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Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota running back Marion Barber III, one of the school's all-time leading rushers, said Saturday that he will forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the NFL draft.
Barber rushed for 1,000 yards in both of the last two seasons and was named to the All-Big Ten first team in 2003. He and Gophers running back Laurence Maroney became the first teammates in NCAA I-A history to each rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.
Though he had one year of eligibility remaining, Barber is in his fourth year at the university. He played in just two games as a sophomore while nursing a hamstring injury, then qualified as a redshirt, meaning the season didn't count against his eligibility.
At a news conference, Barber said he mulled over the decision.
"It wasn't something that popped in my head," he said. "I'm strong in my decision. It's been a very difficult process, and the support I've had throughout has gotten me through it."
Before the Gophers played in the Music City Bowl three weeks ago, Barber said he would return for his final season. He then rushed for 187 yards in Minnesota's 20-16 win over Alabama and won the MVP award in what would be his final game.
"We've lost a great player," said coach Glen Mason, who joined Barber and his family at the news conference. "But more importantly to us, we've lost a great person. He's what's good about college athletics, about football in general. ... He's been fun to be around."
Barber, who went to suburban Wayzata High School, started his Gophers' career fast, rushing for 742 yards as a true freshman.
This year, he surpassed his father, Marion Barber Jr. -- a Gophers running back in the late 1970s and early 1980s -- in career rushing yards and ends up as Minnesota's third-leading career rusher with 3,276 yards.
This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota running back Marion Barber III, one of the school's all-time leading rushers, said Saturday that he will forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the NFL draft.
Barber rushed for 1,000 yards in both of the last two seasons and was named to the All-Big Ten first team in 2003. He and Gophers running back Laurence Maroney became the first teammates in NCAA I-A history to each rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.
Though he had one year of eligibility remaining, Barber is in his fourth year at the university. He played in just two games as a sophomore while nursing a hamstring injury, then qualified as a redshirt, meaning the season didn't count against his eligibility.
At a news conference, Barber said he mulled over the decision.
"It wasn't something that popped in my head," he said. "I'm strong in my decision. It's been a very difficult process, and the support I've had throughout has gotten me through it."
Before the Gophers played in the Music City Bowl three weeks ago, Barber said he would return for his final season. He then rushed for 187 yards in Minnesota's 20-16 win over Alabama and won the MVP award in what would be his final game.
"We've lost a great player," said coach Glen Mason, who joined Barber and his family at the news conference. "But more importantly to us, we've lost a great person. He's what's good about college athletics, about football in general. ... He's been fun to be around."
Barber, who went to suburban Wayzata High School, started his Gophers' career fast, rushing for 742 yards as a true freshman.
This year, he surpassed his father, Marion Barber Jr. -- a Gophers running back in the late 1970s and early 1980s -- in career rushing yards and ends up as Minnesota's third-leading career rusher with 3,276 yards.
This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index
