Ex-Gophers receiver Barker arrested on marijuana charge in Houston

January 16, 2013 at 10:24PM
Minnesota wide receiver A.J. Barker (82) catches a touchdown pass.
Minnesota wide receiver A.J. Barker (82) catches a touchdown pass. (Dml - Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Former Gophers wide receiver A.J. Barker, who quit the team midseason after a dispute with head coach Jerry Kill, was arrested and charged with suspicion of marijuana possession in Houston, according to the Harris County District Clerk office.

Barker was arrested at 11:05 p.m. Sunday and booked at 8:08 a.m. Monday, according to records.

He posted $500 bond and has a court date set for Feb. 14.

Multiple outlets reported in December that Barker was slated to transfer to play for the University of Houston. It was also reported that he was offered a scholarship and would be immediately eligible next season.

But in an e-mail to the Star Tribune on Wednesday, athletics spokesman David Bassity said, "A.J. Barker is not a member of our football team and was not offered a scholarship as some outlets have reported."

Spring semester classes started Monday at the school.

Barker was the Gophers' leading receiver this season when he quit the team in November, citing mistreatment by Kill in a scathing 4,000-word Tumblr post as his chief reason for leaving.

Houston's head coach, Tony Levine, was a wide receiver at Minnesota from 1992-95.

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The De La Salle graduate caught 30 passes and scored seven touchdowns before suffering a sprained ankle against Purdue on October 27. He left the team several weeks later.

about the writer

about the writer

Michael Rand

Columnist / Reporter

Michael Rand is the Minnesota Star Tribune's Digital Sports Senior Writer and host/creator of the Daily Delivery podcast. In 25 years covering Minnesota sports at the Minnesota Star Tribune, he has seen just about everything (except, of course, a Vikings Super Bowl).

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