Spain Park's Braxton Barker: 5 Questions with the QB

HOOVER, AL - The Spain Park Jaguars opened the season with a 31-19 win over Gadsden City, due in large part to the leadership and arm of senior quarterback Braxton Barker. Barker has high hopes for the Jags this season, but said he knows they have hurdles to climb. What barker says sets this team apart is that they are a close-knit unit, and have confidence heading into the remainder of the season. Barker also has the added pressure of being the offspring of one of the state's legendary football players. His father, Jay Barker, was a 4-year starter at QB for Alabama, leading the Tide to a national championship in 1992, and being a Heisman Trophy finalist in 1994. Jay also spent time in the NFL and CFL, and as most people know, is a long-time radio talk show host on WJOX.

Patch was able to chat with Braxton about the Jaguars 2017 team, his future, and how he has handled following in the footsteps of a gridiron hero.

What do you feel are the strengths of your team this season?

We have many strengths as a team this year, but I would say the biggest one is just the close team bond that we have. We have a great group of guys that work hard every day that will do anything for their teammates. We all love each other like brothers.

Obviously the goal every year is to win a championship, but what else do you hope this team accomplishes this season?

Of course every teams goal is to win a championship, but we just want to take it one week at a time and treat every game like it's our last. The goal is to win the game that we have week by week.

After last week's win, where are some areas you feel the team could improve?

Last weeks win against Gadsden City was a big win for us to start off the season. I think we played pretty well on both sides of the ball, but we definitely have things to improve on. Both offensively and defensively we had a lot of missed assignments and other things that we need to clean up, but when it came down to it we made the plays we had to, which is very encouraging. If we just go to work everyday we will continue to get better and clean those things up.

What are your plans for college? Who has been recruiting you, and what is that experience like?

I really have no clue where I'm going to go to college yet. I have an offer from Birmingham Southern College, and I have been talking to some other smaller schools like Centre. The bigger schools that I've been taking to is Middle Tennessee State and Samford. I also attended camps this summer at UAB and Duke. The experience has been really cool, just getting to look at these schools and see all that they have to offer athletically and academically has been awesome!

Being the son of legendary Alabama QB Jay Barker likely brings with it added expectations and pressure. How have you handled that?

It does bring added pressure and expectations, but that is something that having such great teammates and coaches helps a lot with. Also having my dad to be there for me through it all has helped me handle it. But I have always liked to have the pressure on me and that is one of the reasons I enjoy playing quarterback so much. There is no better feeling in the world then thriving through pressure and adversity and making that game winning throw or buzzer beater three pointer.

(Photo from Spain Park Athletic Department)