Peyton Barber’s family has a penchant for sticking together. That’s why he’s in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Barber revealed Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that his mother’s lack of housing drove him to enter the draft and give up his remaining two years of college football eligibility, according to ESPN.com. The Auburn running back hopes to use part of his NFL paycheck to provide for his mother, who currently is staying with family in Fulton County, Ga.
“My mother is homeless right now,” Barber said at a press conference. “Right now, she’s staying with her sister. It’s her and her three kids staying in an apartment back home.”
“This isn’t her first (struggle),” Barber added. “It’s nothing new. It’s just a little bump in the road for us. We’ll overcome it.”
Barber rushed for 1,017 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. He was Auburn’s 2015 offensive MVP.
Barber’s mother told AL.com she was surprised when her son told her why he had decided to turn professional this year.
“It touches my heart that he feels so deeply about wanting to take care of me,” Lori Barber said, according to ESPN.com. “Peyton is very quiet. … I had no idea he was feeling that strongly as he was feeling until he decided to come out (for the draft).”
Barber is one of 24 running backs at the combine, and many project him as a middle-round draft pick. He’ll represent the winning team on whatever day of the draft his name is called.
Thumbnail photo via Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports Images
