Anthony Barr (American football)
Anthony Barr (born March 18, 1992) is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins from 2010 to 2013, where he was a consensus All-American in 2013. He was drafted by the Vikings in the first round, ninth overall of the 2014 NFL Draft. Barr was an offensive player his first two years at UCLA, playing running back, wide receiver and tight end. He struggled as a running back, and switched to linebacker during his junior year, at which position he was named a first-team All-Pac-12 selection and to the CBSSports.com All-America second-team. As a senior Barr received the Lott IMPACT Award after leading the team in sacks. In 2014, Barr's first season playing professional football in the NFL, he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 8 and selected for the Pro Football Focus All-NFC North Team. His rookie season was cut short due to a knee injury. Following that season he made four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances (20152018). In the spring of 2019, he signed a five-year extension of his contract with the Vikings. High school career Barr was born in South Bend, Indiana, but raised in Los Angeles, where he attended Loyola High School in the Pico-Union neighborhood. He was a letterman in football and track, and was an All-State selection at running back for the Loyola Cubs football team after rushing for 1,890 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior. However, he missed virtually all of his senior season after breaking his ankle in the September, and was also unable to participate in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, to which he was invited. Barr also lettered four seasons in track and field. At the 2009 CIF Southern Prelims, he earned 11th-place finishes in both the 100 meter (11.01 s) and the 200 meter (22.40 s) dashes. He took silver in the 200 meter dash at the 2009 Mission League Championships, recording a personal-best time of 21.86 seconds. Recruiting Regarded as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Barr was listed as the No. 8 prospect and the No. 5 athlete out of the state of California. According to Scout.com, he was ranked as the No. 100 national prospect and the No. 10 outside linebacker. He was also rated as the No. 1 athlete by MaxPreps. With scholarship offers from dozens of schools, Barr narrowed his decision down to Notre Dame and UCLA, before choosing the Bruins on January 21, 2010. College career Barr was an offensive player his first two years at the University of California, Los Angeles, playing running back, wide receiver and tight end. On October 21, 2010, against the Oregon Ducks, Barr made his first start, and he made 1 catch for 17 yards. In 2011, he caught an 11-yard touchdown pass against the Houston Cougars. Although he started 12 games on offense in both years, he ran the ball 15 times for 54 yards. Barr struggled at being a running back,