Los Angeles Rams linebacker Mark Barron is one of two former Alabama Crimson Tide football players in Super Bowl LIIII.
Barron was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012, before being traded to the Rams three years later.
Here are some other facts you may not know about Barron.
Barron has been recognized for his social justice efforts
Last August, Barron was awarded the NFL Foundation Social Justice Grant for his contributions to TAP Inc.
TAP (Together Assisting People) “is an education and career-focused mentoring program for inner-city youth,” according to the organization’s Twitter page.
The NFL Foundation Social Justice Grant provides funding of up to $5,000 “to fund organizations, programs or initiatives that reduce barriers to opportunity.”
Growing up, he didn’t root for Alabama
Despite being from Mobile, Alabama, and eventually becoming a star for the University of Alabama, Barron was fond of another program as a kid.
In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, he claimed his favorite team growing up was Virginia Tech.
“Actually, growing up, my favorite team was Virginia Tech,” Barron said. “You know, Michael Vick and all that.”
Barron reportedly got paid to change his number
After Darrelle Revis signed with the Buccaneers in 2013, he reportedly paid Barron $50,000 to relinquish the No. 24 jersey, according to Uni-Watch.com’s Paul Lukas.
Exchanging cash or goods for a jersey number isn’t anything new, but an extra $50,000 isn’t anything to scoff at.
He’s a Swiss army knife on the football field
Barron was drafted in the top 10 as a safety, but he has proven to be just as, if not more, effective as a linebacker.
He made the switch early in 2015 after an injury to Alec Ogletree. He finished that season with 113 tackles and followed that with a 117-tackle effort in 2016.
Prior to that, he recorded seasons with 88 and 89 tackles as a safety.
“You can line me up at safety, you can line me up at linebacker,” Barron said in an interview with AL.com. “My objective is to go get the person with the ball and to go and take the ball, and I can do that from a lot of different positions.”
Even in high school, Barron played all over the field, including at running back, wide receiver and safety.
He even rushed for 1,094 yards and 15 touchdowns his senior year.
Read more Alabama football news:
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- Senior Bowl: Pierschbacher unconcerned by Alabama coaching turnover
- Senior Bowl exec expresses ‘disappointment’ Alabama RB declined invite