AJ Barner

Class:
Senior
Position:
TE
Height:
6-6
Weight:
251
Hometown:
Aurora, Ohio
High School:
Aurora

CAREER HIGHS

Receiving
Michigan
• Catches: 8 - at Michigan State (Oct. 21, 2023)
• Yards: 99 - at Michigan State (Oct. 21, 2023)
• TDs: 1 - at Michigan State (Oct. 21, 2023)
• Long: 22 - at Michigan State (Oct. 21, 2023)

Indiana
• Catches: 5 - at Rutgers (Oct. 22, 2022)
• Yards: 76 - vs. Idaho (Sept. 11, 2021)
• TDs: 1, 4x - last at Ohio State (Nov. 12, 2022)
• Long: 76 - vs. Idaho (Sept. 11, 2021)

At Michigan
• All-Big Ten selection (honorable mention, coaches and media, 2023)
• One-year letterman (2023)

Graduate Student (2023)
• Appeared in all 15 games at tight end with nine starts and also contributed on special teams; caught 22 passes for 249 yards with one touchdown to earn his first varsity letter from Michigan
• All-Big Ten selection (honorable mention, coaches and media)
• John Mackey Award semifinalist
• John Mackey Tight End of the Week Honorable Mention (Week 8) after his performance at Michigan State
• Academic All-Big Ten honoree
• Four times shared Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against UNLV, at Minnesota, at Michigan State, at Maryland
• Made his U-M debut against ECU (Sept. 2), earning one target while contributing on special teams
• Made his first U-M start playing tight end against UNLV (Sept. 9) and caught a 12-yard pass, his first reception as a Wolverine
• Started at tight end against Bowling Green (Sept. 16) and contributed on special teams
• Was targeted four times against Rutgers (Sept. 23) making three catches for 13 yards
• On the road at Nebraska (Sept. 30), caught two passes for 26 yards playing tight end and special teams
• Started at Minnesota (Oct. 7) and totaled 24 yards on two catches
• Started against Indiana (Oct. 14) and made an 18-yard catch playing tight end and contributing on special teams
• At Michigan State (Oct. 21), started and set career bests with eight catches for 99 yards; scored on a 22-yard touchdown
• Started against Purdue (Nov. 4), against Alabama in the Rose Bowl/ CFP Semifinal (Jan. 1), and played tight end and special teams
• In a start at Penn State (Nov. 11), caught a 12-yard reception
• At Maryland (Nov. 18), started and made a seven-yard reception
• Caught two passes totaling 25 yards against Ohio State (Nov. 25) and also played on special teams
• Made a 13-yard reception against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship (Dec. 2) and also contributed on special teams
• Played as a tight end against Washington in the CFP National Championship Game (Jan. 8) and played on special teams

PRIOR TO MICHIGAN
• Earned three varsity letters at Indiana (2020-22), appearing in 30 games with nine starts at tight end
• Selected as a team captain
• Two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2021-22)
• Studied Management at IU

Junior (2022)
• Voted a team captain prior to the season
• Appeared in 10 games with eight starts at tight end; totaled 28 receptions for 199 yards with three touchdowns
• Caught four passes for 25 yards and assisted on one tackle against Illinois (Sept. 2)
• Totaled a season-high 57 yards on three catches with a 43-yard touchdown against Idaho (Sept. 10)
• Made two receptions for four yards against Western Kentucky (Sept. 17)
• Hauled in a 12-yard reception at Cincinnati (Sept. 24)
• Brought in three passes for 23 yards at Nebraska (Oct. 1)
• Hit a season-high five receptions for 11 yards at Rutgers (Oct. 22)
• Scored a touchdown and totaled 24 yards on two grabs against Penn State (Nov. 5)
• Scored again at Ohio State (Nov. 12) among four catches totaling eight yards
• Made a 24-yard catch at Michigan State (Nov. 19)
• Caught three passes for 11 yards against Purdue (Nov. 26)

Sophomore (2021)
• Appeared in 12 games with one start at tight end, and contributed on special teams; caught 14 passes for 162 yards with one touchdown to earn his second varsity letter
• Caught one pass for two yards at Iowa (Sept. 4)
• Scored on a 76-yard touchdown catch against Idaho (Sept. 11)
• Contributed on special teams against Cincinnati (Sept. 18), Penn State (Oct. 2), and Ohio State (Oct. 23)
• Caught a five-yard pass playing at Western Kentucky (Sept. 25)
• Made one solo tackle against Michigan State (Oct. 16)
• Assisted on one stop at Maryland (Oct. 30)
• Made a four-yard reception at Michigan (Nov. 6)
• Caught three passes for 15 yards against Rutgers (Nov. 13)
• Totaled 31 yards on three catches and made a solo tackle against Minnesota (Nov. 20)
• Hauled in four catches for 29 total yards and made one tackle at Purdue (Nov. 27)

Freshman (2020)
• Appeared in eight games, primarily on special teams, to earn his first varsity letter
• Special Teams Player of the Week following the game against Michigan State
• Made his collegiate debut against Big Ten foe Penn State (Oct. 24) in an upset victory
• Made his first career tackles (two, one solo) at Rutgers (Oct. 31)
• Made one solo tackle playing at Wisconsin (Dec. 5)
• Made a solo tackle against Mississippi in the Outback Bowl (Jan. 2)

Prep
• Attended Aurora High School (2020) and played under head coach Bob Mihalik
• Part of a team that went 13-1 and played in the state semifinal game

Key Statistics
• A two-way contributor who also played linebacker
• On offense, made 15 receptions for 123 yards with four touchdowns
• Notched 124 tackles on defense

Honors and Rankings
• 247Sports Composite ranking of three stars; the No. 1,147-ranked player nationally, the No. 51 tight end and the No. 44 player in the state of Ohio
• Graded by 247Sports as a three-star prospect; the No. 30 tight end and the No. 24 player in the state of Ohio
• ESPN three-star prospect; the No. 173 player in his region, the No. 168 tight end and the No. 57 player in the state of Ohio
• Ranked as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com
• On3.com Consensus ranking of three stars; the No. 1,169-ranked player nationally, the No. 53 tight end and the No. 48 player in the state of Ohio
• OPSWA All-Ohio Division III first-team selection on defense as a senior (2019)
• Northeast Ohio Division III Defensive Player of the Year
• All-Conference and All-Area team selection
• Ohio North-South All-Star Game participant
• Team MVP

Personal
• Son of Al and Reva Barner
• Born May 3, 2002
• Studied SPEA management at Indiana
• Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, majoring in General Studies