Barker played college football at the University of Alabama, under head coach Gene Stallings. In the final game of the 1992 season, Barker led the Crimson Tide to a National Championship by defeating the #1 Miami Hurricanes 34–13 in the 1993 Sugar Bowl. In the 1994 season, Barker won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and finished 5th in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.[1] Barker led the Crimson Tide to a 26–11–1 record, due to an NCAA forfeiture of games during the 1993 season. Alabama was found to have played an ineligible player who supposedly signed with an agent after the 1992 National Championship Game.

Barker was drafted in the 1995 NFL Draft in the fifth round by the Green Bay Packers. During his NFL career, he also played for the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers.

In 1998, the Toronto Argonauts signed Barker, bringing him to the Canadian Football League.

After three seasons with the Argonauts, Barker left to join the Birmingham Thunderbolts in the XFL.[2] The XFL folded after just one season.