Bail Set For Ex-Ohio State Football Star Kirk Barton

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 1:58 PM ET

Ex-Ohio State lineman Kirk Barton is facing some serious charges following a fatal car accident that he was involved in over the weekend.

According to police, the former All-American was driving his pickup truck well over the speed limit before striking another vehicle around 3 AM on Saturday morning — killing the other driver who was just 24 years old.

Barton reportedly suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was placed in police custody and transferred to jail after being discharged from the hospital.

He faces a second-degree felony charge for aggravated vehicular homicide while driving under the influence. Which, if convicted, carries a mandatory prison sentence of 2-8 years.

Barton was arraigned on Monday morning and bail was set at $500,000 ahead of his preliminary court hearing on the first of the month.

Following a standout career with the Buckeyes, the all-conference lineman was a seventh round pick in 2008 NFL Draft but only appeared in one game in his pro career after bouncing around between the Bears, Dolphins, 49ers, Bengals, Lions, Broncos and Panthers in various camps and practice squad stints.

He then went on to co-found the website Buckeye Scoop, which has since been banned by Ohio State's athletic department for using unauthorized practice footage to do its reporting.

This also isn't Barton's first run-in with the law since leaving Columbus. Back in 2018, he was arrested for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest at a golf complex in Dublin, OH.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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