Former University of Alabama quarterback Jay Barker was arrested on domestic violence charges after he allegedly tried to hit his wife – country music singer Sara Evans – and another person with his car in Nashville on Saturday.
Barker, 49, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and placed on a 12-hour hold in the Davidson County Jail. He was released after posting a $10,000 bond at 7:30 Saturday night, authorities said.
Evans was leaving a party at her neighbor’s home when she got into the passenger seat of a friend’s vehicle, who was driving her back to her house just across the street, according to an affidavit obtained by WIAT.
As they backed out of the driveway, Evans told police she saw Barker “backing up his vehicle at a high rate of speed attempting to hit them but missed,” according to the charging documents.
Barker then allegedly drove away and Evans phoned the police. He later returned to the scene and spoke with responding officers, officials said. After speaking with several witnesses, he was reportedly arrested. He is scheduled to appear in court in March, according to reports.
According to the affidavit, Barker and Evans are married, but have separated and are not living together.
Barker is a co-host of the talk radio program “The Jay Barker Show,” in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
He led the Roll Tide to the national championship in 1992, their first in 13 years and first without legendary coach Bear Bryant.
Barker won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top upperclassman at the position and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1994. In his four years at the university, Barker led Alabama to a 35-2-1 record.
Barker was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1995 in the fifth round as the 160th overall pick. He joined the New England Patriots in 1995, and the Carolina Panthers in 1996, but ultimately never played a snap in the NFL.