue.com. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  15. ^ Condotta, Bob (April 27, 2024). "Three things to know about Seahawks fourth-round pick AJ Barner". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  16. ^ "Instant Lookback: Rookie AJ Barner Gets His First NFL Touchdown". Seahawks.com. October 1, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
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