Dominique Barber
Encyclopedia
Dominique J. Barber is an American football
safety for the Houston Texans
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Texans in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Minnesota
.
He is the son of former NFL running back Marion Barber, Jr. and younger brother of NFL running back
Marion Barber III
.
. Rivals.com
ranked Barber as the 42nd-best player at his position in 2003. He was selected for the SuperPrep Midwest Team and ranked as the 58th-best player. Was also, selected as a PrepStar All-Midwest Region. Barber was named all-state and all-county his senior season
at defensive back
and was an all-conference and all-area selection his senior season at running back
. He recorded one interception, which he returned for a touchdown
in 2003. He also rushed
for 911 yards on 138 carries with nine scores his last season, while also recording 25 catches
for 288 yards with three touchdowns. While at Wayzata, he also lettered
twice in hockey
and once in baseball
.
and one pass breakup
. He also joined Robert McGarry
and Gary Russell as the only Gophers to letter
as true freshmen. His father, Marion Jr. and brother, Marion III also lettered as true freshmen. He also recorded one tackle against Alabama
in the Music City Bowl.
In 2005, Barber appeared in all 12 games, finishing the season with 13 tackles and a blocked punt
against Colorado State
, which resulted in a touchdown by Alex Daniels. Barber also recorded three tackles, against Virginia
in the Music City Bowl. He also earned a second letter, in 2005.
In 2006, Barber was named All-Big Ten honorable Mention by the media. He also established career-highs in every statistical category. He also, tied for fifth in the conference with 0.31 interceptions per game. He made his first career start
in the season opener at Kent State. Barber intercepted the first pass of his career against Temple
. At Purdue
, Barber held the wide receiver
Dorien Bryant
to just 59 yards receiving on six catches, he also broke up two passes. He also, established a new career high with eight tackles vs. Penn State
. Also, recorded career firsts with a fumble
recovery and a blocked PAT
at the top-ranked Ohio State
. Against Indiana
, Barber returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown, broke up another pass and forced the first fumble of his career. At Michigan State
, he picked off a career-high two passes. His interception of MSU quarterback
Brian Hoyer
’s pass in the end zone
on the first play of the second quarter turned the momentum of the game. He also, had six tackles in the Insight Bowl
against Texas Tech
. In 2006, Barber also, earned a third letter.
In 2007, Dominique started all 12 games. He was named to the All-Big Ten second team after leading the team with 100 tackles.
. He appeared in 12 games (no starts) his rookie season, recording 15 tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection.
Barber played in 13 games (six starts) for the Texans in 2009 before being placed on injured reserve
with a hamstring injury on December 2. He finished the season with 33 tackles and his first career interception.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Texans in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
.
He is the son of former NFL running back Marion Barber, Jr. and younger brother of NFL running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Marion Barber III
Marion Barber III
Marion Sylvester Barber III is an American football running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Minnesota....
.
Early years
A 2004 graduate of Wayzata High SchoolWayzata High School
Wayzata High School is located in Plymouth, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The high school, operated by the Wayzata School District, has approximately 3,060 students in grades 9 to 12 , making it the largest secondary school by enrollment in Minnesota. It is also the largest Minnesota...
. Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
ranked Barber as the 42nd-best player at his position in 2003. He was selected for the SuperPrep Midwest Team and ranked as the 58th-best player. Was also, selected as a PrepStar All-Midwest Region. Barber was named all-state and all-county his senior season
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
at defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
and was an all-conference and all-area selection his senior season at running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He recorded one interception, which he returned for a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
in 2003. He also rushed
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
for 911 yards on 138 carries with nine scores his last season, while also recording 25 catches
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
for 288 yards with three touchdowns. While at Wayzata, he also lettered
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
twice in hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
and once in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
.
College career
In 2004, Barber played in nine games, recording four tacklesTackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
and one pass breakup
Pass deflected
In American football a pass deflected, also known as a pass defended, a pass defensed, a pass knock down, or a pass break up, is an incomplete pass that is caused by a defensive player...
. He also joined Robert McGarry
Robert McGarry IV
Robert McGarry IV is a former American football player. As a senior at Stillwater High School, he recorded 65 tackles and was selected as an all-conference defensive lineman. He enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he played football as a long snapper from 2005 to 2008...
and Gary Russell as the only Gophers to letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
as true freshmen. His father, Marion Jr. and brother, Marion III also lettered as true freshmen. He also recorded one tackle against Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
in the Music City Bowl.
In 2005, Barber appeared in all 12 games, finishing the season with 13 tackles and a blocked punt
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
against Colorado State
Colorado State Rams
Colorado State University competes in 16 sponsored intercollegiate sports, including 10 for women and six for men...
, which resulted in a touchdown by Alex Daniels. Barber also recorded three tackles, against Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
in the Music City Bowl. He also earned a second letter, in 2005.
In 2006, Barber was named All-Big Ten honorable Mention by the media. He also established career-highs in every statistical category. He also, tied for fifth in the conference with 0.31 interceptions per game. He made his first career start
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
in the season opener at Kent State. Barber intercepted the first pass of his career against Temple
Temple Owls football
The Temple Owls football team participates in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference...
. At Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
, Barber held the wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Dorien Bryant
Dorien Bryant
Dorien Lamar Bryant is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He went undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft, but later signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent....
to just 59 yards receiving on six catches, he also broke up two passes. He also, established a new career high with eight tackles vs. Penn State
2006 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2006 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2006–2007 college football season. The team's head coach was Joe Paterno. It played its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania....
. Also, recorded career firsts with a fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
recovery and a blocked PAT
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
at the top-ranked Ohio State
2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team representing the Ohio State University in the college football season of 2006-2007. The team's head coach was Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes played their home games in Ohio Stadium...
. Against Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers football
The Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
, Barber returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown, broke up another pass and forced the first fumble of his career. At Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
, he picked off a career-high two passes. His interception of MSU quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
’s pass in the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
on the first play of the second quarter turned the momentum of the game. He also, had six tackles in the Insight Bowl
2006 Insight Bowl
The 2006 Insight Bowl, a college football bowl game held on December 29 at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, pitted the Texas Tech Red Raiders against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. This game featured the biggest comeback in NCAA Division I FBS bowl history...
against Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
. In 2006, Barber also, earned a third letter.
In 2007, Dominique started all 12 games. He was named to the All-Big Ten second team after leading the team with 100 tackles.
Statistics
| College Defensive Statistics | ||||||||||||
| Year | Team | G | Tack | Solo | Ast. | Sacks | Pass Def. | INT | TD | FF | FR | Block |
| 2004 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season The 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with several undefeated teams vying for a spot in the national title game, triggering controversy. In the 2003 season, no team finished the regular season unbeaten, and five teams finished the season with one loss... |
Minnesota Golden Gophers | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season The 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the least amount of controversy surrounding the Bowl Championship Series title game in many years.To an extent it was a return to classic football... |
Minnesota Golden Gophers | 12 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 2006 NCAA Division I-A football season The 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 31, 2006 and, aside from all-star exhibition games that followed, concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game on January 8, 2007 in Glendale, Arizona, where the #2 Florida... |
Minnesota Golden Gophers | 13 | 74 | 33 | 41 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 | Minnesota Golden Gophers | 12 | 100 | -- | -- | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 46 | 191 | 45 | 46 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Professional career
Houston Texans
Barber was selected in the sixth round (173rd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He appeared in 12 games (no starts) his rookie season, recording 15 tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection.
Barber played in 13 games (six starts) for the Texans in 2009 before being placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
with a hamstring injury on December 2. He finished the season with 33 tackles and his first career interception.