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University of Minnesota Athletics
FB: Marion Barber III Declares For The NFL Draft
1/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
"I would like to thank you all for your support and as Coach Mason said, we have been going through a very informative process. We have gone through all the various scenarios to help me decide what I am going to do. I have decided that I do want to enter myself into the NFL draft for the coming year," Barber said.
Coming to the University was like a home inside a home. It was just a family-based environment that I liked being a part of. I am thankful for the opportunity to come here. I was not a highly-recruited player, but Coach Mason and the staff gave me an opportunity."
Head coach Glen Mason said that he will miss more than just Barber's on-field accomplishments.
"It is with mixed emotions that I stand here today because we are losing a great player, but more importantly to us, we are losing a great person," Mason said. "He is what is good about college football and college athletics and about football in general. He backs up his abilities by how he plays and not by how he talks. He has always been a gentleman and is fun to be around and that is what I am going to miss about him the most."
The Plymouth, Minn., native closes his collegiate career as one of the best running backs in Minnesota history. He finishes second in career rushing touchdowns (35), third in career 100-yard rushing games (14), third in career rushing average (5.7 ypc) and seventh in career scoring (210 points). Also a special teams performer, Barber is also fourth all-time in career punt return yards (515).
Last season, Barber tallied a career-high 1,269 yards on 231 carries with 11 touchdowns. His 1,269 yards rank seventh all-time for single-season yardage and his 11 rushing touchdowns tie for sixth all-time for single-season touchdowns. Barber recorded his first 1,000-yard season in 2003, when he rushed for 1,196 yards and set the school's single- season rushing touchdown record with 17.
Barber saved one of his best games for last as he tallied 187 yards on 37 carries with one touchdown and was named the Music City Bowl Most Valuable Player in leading the Gophers to a 20-16 victory over Alabama. He joined Maroney as the only players to surpass 100 yards rushing against Alabama all season.
