Colt Barnard '26 Recruiting Profile

Although I want to attend college to play football, I plan on studying sociology. I want to work to establish an animal shelter for dogs where first responders and military people can be matched with a dog to help with PTSD and other mental health. After that, I want to be able to use them for therapy in men. I always tell people men and women communicate differently, and men communicate well with dogs. A few months ago, we had a tragedy in our community where a little girl was killed; because we live in a small town, everyone knew the family. A therapy dog would have been incredibly helpful, especially with little kids, so that they could express their feelings.  Secondly, I want to grow it into a training and doggie daycare for these same people so their animals can be looked after while they are working or deployed at no huge cost to them.

My mom is a wildland firefighter, and because of that, I started an organization called One Foot in the Black to honor those men who died in Mann Gulch. There are a lot of articles written about me and my project. I also started a foundation called Crucial Catch. I have been lucky enough to have a mom who will go out on fires and stay there forever, so she can afford to send me to football camps, showcases, academies, and special teams to get recruited. Not all kids have that opportunity. Living in a tiny town, I have learned that many teammates can’t afford food or medical care. Crucial Catch was set up to help them get those things by doing it in the “Robin Hood” style. We don’t tell people that we are doing it. This year, we bought pencils and erasers for all the kids in elementary school to have when school starts again in January. We also pay lunch bills, get food, help get gear, and provide opportunities for kids to go to camps with football; we are small but hoping to grow.

What makes me a good candidate for your team is my dedication to your team and program; I am a team player on and off the field. I feel that a team is only as strong as its weakest player. I want to see all my teammates and coaches succeed. Football is family. I want to find a place to be my home and build a family and team around that.

I am different from other recruits because of my character, integrity, and desire to make everyone successful. I am also incredibly coachable and adaptable. Yes, I like to make plays and score, but I also like to assist and support my fellow players on and off the field to succeed academically, socially, or athletically. I want to ensure that not only me but my fellow teammates are set up for success after we play our last down of football, no matter when that is.