The lone LB drafted by the Vikings in 2007 and the 2nd defensive player from the Big 12, joining Texas DE Brian Robison in the 4th round...Marked the 2nd time in Vikings history drafting a pair of OU players the same year, the last time coming in 1965 with RB Lance Rentzel (2nd round) and RB Jim Grisham (6th round).
Dominant defender as a junior and senior at OU was a 1st-Team All-Big 12 honoree both seasons...Named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior...Tabbed as a 2006 1st-Team All-America by American Football Coaches Association while taking 2nd-Team honors from Walter Camp Foundation...Teammates for 3 seasons with Vikings 1st-round pick Adrian Peterson...Helped OU to Big 12 titles in 2004 and 2006...Sooners amassed a 43-10 overall mark and 29-3 slate in conference play during his career...Sooners played LSU in the 2003 national championship game and USC for the 2004 title.
2006 Concluded decorated OU career as an All-America and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year...Became the 10th player in school history to lead the team in tackles in consecutive seasons...Started all 14 games...Set OU bowl record with 17 tackles in Fiesta Bowl game against Boise State in his final collegiate contest...Guided Sooners defense to 16th in the nation in total defense.
2005 Earned 1st-Team All-Big 12...Started every game at WLB...OU topped Oregon in Holiday Bowl to go 8-4 on the season...Notched career-high 5.0 sacks that ranked 3rd on the team...Paced the Sooners defense that ranked 4th in the country in rushing defense...Led team in tackles with 102 and notched a career-best 17 tackles for loss.
2004 Stepped into starting lineup at WLB and opened 10 of 12 games...Named 2nd-Team All-Big 12 by Associated Press and earned honorable mention from conference coaches...Ranked 3rd on the team with 74 tackles...Forced career-best 3 fumbles and recovered 3...Snared an interception and posted a pair of sacks...Key part of the Sooners defense that limited opponents 10 points or less in 6 games and shut out Texas in the Red River game...Won Big 12 title in championship game at Arrowhead Stadium over Colorado 42-3...Fell in national championship game to USC in Orange Bowl.
2003 Saw action in Baylor game and notched a pair of tackles and forced a fumble...Battled back onto the field after knee injury suffered in 2003 spring game.
2002 Redshirted as a true freshman.
PREP Standout in football and basketball at Christian Life Academy in Baton Rouge...Father, David Barham, was head football coach at Christian Life...A 3-year starter as a LB and TE...Earned 1st-Team All-State honors as a senior...Guided team to district titles as a junior and senior.
Graduated in spring 2007 with degree in sociology...Has picked up golf as a hobby after college...Has a black Lab named Tyson and plans to get a Mastiff...Is the middle of 3 boys in his family...Aspires to a career in coaching after football...During OU days he volunteered with Toys For Tots and the Boys and Girls Club
Joins OU teammate Adrian Peterson in the Vikings 2007 draft class, the 1st time since 1965 the team selected a pair of Sooners in the same draft.
Tabbed as Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and earned 1st-Team All-America honors from the AFCA.
Played high school football for his stepfather, David Barham, at Baton Rouge’s Christian Life Academy.