William Jewell College running back Micah Jo Barnett died Saturday after experiencing a medical emergency on the sideline during the team’s season opener against Fort Lewis College, the Associated Press reported. He was 20.
What Happened
Barnett, a junior from Shawnee Mission, Kansas, scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 5:15 remaining in the first quarter, putting William Jewell ahead 7-0. About 20 minutes after kickoff, he experienced a medical emergency on the sideline. Officials stopped the game with 4:32 left in the opening quarter after a Fort Lewis punt went out of bounds.
The Response
Emergency personnel on site at the stadium treated Barnett before he was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Liberty, Missouri, where he was pronounced dead. Police have not released additional details about the nature of the medical emergency.
His Career
Barnett recorded 108 carries for 457 yards and six touchdowns across his first two seasons at William Jewell. He arrived at the program as a decorated recruit, having racked up 1,450 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior at Liberty North High School, earning all-Missouri state honors on a state championship team.
The School’s Statement
William Jewell College remembered Barnett as “forever a Cardinal,” saying its thoughts and prayers are with “Micah Jo’s family, our students, the Cardinal Football family, and the rest of our community during this time of loss.”
Our Thoughts
Our deepest condolences go out to Micah Jo Barnett’s family, teammates, coaches, and the entire William Jewell College community during this incredibly difficult time. He was 20 years old, doing what he loved on the field he’d worked his whole life to reach, and his loss will be felt far beyond the Cardinal football program.
