When Auburn running back Peyton Barber declared early for the NFL Draft, a lot of experts questioned his decision.
But now it’s clear why the Alpharetta native made the decision, and we can’t help but root for him.
"It was just because of some things I was going through with my family," Barber said Wednesday from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. "I don't know if anybody really knows my mom. She's homeless right now. So it's kind of doing it for her."
Barber rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns last season for the Auburn Tigers, but he wasn’t considered one of the top prospects at his position.
He indicated his mother, who’s currently in Alpharetta, has been a source of encouragement throughout this entire process.
"Right now, she's staying with her sister. It's her and her three kids staying in an apartment back home," Barber said.
Barber hopes to improve his draft stock while in Indianapolis this week and then help his family.
"This isn't her first struggle. It's nothing new," Barber said. "It's just a little bump in the road for us. We'll overcome it."
Barber attended Milton High School in Fulton County.
